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Our assignment throughout the rest of the course is design Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.... "They can be from any time period, past present or future. Create a new take, a new style on the characters." My story involves Professor Jetsan Khandro, a Tibetan Biologist. Who spends his waking hours, on the outskirts of Repula (a small village in the shadow of Mount Everest) , attempting to track down substantial evidence of a creature the locals call "The Makalu." A bear-like Cryptid said to inhabit the base of the world's highest mountain. This week the assignment was to start the thumbnail silhouette phase of our characters. I normally don't ever have the discipline to sit down and do this. But these were fun to do, and I definitely found better ideas for shapes than I would've had I just sat down to do a single drawing.
To: Third Doctor Full time cryptozoologist, author, Dr Who fanatic. Hunted many strange beast in many strange places but not the Tazzy wolf as yet. It's top of my list. I think it is cryptid most likley to exist along with orang-pendek and the giant anaconda. Oops, you forgot something. The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.
Posted by: John Kirk on August 31st, 2006 While the Kelowna detachment has had to deal with people attempting to harm an aquatic cryptid, the RCMP detachment near Peter Pond Lake in Saskatchewan has had to deal with a ‘lake monster’ which could prove harmful to humans. “Puff,” as the creature is known, has had a habit of tearing up the nets of local fishermen, so much so that they reported these occurrences to the RCMP. In addition to the fishermen who are on that lake, it is also used recreationally, so if there is something that poses a danger to persons and property, the police are obliged to check it out. Although the damaged nets are there for all to see, things have been peaceful on Peter Pond Lake and it seems “Puff” has taken on the characteristics of the dragon Peter, Paul and Mary sang about in the 60’s. The RCMP in Newfoundland have also been involved indirectly in a monster riddle that has long baffled the inhabitants of the hamlet of Roberts Arm. This delightful little town sits just to the west of the scenically beautiful Crescent Lake, reported home of an underwater cryptid named Cressie. A number of local people have seen the creature and some like Fred Parsons have spotted the beast more than once. Although the locals believe that there may be a lake monster in their local body of water, there may be a more plausible explanation for what they have seen. A number of years ago, the RCMP was called in to deal with a tragic death involving a boating accident. Divers from the RCMP were called in to assist with retrieval duties. While underwater the divers from the force were amazed to see enormous ‘eels’ in the lake. Some of these eels were very thick in size, a few of them as large around as a man’s thigh. It is very possible that these large eels are what the locals are taking for a lake monster. I have asked my friends on the force to keep me updated on anything cryptozoologically newsworthy so watch out for more on the Crypto-Police on Cryptomundo. One of the founders of the BCSCC, John Kirk has enjoyed a varied and exciting career path. Both a print and broadcast journalist, John Kirk has in recent years been at the forefront of much of the BCSCC’s expeditions, investigations and publishing. John has been particularly interested in the phenomenon of unknown aquatic cryptids around the world and is the author of In the Domain of the Lake Monsters (Key Porter Books, 1998). In addition to his interest in freshwater cryptids, John has been keenly interested in investigating the possible existence of sasquatch and other bipedal hominids of the world, and in particular, the Yeren of China. John is also chairman of the Crypto Safari organization, which specializes in sending teams of investigators to remote parts of the world to search for animals as yet unidentified by science. John travelled with a Crypto Safari team to Cameroon and northern Republic of Congo to interview witnesses among the Baka pygmies and Bantu bushmen who have sighted a large unknown animal that bears more than a superficial resemblance to a dinosaur. Since 1996, John Kirk has been editor and publisher of the BCSCC Quarterly which is the flagship publication of the BCSCC. In demand at conferences, seminars, lectures and on television and radio programs, John has spoken all over North America and has appeared in programs on NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, TLC, Discovery, CBC, CTV and the BBC. In his personal life John spends much time studying the histories of Scottish Clans and is himself the president of the Clan Kirk Society. John is also an avid soccer enthusiast and player.
THE EVERGLADES – Elusive cryptid Manigator has found himself in trouble yet again. The half-man half-alligator mutant is listed on DontDateHimGirl.com DontDateHimGirl.com is a website where women can anonymously post the name, photograph and a brief profile of men they have dated. Manigator, currently wanted in four states, has a record 86 comments on his profile. Some of these are as follows: “This guy is an ****, and not the old world southern gentleman he claims to be. He got banned from entering Alabama on our first date. No matter what he says, he is not with Military Intelligence.” “This man will tell you lies. For my birthday he bought me $50 in lotto tickets, with my own credit card. When I confronted him about it, he tried to play for sympathy saying his life has been so hard; that he never knew his father and his mother left him because he’s different. He was crying, it was so pathetic I gave him a hug. Then he started unhooking my bra! Little Creep!” “He does Not know Ben Affleck! He got drunk and passed out in Ben Affleck’s pool. Ben Affleck got a restraining order when Animal Control said it was outside of their jurisdiction. If he says he knows Ben Affleck, it is a LIE! I got maced by Jennifer Garner!” “I Bet He’s Gay! It’s basic Psychology People! Don’t be Fooled!” However this woman had left that exact same comment on over 3000 other profiles. There was only one rebuttal defending Manigator, from an anonymous poster in Alaska. “He doesn’t know how to feed and clean himself properly, but he always made me feel pretty when nobody else would.” This is not the first time the public has been warned about Manigator’s felonious past. Similar sites, like CryptiDate, MutantMatch and ValidateMyVictimhood have warned women about dating Manigator. GitOffMyLawn, PeskyCritters, and AffleckNews have chronicled more of his drunken exploits. In the mid-nineties, he had an entire episode of America’s Most Wanted dedicated to his federal offenses. When reporters tried to reach Manigator for comment, his trailer was empty and apparently had been vandalized by a mob of bitter exes.
BTW, one of the types of sightings associated with giant otter types is the fact that they will come out on land and then sit back on their hind legs, making them stand up about as tall as a human being (more usually a small human being of course, but tradition exaggerates). You get that all along the Western coast of North America and you get that rarely in the "Master-otter" lake reports in Ireland and in Scotland. One of Costello's reports was a 'THING sitting up on a rock' evidently as tall as a human, only Costello seems to have missed the importance of that . That would more likely be one of the giant otter types than a long-necked sea lion. This is from In Search of Lake Monsters pages 181-182; Costello says it is like a seal, but it has a tail distinctly mentioned, and it resembled a monkey when sitting up and a crocodile when stretched out at length. The Irish reports specify a very reasonable length of 8 to 12 feet for it, probably only a little exaggerated, but the corresponding McDuff Morag sighting (p.150) and the 1923 sighting by Alfred Cruikshank ashore at Loch Ness (p122) guess the length as 20 feet; 20 feet seems a common exaggeration. In both of these cases, the creature was NOT reported as long-necked and in fact in both cases the animal had clawed, webbed feet and not flippers. And despite Costello, long tails. Here is the new revised map for the theory. This version makes a discrimination between recent historical and legendary refernces to the giant otters (of the Holarctic sort) and the more current monster reports, meaning the actually recorded reports from the 1920s on, plus strongly suspected rumours in the same areas. There is traditional material from the Hudson's Bay area and what used to be Canada's NWT, but I don't think that comes as close as saying actual reports since the 1920s or so. And the Greenland traditions were evidently already of an extinct version at the time the tradition was recorded. The midwestern U.S. water panthers (Mishipizhiws) may well have persisted until colonial times but there is nothing to connect them to more recent monster reports. Almost all locations on this map are only tenative at this point, but there is some strong suspicion that some of the creatures have been video-taped in recent years. The gist of the matter is rather simple: at one point, group member Dave F. was considering that Steller's reported sea ape was a giant otter and I did a comparison of the description with the Irish master otter, and found that the description of the pointed nose and pricked ears matched. I also found ample evidence for a cryptid called the sea wolf off the northwest coast area to Alaska, and thought that the descriptions matched better than Mackal's hypothetical eared-earless seal. So I made the construction that the two were possibly the same based on that, and other traditional reports filled in from Greenland, the Hudson's Bay area, the Mound-culture area of the USA, Iceland, Scandinavia, Far-Eastern Siberia and Japan. When I had done my water monsters survey and statistical analysis for the SITU in the late 1970s (with revisions up until the early 1980s), I had noted that there was a distinctive series of reports at Lochs Ness and Morar that did not conform to the pattern of a long-necked plesiosaur-like creature, that it had a shorter neck and clawed feet with webbed digits, and that it seemed to be the same as the Irish Master-otter going by Costello's In Search of Lake Monsters. When the discussion got to this point, I mentioned that the master otter had the "Greyhound"-like head mentioned in later lake monster reports such as at Glenderry Lough, and in fact that the 1527 report by Sir Duncan Campbell (Costello's version of this differs somewhat in the wording). The Irish reports specify something ordinarily in the range of six to twelve feet long but there is another series of such reports that estimates the size range as double that. The 1923 land sighting at Loch Ness by Alfred Cruikshank is one of the short-necked creatures supposedly in the realm of 20-24 feet long, but seen only briefly in bad lighting at night and Costello assumes that the length must have been doubled. The similar creature seen through clear water at Loch Morar might also have had its length misjudged if it had not actually have been sitting on the bottom. And Costello's composite creature has a large ear seen in several sightings, sometimes flopped down (at Loch Ness in 1954, according to In Search of Lake Monsters p.81) and at Lake Storsjon. Costello himself suggests that there might be both a giant seal and a giant otter involved - citing Burton's theory - but eventually settles on the seal. There could very well actually be two separate creatures that his composite runs together, one a type of otter that has the ears and the other the more usual longer-necked creature. At the Frontiers-of-Zoology group, mention was made of the fossil giant otter Megalenhydris and it was suggested as a candidate. The species is represented by fragmentary remains in an ambiguous context at Corsica: it could have been saltwater or freshwater, late-Pleistocene or more recent: it is permissible to say ALL of these are possible. It was a giant otter larger than the present giant otter in South America, with a similar flattened tail, and I said there was a good chance that it represented Burton's giant otter (NOT that such a creature would account for the rarer reports of a plesiosaurian or eel-like creature, either one of which Burton had also supported earlier). Unfortunately, the parts of the face that would have been diagnostic for the reports are missing from the skull, and things like pricked ears and a pointed nose do not preserve anyway. It is only fair to say that after Dave was satisfied with this much of the theory, he withdrew his suggestion that the Steller sighting involved a giant otter and began working on the suggestion that it was merely an ordinary river otter washed out to sea. There is actually quite a bit more of this at the FOZ and actually I was trying to market the suggestion of a book on the matter, but nothing ever came of it. I also include some of the photos from the group in the sea wolves and sea apes photo album, concerning giant unknown otters, possible surviving Megalenhydris. This includes my reconstruction from the sightings as I mentioned last time, the one that Karl Shuker had seen. Unfortunately the skull material left cannot determine if the fossil genus had the characteristic pointed snout and upstanding ears, and so the identification must remain open to some doubt. If the reports are any indication, it is both amphibious and able to tolerate both saltwater and fresh, it is basically a fish- and shellfish-eater but will sometimes attack land animals (including humans) - possibly as males defending their territory. The fossil Megalenhydris is tantalisingly incomplete but it was a giant otter larger than the current South American giant otter; but from the remains (one individual, an incomplete skeleton) we do not know for certain if it was Pleistocene or recent, marine or freshwater; possibly it was all of these. There are also other reports of possibly unknown giant otters in the tropics but the feeling at FOZ is that these reports would not be referring to creatures closely related to the master-otters.
This event is going on this weekend at the Museum of the Weird in downtown Austin. We’re going to have several famous cryptozoologists and authors as well as maybe a surprise appearance by Bigfoot himself! It’s going to be an awesome event! UPDATE: all advance tickets are sold out, but we’ll still be selling regular admission to the Museum. Even though our advance tickets to the lectures and the movie screening are already sold out, we will still have the museum open for general admission, and you’ll still be able to meet the guests and get some signed books and swag, as well as attend dinner and drinks with the group afterwards at the Chupacabra Cantina and The Jackalope Bar next door. Hope to see you here! Saturday, January 26th, 20133:00pm to 10:00pmMuseum of the Weird, in conjunction with the world’s foremost website on all things cryptid, Cryptomundo.com, will be hosting a very special event on January 26th at the Museum of the Weird in Austin, TX:Cryptomundo Night at the Museum!Featuring an all-star line up of world famous cryptozoologists, experts and authors, it’s sure to be a night of entertainment, intrigue and mystery as we explore the unknown creatures that lurk in the darker corners of the world we live in! Please come out and join us for the festivities!Speaker presentations and author book signings include:Lyle Blackburn, frontman for rock band Ghoultown, writer for Rue Morgue magazine and author of “The Beast of Boggy Creek”Nick Redfern, author of “Wildman! The Monstrous and Mysterious Saga of the British Bigfoot”, “Monster Diary: On the Road in Search of Strange and Sinister Creatures”, “The World’s Weirdest Places,” “Memoirs of a Monster Hunter,” and “Monsters of Texas.”Ken Gerhard, author of “Big Bird! Modern Sightings of Flying Monsters” and “Monsters of Texas.”Dave Coleman, author of “The Bigfoot Filmography”The event starts at 3:00pm and goes until 6:00pm, then a break for dinner and to explore 6th Street and downtown Austin.It resumes again at 8:00pm with a special screening in the Museum’s Weird Theater of the ’70s drive-in classic “Creature from Black Lake.”
SheepSquatch, also known as the white thing is a white woolly-haired cryptid that has been reported throughout the southwestern region of Virginia, USA. SheepSquatch is described as being the size of a bear, with completely white wool-like fur. Its front limbs end in paw-like hands, similar to a raccoon’s but larger. The beast head is long and pointed, like a dog with long saber-like teeth and a single-pint horns like a young goat. SheepSquatch sports a long and hairless tail, similar to an opossum’s and is reputed to smell like sulfur. The counties with the most sightings of Sheepsquatch are from Boone, Kanawha, Putnam, and Mason. A large surge in sightings took place in Boone County during the mid-1990s. In 1994, a former Navy seaman witnessed the beast break through the forest. The white thing drank for a few minutes, then crossed the creek and continued on across toward the road. The navy seaman observed the animal for a while, and then it moved on into the surrounding brush. Also in that same year, two children observed the beast while playing in the yard in Boone County. They saw what looked like a large white bear, and it stood up on its hind legs, which made it over six feet tall. Startled, the beast ran away through the forest, breaking medium-sized limbs off of trees as it went. Another encounter a year later involved a car. A couple driving through Boone County noticed a large white beast sitting in the ditch along the road. They stopped their car to get a good look at it. It was described again as a large white animal with woolly fur about the size of a bear. In this instance, it was described as having “four eyes”. Then, it jumped out of the ditch and starts attacking the car. The couple drove off quickly, and when they got home noticed the large scratches on the side where the beast attacked. Another incident occurred in 1999, this time a couple of campers were in the forest of Boone County at night around a campfire. They heard an animal snorting and scuffling around the camp, but it did not come into the light of the campfire. All of the sudden, the SheepSquatch appeared out of the darkness and charged at the campers. They jumped up and ran back to their house; all the while being pursued by the SheepSquatch. It stopped at the edge of the forest, however, and let out a terrible scream. Then it just turned around and headed back into the woods. The next morning, the campers examined their campsite and the trail home. It was torn up, they said, “like someone had tilled it up for gardening”.
\|Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:45 PM\| MYSTERY PRIMATES—LEMUR, MONKEY, APE AND HUMAN HYBRIDS Primates (Excluding Humans) In The Variation Of Animals And Plants Under Domestication Charles Darwin noted: "Several members of the family of Lemurs have produced hybrids in the Zoological Gardens." In the primates, many Gibbons are hard to visually identify and are identified by their song. This has led to hybrids in zoos where the Gibbons were misidentified. For example, some collections could not distinguish between Javan Gibbons, Lar Gibbons or Hoolocks and their supposedly pure breeding pairs were mixed pairs or hybrids from previous mixed pairs. Agile gibbons have also interbred with these. The offspring were sent to other Gibbon breeders and led to further hybridization in captive Gibbons. Hybrids also occur in wild Gibbons where the ranges overlap. Gibbon/Siamang hybrids have occurred in captivity—a female Siamang produced hybrid "Siabon" offspring on 2 occasions when housed with a male Gibbon; one hybrid survived, the other didn't. Anubis Baboons and Hamadryas Baboons have hybridized in the wild where their ranges meet. Different Macaque species can interbreed. In The Variation Of Animals And Plants Under Domestication Charles Darwin wrote: "A Macacus, according to Flourens, bred in Paris; and more than one species of this genus has produced young in London, especially the Macacus rhesus, which everywhere shows a special capacity to breed under confinement. Hybrids have been produced both in Paris and London from this same genus." In addition, the Rheboon is a captive-bred Rhesus Macaque/Hamadryas Baboon hybrid with a baboon-like body shape and Macaque-like tail. Various hybrid monkeys are bred within the pet trade. These include hybrid Capuchins e.g. Tufted (Cebus apella) x Wedge-capped/weeper (C. olivaceus); Liontail macaque X Pigtail macaque hybrids and Rhesus x Stumptail hybrids. The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) has interbred with the introduced Taiwanese macacque (M. cyclopis); the latter has escaped into the wild from private zoos. Among African monkeys, natural hybridization is not uncommon. There numerous field reports of hybrid monkeys and detailed studies of zones where species overlap and hybrids occur. Among the apes, Sumatran and Bornean orangutans are separate species with anatomical differences, producing sterile hybrids. Hybrid orangutans are genetically weaker with lower survival rates than pure animals. LARGE CHIMPANZEES WITH GORILLA-LIKE CULTURE The Bili or Bondo Mystery Ape Some locals said they were eight feet tall and weighed 280 pounds. Others claimed they were even bigger, equipped with huge flesh-ripping teeth and muscles capable of dismembering a man. Forest dwellers told visiting explorers and scientists of a ferocious gray ape, with the cunning of a chimpanzee and the power and size of a gorilla—and a taste for meat rather than the shrubbery loved by most apes. For, unlike most apes, these were predators—capable of hunting not only forest antelope but, incredibly, lion and leopard too. And to cap it all, like wolves, these fearsome beasts howled at the Moon. The giant lion-eating ape of the Congo, known 'officially' as the Bili Ape or Bondo Mystery Ape, was one of those creatures that for decades sat on the knife-edge that divides myth and scientific respectability. Skeptics said giant, lion-eating primates were no more than a fairy tale, a by-product of the sheer size and remoteness of Africa's largest, most lawless, unexplored and war-torn region, into which any number of fictional monsters could be placed by an overactive imagination. Indeed, the "Congolese super-ape", a gray-furred, ferocious man-eating carnivore, starred in Michael Crichton's 1980 sci-fi thriller Congo, and cryptozoologists also spoke of Mokele-mbembe, Africa's Loch Ness monster, a dinosaur purported to survive in the Congolese forests. And yet, despite the aura of mythology that surrounded these improbable creatures, many scientists believed that something new and unusual did indeed live in the impenetrable forests of Africa's Heart of Darkness. In particular, the locals' tales about the giant, unusual apes which had been noted by Western explorers since the late 1890s were simply too similar, too coherent, to be dismissed as fanciful exaggeration. And now, it seems that the Congolese mystery ape has finally come into the spotlight of scientific respectability. At last, a group of researchers has succeeded in studying these animals first-hand over a long period, and has not only confirmed their existence, but also described a fascinating animal about whom not all the myths are true, and yet which lives up to—in some respects—its legendary reputation. Over the decades of primatology in Africa, there have been reports of large chimpanzees with an anomalous appearance and/or culture put under the label Koolokamba or a variation of it. Recent work by Swiss researcher Karl Ammann and others have provided a great deal of information on this unique population. Swiss scientist Charles Cordier found 12-inch-long footprints (gorilla-sized) in the Congo 100 years ago, and identical ones have shown up again recently. Several skulls taken in 1996 from the Bondo were shown to be typical of chimpanzee skulls except for sagittal crests typically only found on gorillas. While some individuals sleep in trees like normal chimpanzees, others dwell in ground nests more like gorillas. The behavior is not totally unknown in chimpanzees, but is regarded as unusual due to the presence of several large predators like leopards, lions, and hyenas in the area. Very large dung samples collected near the nests show structures called "hostra rings" more commonly found in gorilla dung. Behavior more typical of chimpanzees includes the use of tools to catch ants, and the construction of leaf cushions. Behavior previously not seen in either chimpanzees includes the use of rocks to smash beehives for honey, and reports of them catching turtles and even fish. When a researcher named Cleve Hicks from the University of Amsterdam spent 18 months observing the Bili apes at close quarters, what he found was intriguing—a population of extremely large chimpanzees with their own distinct 'culture' and, indeed, a liking for the meat of big cats. One was seen scavenging on the carcass of a leopard, although it is not known if the ape had killed the cat. The males of the species appear to be very large as demonstrated by field observations, very large footprints (12-14 inches), and several huge carcasses. Males tend to dwell on the ground and be very shy (possibly due to the predators), and females dwell in trees like typical chimpanzees. Females appear to be more normal-sized, although a very old female named Caroline was large enough to be mistaken for a large male. Caroline and other old female Bili chimpanzees have a baldness pattern similar to "male pattern baldness" in humans. Skin coloration varies from black to white within the population, and hair color varies from black to gray. Despite their appearance and behavior, genetic tests done on dung and hair samples indicate that they are not hybrid, new species, or even new subspecies; the differences appear to be mostly cultural. The males appear to occupy a gorilla-like niche on the ground, but the females tend to act like conventional chimpanzees. Analysis of the DNA also showed that the population appeared to be extremely inbred and showed none of the genetic variation shown in every other chimpanzee population. Perhaps the main difference between these animals and other chimpanzees is their fearlessness of humans. Most chimps instinctively flee when they catch sight of a man; these animals approached the scientists and their staff with a degree of curiosity. There is some controversy involved in this case. One of the researchers, Dr. Shelley Williams, made several claims about the population circulated in the press which have been disputed by Ammann. She said that images of the animal, captured in a video, showed that it looked like neither a gorilla or chimpanzee, whereas the animals Ammann and his team observed were clearly large chimpanzees. She also made the claim that the animals were aggressive "lion eaters" or "lion beaters" (press articles inconsistent), but Ammann and others assert that the males are actually very shy. Williams also related an account of the apes walking bipedally and standing over 6 feet tall, but again Ammann asserts that the apes, while big, are not as large as gorillas. Williams has not responded to any of the criticism, and unless she provides harder evidence, it is difficult to take her claims seriously. While these animals have been documented by Cryptozoologists, they were never thoroughly researched, and there appears to be no reference to one being regarded as a "cryptid" before the discovery. While this isn't a new species or a discovered cryptid, it still is a fascinating find. It demonstrates that even in the 21st Century there are still some things we don't know about large animals, and it makes the concept of Cryptozoology more plausible. Also interesting is that Cordier's footprint shows not only that early accounts can be accurate, but that this population, evidently very inbred, has been around for a very long time. Cordier also described two other anomalous footprints, although they do not seem to have reappeared recently, if at all. There seems to be no information on when and where he located the footprint, and it would be interesting to see if the apes occur in other locations. This find is also important for showing that known species can show a huge amount of behavioral, cultural, and even physical variation even though there is not much genetic change. That concept should be kept in mind when dealing with the other mystery primates covered in the context. While no new species or subspecies will be discovered by researching this species, the research has only begun and a lot of questions need to be answered about this and other anomalous chimpanzees. After all, it was in the forests of Central Africa that one of the most startling discoveries of modern zoology was made. When sightings of a massive primate living high in the cool mists which drape the volcanic peaks of what are now Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo were mooted in the late 19th century, few took them seriously. Explorers described a powerful yet gentle, celery-munching ape living at altitudes of more than 10,000 ft. But it wasn't until 1902 that Robert von Beringe, a German army officer, made detailed observations of the animal which now bears his name, Gorilla gorilla beringei, the famed mountain gorilla. Of course, there are implications for Cryptozoology as well. It shows that despite something initially appearing to be a new species, it could end up being more "mundane" but still very interesting. While the Bondo mystery apes have been cemented in reality, there are accounts of "Koolakambas" taken around 1860-1890 which look rather different, and have been surmised to be a Gorilla/Chimp hybrid. P. B. DuChaillu was the second person to refer to this animal (the first was by the Frenchman Franquet in 1852) and he used folk taxonomy to differentiate this from the other apes known in the area. His description said that the pelvis was short and broad, the supraorbital ridge was large, the zygomatic ridges were high, the ears were large, the face was somewhat flattened, the incisors met to form a grinding surface, and the cranial capacity was higher than in other chimpanzees. According to DuChaillu, "Kooloo" referred to a sound that this animal made, apparently different from the native apes. "Kamba" simply means "to speak" in the Commi language according to DuChaillu. Animals with an appearance very similar to DuChaillu's description have been reported in captivity in modern times, one of which named Minnie frequently walks bipedally. Some have suggested that the Koolakambas may also be a mutation, in which case it would be an example of micro-evolution in action. According to von Koppenfels in 1881: "I believe it is proved that there are crosses between the male Troglodytes gorilla and the female Troglodytes niger, but for reasons easily understood, there are none in the opposite direction. I have in my possession positive proof of this. This appears to settle all the questions about the gorilla, chimpanzee, Kooloo Kamba, N'schigo, M'bouve, the Sokos, Baboos, etc". Yerkes reported several "unclassifiable apes" with features intermediate between chimpanzee and gorilla in his 1929 book A Study of Anthropoid Life. Another researcher named Osman Hill gave a rather contradictory description of the Koolakamba, saying that it had very small gorilla-like ears and a very prognathous face. There do not appear to be any references to this type of Koolakamba being found in zoos. Some have criticized DuChaillu's description on the basis that he used folk taxonomy that, unlike Linnean taxonomy, could consider individual variation a certain "type". It is speculated that this Koolakamba is a variation of the Lower Guinea chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes). Du Chaillu's description is, however, considered accurate since many of his other descriptions were quite accurate for the time. For both of these Koolakambas, there has been speculation that they are gorilla/chimpanzee hybrids, much like the Bondo apes. It is doubtful that a chimpanzee/gorilla hybrid could start a viable population (they would have to be the same species), and so, much like the Bondo "Koolakambas", these animals seem to reflect population variation in the chimpanzee. Perhaps Osman Hill's animal reflects a small population which went extinct or into hiding, but there is still a chance that it is based on a few anomalous individuals. DuChaillu's animal seems much more common, and thus less likely to be individual variation and more likely to be a distinct population. The mingling and breeding with normal chimpanzees in captivity would be suggestive that the two are very similar, but zoo animals may not always display "natural" breeding behavior. Dr. Williams' account seems to match DuChaillu's (flat face, bipedal tendencies) better than Ammann's, but the significance of this is not readily apparent. Was DuChaillu's animal wide ranging, or does it represent a parallel adaptation in a different subspecies? Hopefully, research into the Bondo mystery ape will help to clarify these other Koolakambas. According to Mark Hall's book Yeti, Bigfoot, and True Giants, Cordier collected folklore from the Eastern Belgian Congo about a bipedal, herbivorous, man-size (or bigger) ape which curiously had the same taste for honey as the Bili ape. Assuming the bipedal trait was exaggerated, this vaguely sounds like it could be another ape along the lines of the Bili ape/Koolakamba. An illustration of a footprint collected by Cordier and illustrated in Sanderson and Hall's respective books looks curiously similar to a Bili ape footprint in that it seems long and narrow with a rather far set-back thumb. Garner (1896) wrote that an ape called Mafuca exhibited at Dresden Zoo in 1875 was sometimes described as a cross between chimpanzee and gorilla. Different experts identified her as a chimpanzee or as a young gorilla."It would be difficult to believe that two apes of different species in a wild state would cross, but to believe that two that belonged to different genera would do so is even more illogical. Yerkes (1929) reported the case of adult female Johanna of Lisbon, whom Duckworth (1899) considered an unclassifiable ape intermediate between gorilla and chimpanzee and similar to the "Kulu-Kamba" and Mafuca. Others considered Johanna, who had been a performing ape with Barnum and Bailey's Circus, to be a gorilla. Giant Malawi Chimpanzee (Ufiti, Fireti) Sightings of a strange chimpanzee occurred around 1959 to 1960 around Lake Nyase, Malawi; which is incredibly strange since the nearest known chimpanzees are over 700 miles away. Around 30 tree nests were discovered, and there were other reports apparently indicating a population. The animal named Ufiti (or "ghost") was photographed and sighted several times, and was said to be enormous and to have a prognathous face. The animal was supposedly captured afterwards and brought to the Chester Zoo where she later died. The chimpanzee had several strange characteristics such as a height nearing 6 feet and a silver back, not to mention her location. Some officials have regarded her as a new chimpanzee subspecies, but no scientific classification exists. This is a remarkable story, and it seems utterly amazing that she could evade classification in a zoo of all places. Sanderson himself did not mention her capture and life in the zoo, but did mention that harming or capturing the chimpanzee was illegal. Did she arrive after the book was published? Was she ever even in the zoo at all, or was there some sort of mix-up? If the description of her is accurate, she sounds quite a bit like the Bondo apes reported (particularly one large female named Caroline), but several hundred miles away. While the reports seemed to indicate a population, there don't seem to have been any reports of the animals since Ufiti's alleged capture. The theoretical population itself could have been a new subspecies, but it could also still be an anomalous population like the chimpanzees with the gorilla-like culture. If there is indeed a carcass preserved in a zoo, that would be worth checking out, but it remains questionable how accurately the story of the anomalous Ufiti has been told. Large Bipedal Ape: (Kikomba, Apamandi, Abamaanji, Zaluzugu, Tshingombe, Ngoloko, Milhoi, Muhalu, African "bigfoot") Central Africa has very sporatic reports of apes or ape-like creatures distinguished by a bipedal gait. The reports are so rare, in fact, that in Ivan Sanderson's Abominable Snowmen book he essentially declared that Africa was apparently devoid of such creatures. But some reports have been recorded since the publication of the book. Tracks attributed to the animal have been found and supposedly indicate an ability to run or even jump bipedally. The face is ape-like and grays with age like other hominids. One report of a strange bipedal creature from Kenya has been lumped into this category, despite showing many strange characteristics. It measured eight feet long when stretched out dead, was as large as two people, and smelled awful. It was covered in gray hair three feet long near the head or top of the body. The ape-like face had a receding chin and forehead, large eyes, and a small mouth with big teeth. Oddly, it possessed very large, flapping elephantine ears. Even more bizarrely, the feet had an opposable thumb with three other toes and the hands had a thumb and an index finger with a 2.5-3 inch claw. Reports of similarly sized hairy bipeds, none mentioning the bizarre hands, feet, or ears, occured in the Congo until the early 1960's. Until there are more accounts of this animal, it should probably be taken very critically. The description of the animal, aside from that absurd report from Kenya, are very vague and don't provide much to work with. They could very well be due to misinterpreted reports of known apes behaving strangely. Charles Cordier has a (partial?) footprint supposedly from the "Apamandi" which does indeed look rather unique, but that is some very vague evidence. There is always the chance that the apes represent another inbred, strangely-behaving colony of apes like the Koolokamba, but don't bet on it. As for the Kenya report, which should probably be dealt with separately, it seems that it can safely be discounted. Even if the reports of the creature are vague, surely someone would have noticed the utterly bizarre anatomy! There are so many improbable features on this creature, it couldn't possibly be a mutant, so if this thing was real there has to be a whole colony looking like this. Exactly what good does three foot long hair do in a jungle climate? Why would a primate evolve lobster claws? Why would something that big be a biped when a quadrupedal stance would offer much more stability? To make matters more complicated, modern day sightings of these animals seem to have stopped at around 1960, except for perhaps the recent reports of Bili. Hopefully further research on the Koolokamba apes will help determine the relationship between these sightings. The Tano Giant was seen in the Gold Coast sometime before 1911. It was described as a "white ape of extroardinary stature" that was "past all men" in size. It's arms alone were reportedly as thick as a man. The skin was described as being white, but the hair was black. The head was flattened and oddly described as being the size of a large monkey's. The mouth was monkey-like and had big teeth. Despite not having thumbs, the giant supposedly kept the skin of a bush cow to wrap itself in when it got cold. Its habits were extremely aggressive, it carried off one woman and several children, who were later found disembowled and mutilated. It also supposedly broke the gun of a hunter. The only thing that scared it away was fire. This story closely resembles tales across the world of cannibalistic giants, and may have no more basis in reality than Grendel or any other similar tale. It seems almost certain that this is a complete invention, but it could have a very tenuous base in reality. Perhaps a belligerent Western chimpanzee once attacked a few people and the story became warped with time. Or perhaps there never was an attack, and it was just a story attributed to a little-known species in the same way that early reports portrayed the gorilla as an ogre-like creature. It certainly sounds like something out of a bad adventure story. The only reason it is mentioned here is because it could possibly have some connection with chimpanzees or maybe even the bizarre bipedal apes reported. But it seems safe to say that Karl Ammann is not going to find this walking around in the jungle. Bipedal Pygmy (Agogwe, Kakundakari, Doku, Mau, Mberikimo, Chimanimani, Tokoleshe, Abonsei, Ijimere, Sehite) This animal, commonly refered to as an agogwe, is a small ape-like biped inhabiting Central Africa between the Kalahari and Sahara deserts. The agogwe is said to stand around 2 to 4 feet tall and its footprints (with an opposable toe) are a mere five inches in length. Marked differences between it and known apes include a rounded forehead, small canines, long red hair, and yellowish red skin. Rather oddly, it forms what may be a symbiotic relationship with baboons. Other reports describe the creatures as cave-dwellers. The animal was a topic of discussion in the 1920's, but its popularity has subsequently diminished. The most common theory on the pygmies is that they are Australopithecines. Footprints did have a somewhat diverged toe (far from opposable though) and the overall height and description fit. Other individuals have suggested that they are actual human pygmies, but extremely atavistic, or possibly misunderstood, ones. After the discovery of late-surviving dwarf hominids called "hobbits" on Flores in Asia, the concept of late-surviving pygmies has become much more conceivable. Though a world away, Africa may be an even more plausible place for such a species to still be roaming. However, tales of the pygmies could possibly be based on known anthropoids that the natives were not familiar with. Two other possibilities should also be considered. The first is the possible survival of gibbons in Africa. Gibbons are called "lesser apes" and are small, tail-less, and habitual bipeds with a rounded forehead and small canines. The biggest problem is that gibbons rarely walk on solid land and mainly locomote with their arms. Another possibility is that a chimpanzee has adapted towards open country and has filled an Australopithecine-like niche the same way the Koolokamba chimpanzees filled a gorilla-like niche. It's a fairly long shot, but it is not totally beyond conception. However, the reports do admittedly sound very much like an Australopithecine, or possibly a dwarf form of Homo erectus. The fact that these animals haven't been reported any more for decades is a significant problem, and like other creatures discussed here, they may have gone extinct (assuming they existed) before they were ever described. Alternately, the lack of a European colonial presence may make it much more difficult for reports to come out. It still seems doubtful that anything is behind these reports, but if there ever was or is, an ancient hominid would probably be the best candidate. HUMANZEES (AND OTHER CLAIMED HUMAN HYBRIDS) A reputed "humanzee" (human/chimp hybrid) called Oliver was DNA tested and found to be a chimpanzee, albeit one which differed slightly genetically from the more familiar chimps in being bipedal and having a smaller head. Oliver may have been a mutant or represent an unknown species of ape. It is currently believed that he represents a geographical subspecies of chimpanzee. He did not associate with other chimps in captivity and was sexually attracted to human women instead. This meant he was never bred. Oliver's habitual bipedal gait is now believed to be a result of early training and habit, although he mastered it to a greater degree than most trained chimps. In a publicity event, a woman declared her willingness to be inseminated by Oliver (and even to have the mating filmed for scientific purposes), but this offended public sensibilities and did not happen. Had Oliver been a genuine hybrid, then like most male hybrids he would probably have been sterile. However, the behaviors and physical characteristics which led to so much speculation and controversy regarding Oliver's origins, are not totally unique among the apes. Everyone is familiar with the comparisons between humans and our so-called "closest cousins"—chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. But has anyone ever heard of bonobos? If not, don't feel left out. Even one of the top bonobo researchers in the world says that in the minds of most people, bonobos don't really exist. But the wilds of the Congo region of Africa suggest otherwise. Estimates suggest between 5,000 and 25,000 of the peaceful primates live there. Dr. Frans de Waal, director of the Living Links program at the Yerkes Primate Center in Atlanta and author of Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape, is one researcher who is looking into the human-like behavior of the little-known primates. "Studies on bonobos started much later than on the other ape species and fewer people were involved in them," de Waal points out. "So as a result, we knew less about them. The chimpanzee has been known for centuries, but the bonobo has been set apart from the chimpanzee only since the 1930s." Add to that the fact that their remote habitat in a politically unstable part of Africa makes it doubly difficult to study them in the field. But there's no denying that a number of things have surfaced recently that makes them much more than a passing curiosity. While they may appear chimpanzee-like to the untrained eye, bonobos are different. "In terms of body mass, they are very similar to chimpanzees," de Waal explains. "But they're much more graceful. They have longer legs, they're slender, they don't have the huge shoulders and thick neck [of chimps], and they have a smaller head. They're also more elegantly built and move more elegantly than chimps. And when the bonobos stand upright, they look very human-like because they have these different body proportions." It's their social behavior, however, that's the real pièce de résistance. "In terms of social behavior, bonobos are almost the opposite of the chimpanzee in that they're relatively peaceful," de Waal remarks. "As far as we know, they don't have inter-group warfare going on, they eat a little bit of meat but much less than chimpanzees, and they're not great hunters." But here's where it gets interesting: "Male dominance is not there. It's rather the opposite where females dominate the show." And it doesn't stop there! "They seem to resolve a lot of their conflicts with sexual behaviour," he says. "If two bonobos have a fight, they may make up with a sexual reconciliation, which is typical for their species. So there's a lot of sexual activity that goes on that has more social meaning than reproductive meaning." Their sexuality also mirrors humans in a couple of other ways. "Bonobos have a greater variety of sexual postures," he reveals. "The bonobos can do it any way they want—and they can do it face to face also. So positionally—so to speak—they have a richer repertoire. And their sexual behaviour is not just male to female. It's also female-to-female and male-to-male and male-to-juvenile." In fact, they make the human sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies look tame. Soviet Professor Ilya Ivanov attempted to create a human-ape hybrid using female chimps impregnated with human sperm and women volunteers impregnated with chimp sperm. Ivanov's experiments have been documented by Kirill Rossiianov (Institute for the History of Science and Technology of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow), "Beyond Species: Ilya Ivanov and His Experiments on Cross-Breeding Humans with Anthropoid Apes," Science in Context, 2002, p. 277-316. In a presentation to the World Congress of Zoologists in Graz in 1910, he outlined the possibility of using artificial insemination to create a hybrid. In 1924, while working at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Ivanov gained permission from the Institute's directors to use its experimental primate station in Kindia, French Guinea, for his hybridization experiments. He requested backing for this project from the Soviet government, writing to Soviet officials including the People's Commissar on Education and Science Anatoliy Vasilievich Lunacharsky. In September 1925, Nikolai Petrovich Gorbunov, head of the Department of Scientific Institutions helped allocate $10,000 to the Academy of Sciences for Ivanov's human-ape hybridization experiments in Africa. In March 1926 Ivanov arrived at the Kindia facility, but left after a month because the facility had no sexually mature chimpanzees. Ivanov attempted to organize the insemination of human females with chimpanzee sperm in Guinea, but the French colonial government objected to the proposal. There is no evidence such an experiment was arranged there. Back in France he corresponded with French Guinea's colonial governor and arranged to conduct his experiments at the botanical gardens in Conakry. Ivanov, assisted by his son (also called Ilya), went to Conakry in November 1926 where he oversaw the capture of adult chimpanzees in the interior of the colony. These were caged at the botanical gardens in Conakry. On February 28, 1927, Ivanov artificially inseminated 2 female chimps with human sperm (not sourced from him or his son). On June 25, he injected a third chimpanzee with human sperm. The Ivanovs left Africa in July 1927 with 13 chimps, including the 3 artificially inseminated females. They already knew that the first 2 chimps had not conceived. The third died in France and was also found not to have conceived. The remaining 10 chimps went to the Sukhumi primate station. Ivanov returned to the Soviet Union in 1927 and attempted to organize experiments at Sukhumi using ape sperm and human females. In 1929, with the help of Gorbunov, he gained the support of the Society of Materialist Biologists (a group associated with the Communist Academy). In Spring 1929 the Society set up a commission to plan Ivanov's experiments at Sukhumi. They required at least 5 volunteer women for the project. In June 1929, before any inseminations had taken place, the only sexually mature ape remaining at Sukhumi (an orangutan) had died. A new set of chimps would not arrive at Sukhumi until Summer 1930. That year, a political shakeup in the Soviet scientific world resulted in Gorbunov and several other Sukhumi scientists losing their positions. In Spring 1930 Ivanov came under political criticism and on December 13, 1930 he was arrested and exiled to Alma Ata, where he died in 1932. There have been persistent rumours of a Chinese humanzee experiment; the rumoured 3 month fetus died when the mother was killed during civil unrest. There are similar rumours of a humanzee or manpanzee experiment in the USA. In the 1960s there were persistent rumours of a Russian experiment to inseminate either a female chimpanzee or a female gorilla with human sperm. Bernard Grizmek, former Frankfurt Zoo director, wrote of rumors from the Soviet Union that the Russians had created a human/chimpanzee hybrid (probably a misreporting of Ilya Ivanov's experiments). More recently, a news story claimed that Stalin ordered his scientists to create an army of human/ape hybrids, because they would be less fussy about what they ate. Though nothing came of this, it may have been the origin of the rumors. According to a tale by Peter Damain in the 11th century story De bono religiosi status et variorum animatium tropolagia, Count Gulielmus had both a pet ape and a wanton wife. The woman was so wanton that she allowed the ape to become her lover. The ape became jealous of the Count and when it found him lying with the Countess, the ape attacked him. The Count died of his grievous injuries. Damain had learned of this from Pope Alexander II. The pope had shown Damain a monster that was supposedly the result of the ape mating with the woman. This ape-like boy was called Maimo after his simian father. If Maimo did exist, he was most likely a physically and mentally handicapped child. In the 19th century, a Khoisan (Hottentot) woman called Saartjie Baartman was exhibited in Europe in a cage. Black women with enlarged labia and enlarged buttocks were sometimes deemed evidence of chimp/human hybridization; such hybrids being called a "womanzee". This was based on the supposed resemblance of their genitalia to those of female chimps and fitted with the then prevalent opinion that Blacks were inferior, or less evolved, than Europeans. Enlarged buttocks occur due to a condition called steatopygia (extreme accumulation of fat on the buttocks), while enlarged labia, or "Hottentot Apron" can be either inherited or induced/enhanced by manual stretching (in some regions they were considered attractive). Neither trait is due to hybridization. The idea of human/ape hybrids has fascinated people and resulted in several films or TV series, some exploring whether such hybrids would have "human rights" or simply be experimental animals for use in vivisection. It is only a matter of time before curiosity overcomes ethics and an authenticated attempt is made.
Monday, August 16, 2010 Sunday, January 10, 2010 By PATRICK LEVO New Year Greetings from Salamaua Point. As they say in the local Gawac lingo – ‘Asalu ngayam’ or ‘good day’ which is the same as ‘sare lareva’ in my Toaripi of Gulf, ‘jobe’ in Garaina, ‘awinje’ in Menyamya and ‘zoang biang’ in Kote of Swit Finsch. From Malalaua to Salamaua is a long, long way. There are many rivers to cross and many more mountains to climb and an ocean to swim. But after many years of wondering in amazement and wandering around in circles, I finally set foot on the narrow isthmus that joins Salamaua peninsula to the mainland. I fulfilled my childhood dream of visiting this legendary place on Boxing Day last year in the company of another first timer Dadarae Logona and his son Titus. The Logonas are from Tubusereia in They say Salamaua is magical. I say it is still salacious and I will be going back. In its heydays, it was the place to be. Even now, it still has that magnetism. Lae expats have holiday homes here and they say the fishing is good, so good they always keep coming back for more refreshing Sadly the isthmus that connects Salamaua is slowly being washed away. Where once a road connected Salamaua point to the mainland, rising sea levels have eroded much of the land and the point is in danger of being cut off from the mainland. Valiant attempts have been made to save the isthmus including dumping huge tyres and rocks as a sea wall but to no avail as nature carves a future for the peninsula. Will Salamaua point, original home of the Buakap people become an island as a result of global warming and rising sea levels? I don’t know but if it does, one piece of history and my footprints will be washed away forever. My old man was a colonial era teacher. One fine day, he brought a text book home which had pictures of Salamaua, Rabaul, Wewak and Goroka. It was post card perfect, the coconut palms dancing in the breeze, a boat in Salamaua harbor and locals walking along the isthmus carrying coconuts. I asked the old chalk: “Where is this beautiful place?” He replied: “Son, Salamaua is near Lae. And Salamaua is very far from Malalaua.” From then on, even as a little kid back in the early 70s, I promised myself that one day I would walk on that same isthmus. I left my Kerema footprints there on the morning of Dec 26. When you stroll through that former colonial outpost, there are certain reminders of the past; a history steeped in affluent times gone by where the tapestry of the Salamaua was the one time staging post for the gold rush into Wau Bulolo in the 1920-30s and a wartime foothold captured by the Japanese on March 8, 1942 and then retaken by the allies a year later after much fierce aerial bombardment and ground offensive. The town was recaptured by Australian and Salamaua was originally built by the Germans and given the exotic south seas name Samoahafen just as Dregerhafen and Finschhafen up the north east coast remain today as reminders of the Kaiser’s influence in New Guinea of the 1800s. When gold was discovered at Wau, miners came from all over the world and made for the goldfields through Salamaua via the rough Black Cat Track which is today a major tourist attraction and an epic test of endurance for those foolish enough to retrace history. Today the villages of Kela and Laugwi still occupy the site as well as well as a variety of holiday homes, mainly for Lae based expatriates eager to escape the potholed city. Walking through the narrow strip, I could not help noticing adventurous names such as ‘Gilligans’ where you can get a cold drink, and ‘Margaritaville’ where they say the food is exceptional. Even the nearby Salamaua Guest House, owned by the Morobe Provincial Government offers a self contained room for K44 per night and you can always find the friendly caretaker manager Mathew Gomuna from Garaina ready to help you. Local legend has it that when the Japanese captured the town, they built an underwater tunnel under Salamaua Point to save their submarines and light landing craft. Our hunt for this piece of history turned up fruitless as our guides could not agree to the exact location. So we turned our attention to just enjoying the According to the online free encyclopedia, Wikipedia, early in 2007, a video production company from The "Destination Truth" expedition team was looking for the ropen, a cryptid that is described in terms suggesting a Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur, whatever lareva that is! The explorers, including the leader Joshua Gates, videotaped a glowing flying object that seemed to correspond to local native ideas about the glowing ropen. I did not see one such prehistoric creature but I came away happy at having fulfilled my childhood dream. On the dinghy back to Busamang village, we passed the villages of Asini, the mission station of Malalo perched high on a hillock and the I have a sentimental attachment to Asini but I know that I may never get to set foot on its beach. Perhaps, I will try one fine day. Finally, farewell to sportswoman Florence ‘Floss’ Bundu, who was a team mate at the Stars Club in the 1980s at Hohola basketball courts, and to Ovia ‘OT’ Toua of HB, who was the first PNG Chief of Staff of this paper and to my good mate the late Henry ‘HK’ Kila, who was never ever short of jokes! Thanks for the happy memories. Join me next week as we attempt to reel in the big one in one big fishing misadventure in Patrick Levo is Post-Courier Bureau Chief in Lae Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Lae business executive Namon Mawason, who is from Laukano village in Salamaua, was greatly shocked to see the rising sea levels when he spent the New Year weekend there. At a popular picnic spot, known to Laukano villagers as Aleawe, rising sea levels have swamped the beach and eaten away the roots of trees along the coastline. He has called on provincial and national authorities to immediately carry out an investigation into rising sea levels in Salamaua. Mr Mawason took photographs of the rising sea levels and sent them me. “The photographs show the possible effects of climate change on the water front in Salamaua, particularly in Aleawe,” Mr Mawason said. He said they also found a life buoy from the ill-fated mv Lihir Express, which had a mishap last October off the Salamaua coast. Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Minister for Culture and Tourism Charles Abel revealed this at the 11th Mamose governors’ conference last Friday in Salamaua, Huon Gulf district, while presenting a cheque for K50, 000 to develop Black Cat Trail between Salamaua and Wau. Mr Abel has called on all culture and tourism promoters and developers to document and compile proposals and submit them to make use of the funds. He said the master plan for the Black Cat Skin Diwai track was documented and compiled. The launching was held recently at Lae International Hotel and an initial funding for the track worth K70, 000 was given. Mr Abel said the Kokoda Track alone had attracted 6,000 tourists this year. “If we want to further promote and market tourism in the country, we have to change our behaviours, characters and attitudes,” he said. “The tourism and culture business is a total community participation venture and it benefits all. “Why are we killing ourselves committing hold-ups and hijacking our visitors?” Mr Abel asked. “If Salamaua local level government leaders and communities are serious about developing their two significant historical sites, they must wake up from their slumber,” Morobe Governor Luther Wenge said. Community leaders and people should work collectively with the Government to introduce a product to attract tourists, he added.Mr Wenge also accepted a petition from the Salamaua people to develop Black Cat Trail and build a sea wall to protect historical sites at Salamaua, the former colonial administrative centre of Morobe Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Laukanu villagers, in a reanactment of the arrival of the first missionaries Malalo as seen from the sea Part of the large crowd at Malalo It was a sunny day, not a cloud was in the sky, as if they did not want to spoil the celebrations. Hundreds of people from all over Salamaua, Morobe Province, converged on Malalo that Friday for the centenary celebrations. Work started on this icon - overlooking idyllic and historic Salamaua – exactly 100 years ago on October 12, 1907. Surrounding villagers and guests from Lae, other parts of Morobe, and Papua New Guinea, converged on Malalo for the 100th anniversary celebrations. The people of my mother’s Laukanu village rekindled memories of yore when they brought a kasali (ocean going canoe) to Malalo in a re-enactment of the arrival of the first Lutheran missionaries. The people of Laukanu were among the greatest mariners of the Huon Gulf, making long ocean trips throughout the Huon Gulf to exchange goods, long before the arrival of the white man. When the first Lutheran missionaries arrived in Finschhafen in the late 1880s, the Laukanu made the long sea voyage to Finschhafen, and helped to bring the Miti (Word of God) to the villages south of Lae. The launch of the kasali celebrated not only the great seamanship of the Laukanu, but more importantly, coincided with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Malolo Mission Station - overlooking idyllic and historic Salamaua – on October 12, 1907. The people of Salamaua and surrounding villages, who make up the Malalo Circuit, converge on Malalo that week for this momentous occasion. It was a time for all to celebrate the important role the church had played in their lives, as well as remember the many expatriate missionaries and local evangelists, who worked through the dark days of World War 1 and World War 11 to bring the Miti (Word of God) to the people. These legendary missionaries include Reverend Karl Mailainder and Rev Herman Boettger (who started actual work on the Malalo station), Rev Hans Raun, Rev Friedrich Bayer, Rev Mathias Lechner, and Rev Karl Holzknecht. Rev Raun suffered the humiliation of being interned by Australian authorities during WW1 while Rev Holzknecht (whose family has contributed much to the development of PNG) suffered the same fate during WW11 – their only crime being Germans. Rev Bayer was taking a well-deserved leave in his homeland of Germany when he lost his life on July 24, 1932. The heart-warming and touching story of Rev Bayer and his wife, Sibylle Sophie Bayer, is told in Sophie’s autobiography He led me to a far off place. Rev Holzknecht replaced Rev Lechner in 1939 and was there when World War 11 broke out and wiped out Malalo and its famous neighbour of Salamaua. Missionary’s wife Helene Holzknecht accompanied her husband on all but the trips along the Black Cat Trail into the Wau and Bulolo valleys, ministering to village women and helping the sick she found in these areas. The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 brought this idyll to an end. Karl Holzknecht – being a German - was taken prisoner as an enemy alien by Australian authorities, leaving a pregnant and heartbroken Helene at Malalo. Her eldest child and only daughter, Irene, was born at Sattelberg, on February 1, 1940, after Karl’s removal to Australia. Helene and Irene were returned to Malalo, but were eventually evacuated after Japanese bombers attacked Lae and Salamaua. Helene often talked of seeing those planes skimming the hills on their way to Salamaua, and the horror of the bombing of Salamaua. Soon after their evacuation by DC3 to Port Moresby, Japanese aircraft also bombed the Malalo Station, destroying all the family’s possessions. Reverend Karl Mailainder and Rev Herman Boettger started work on the Malalo Mission Station exactly 100 years ago on October 12, 1907. They had already checked out other places from Busamang to Kelanuc before settling at Asini at a place called Poadulu. At Poadulu, work started on Malalo. The local people were very happy and gave a large piece of land to the Lutheran Church. The Laukanu people had two kasali so they sailed all the way to Finschhafen and brought missionaries’ cargo back to Malalo. When Rev Mailainder was clearing land at Malalo, he had a surveyor, Mr Mayar, who worked alongside him. Work had already started when Rev Boettger arrived and the station was established. At that time, a church was made of sago leaves. This was after the congregation membership increased to 500. Work started on Malalo Mission Station on October 12, 1907, and the opening was on December 20, 1907. In 1908, the work of confirmation started and work started on a new church building with proper roofing iron. One missionary gave 1000 German Marks, while Munchen in Germany gave a big bell and a bowl for baptism. Work started on the new church building and on January 30th, 1910, it was opened with Holy Baptism. Malalo 100th anniversary organiser Elisah Ahimpum was pleased with the hundreds of people who turned up for the occasion, which also featured a cultural show. Plaques with the names of all missionaries and evangelists who worked at Malalo were unveiled that Friday. Invited guests to the 100th anniversary celebrations included Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG leader Reverend Dr Bishop Wesley Kigasung, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, Lae MP and prominent Lutheran Bart Philemon, Huon Gulf MP and Health Minister Sasa Zibe, as well as Bulolo MP Sam Basil as the Miti filtered into his area from Malalo. Unfortunately, not all were able to attend, with only Assistant ELPNG Bishop Zao Rapa representing the church and Mr Philemon and Tewai-Siassi MP Vincent Michaels representing the government. However, that did not spoil the occasion, with hundreds turning up to witness celebrations marking the centenary. A soldier who died before WW11 Another graveyard from the gold mining days One of the earliest graves from 1930 Resting in peace on beautiful Salamaua To visit the old Salamaua cemetery is to step back in time, to rip-roaring period when gold fever struck men from around the globe. The discovery of gold at Edie Creek above Wau in 1926 sparked off a gold rush of massive proportions, which led to the development of Salamaua as the capital of the then Morobe District. Thousands of Europeans flocked to the jungles of Salamaua and Wau in search of gold in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Their legacy lives on today through the infamous Black Cat Trail, later to become scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of WW11. In those days, foreigners were regarded as insane by the village people because of the joy the strange yellow dust brought to them and the trouble they went to get it Gold-fevered foreigners from all around the globe were landing at Salamaua! The goldfields lay eight days walk through thick leech-infested jungle and steep razorback ridges. There was a real threat of being attacked by hostile warriors. And when they got to the fields, they were faced with the prospect of dysentery, a variety of ‘jungle’ diseases, and pneumonia brought on by the extremes of temperature between day and night. Blackwater fever, a potent tropical disease akin to malaria, claimed the lives of unaccustomed European gold miners by the score. Gold Dust and Ashes, the 1933 classic by Australian writer Ion Idriess, tells the fascinating yarn of the gold fields and of the trials and tribulations faced by the miners. Idriess, in his book – which remains a bestseller to this day – also writes of many of the colorful characters that now lie on a hill overlooking the sea in the old Salamaua cemetery. It provides probably the best insight into the history of the development of the Morobe goldfields, and is a must- read for students of colonial history. Today the old Salamaua cemetery, or what remains of it, is well tended to by the local villagers. The graves are mute testimony to the days when European man, running a high gold fever, was claimed by a fever of a different kind.
Posted in Books, cryptozoology, monsters, strange creatures, tagged art, big birds, creature, cryptids, cryptozoology, linda godfrey art, strange wisconsin, thunderbirds on September 7, 2014 \| art by Linda Godfrey Super-sized birds are one of the most tantalizing topics for researchers of cryptid animals. Most of these weird flyers resemble some type of actual bird (often a type thought long extinct) that would seem to put them in the “likely to be ‘real’” category – except for their wingspan usually reported at 20 feet or more, their massive bodies, and their penchant for carrying off live creatures considerably larger than the rabbits, fish and squirrels preferred by even the largest of our known birds of prey. The 2005 sighting near Hayward, Wisconsin by a Minnesota businessman named John Bolduan that I chronicled in American Monsters describes one of the better observations I’ve seen anywhere of these creatures. Bolduan’s sighting was in close range in full daylight and included seeing the bird on the ground, taking off, and then flapping away, with nearby trees, tall grasses and roadway for size comparisons. It had a stork-like appearance, but Bolduan hasn’t been able to match it to any known species. Since the time that I had to submit the manuscript for that book, I’ve received other reports of oversized avians that I wish could have been included. A brief summary: - Pike County, PA, autumn 1996 or 1997: A woman reported seeing a huge birdlike creature gliding over the trees during the day. She stopped her car to watch it and estimated it was the same length as her car, 17 feet. She tried reporting it to an area animal preserve and to a game warden, who both told her she had probably seen a vulture, but she said it looked nothing like a vulture and could not find anything to compare it to other than something prehistoric. - State Line Island, Nebraska, May 1995: In another daylight sighting, a man hiking along the North Platte River encountered two birds standing in a clearing that appeared the size of large humans but were covered with black feathers and had raptor-like heads. No markings. One turned and looked at him, then both spread their wings to an estimated 20 foot span and jumped from the ground. One was carrying a small deer in its talons and had a hard time getting airborne with it as the other bird screeched from the treetops. He believed the deer was the same small doe he had seen at that site the day before and estimated its weight at at least 75 pounds. - Clements, Michigan, spring 2014: NOTE — I’m withdrawing this report of a “giant” bird that had been sent by a third party. Subsequent interviews with the actual witnesses revealed this was almost certainly a turkey vulture. According to the father and son, it had the typical pinkish-red, unfeathered head and other characteristics of this bird that is probably the Midwest’s most oft-misidentified bird of prey. Just goes to show the importance of a little extra digging, and my apologies for posting the brief version prematurely! - On the other hand, as if to make up for that one, I received another report from Brookfield, a suburb of Milwaukee, that was indeed submitted by the original witness who answered follow-up questions. Her sighting occurred in fall, 2006, in daylight, as she and her three-year old son stood in the backyard of the home they were renting. She noted that the area had enough natural cover that they often saw deer, coyotes and other wildlife. She wrote, “A bird that resembled a golden eagle, except that it was about the same height as me (five feet, four inches) landed 15-20 feet away from us, looking me in the eye. We all remained still, staring at each other for a while. I remember feeling a little scared, as it could easily fly away with my 3-year old, but also a great reverence as I felt the bird was deciding how it felt about us being on that land.” The woman added that they all stood for about 20 seconds, eyeing one another, before it flapped away with “great ease.” After it left, she took a yardstick and measured what its height and wingspan would have been according to where it had stood in relation to corresponding features of her lawn, and said it stood 50-55 inches tall (about a foot shorter than she thought at first) with a 12-foot wingspan. A golden eagle may have a 5 1/2 to 8-foot wingspan but stands only about 27-36 inches tall. She added that the breast color of the bird she saw was “creamish,” which is not usual for this species. Was it a golden eagle? If so, it was a specimen considerably larger than the known dimensions of that species, with unusual coloring. I do think what ever it may have been, it probably was interested in checking out her 3-year old, and that’s the scariest aspect of this encounter. Golden eagles have been known to seize small deer and domestic animals. Read Full Post » Posted in strange creatures, TV, Uncategorized, tagged beast of bray road, bigfoot, cryptozoology, dogman, Linda Godfrey, sasquatch, strange wisconsin, werewolf on January 8, 2013 \| 13 Comments » While waiting along with everyone else to see whether Dr. Melba Ketchum’s DNA study and/or the allegedly captured Bigfoot code-named Daisy hold any water worth wading into, I have been looking back at some of the better ‘Squatch reports I’ve received and collected from SE Wisconsin over the years. One of my favorites is the so-called “Bad Hair Day Bigfoot” observed by Matt Wakely in September 2005 SE of Lake Geneva, near the WI-IL border. The incident is described in full in my book Hunting the American Werewolf, and Wakely passed a polygraph exam of his story on the Monsterquest “American Werewolf ” episode. (The show didn’t mention he saw a Bigfoot rather than a dog man). This was a daylight sighting where the witness had a good long look at the creature. He called his mother and told her he had just seen a caveman, naked and covered with fur. The creature seemed totally unafraid of Matt, and its most unusual feature may have been its rather wild hairdo. My best guess is that it was perhaps an adolescent that had just risen from a midday nap in the cemetery, where it stood with 1 foot on a head stone. It also had less facial hair, according to Matt’s description, than any other Bigfoot ever reported to me. This also suggests an adolescent age group, but more importantly, it gave Matt an unusually clear look at facial features. Matt drew his own sketches ( below) and then worked with me to achieve what he agreed looked a pretty fair facsimile of what he saw. At that time, I privately thought the face seemed a bit too human, but my job is to draw and report what the witness saw without projecting my own biases. Over the past year, as I had my own encounter and gathered more local evidence, it’s occurred to me that if Ketchum’s study proves valid and Sasquatch is indeed genetically part human , then this drawing may be a closer stab at a real portrait than I previously believed. And Matt’s tag of “caveman” may have been very accurate! Read Full Post » Posted in Life, strange creatures, travel, tagged beast of bray road, dinosaur store, haunchies, haunchyville, Lake Geneva, midwest express, Mystic Drive, strange wisconsin, travel, witches of Whitewater on September 9, 2009 \| 7 Comments » I must be one, then. I’ve been called worse. So when an airline in-flight magazine gives me the title of monster hunter it strikes me only as a tad amusing, and perhaps even accurate. Midwest’s current fall issue chronicles the tour of southeast Wisconsin strangeness that I gave Chicago writer Rod O’Connor in July (read ONLINE ). Using my books Strange Wisconsin and Weird Wisconsin , we covered Lake Geneva’s lake monster, Jennie, the Beast of Bray Road (natch), the Millard dinosaur store (which didn’t make it in but see my photo below), Whitewater’s famed witch’s triangle, and the weirdest legend in Wisconsin: Haunchyville, alleged domain of tiny men with miniature but lethal baseball bats. O’Connor does a great job of contrasting SE Wisconsin’s pleasant, woods-and-cornfields landscape with the monsters and strangeness that lurk therein. He writes as fastidiously as he keeps his car — despite the fact that he often has a baby on board, the interior would put any dealer’s detailer to shame. “We never eat in the car,” he told me as I bit into the pita sandwich I had just acquired at the LaGrange General Store. His eyes followed a crumb that had dropped to the pristine passenger seat where I sat. I hastily retrieved it and made sure there were no more. You never want to tick off someone who is going to write a major magazine story about you. I did thoroughly enjoy the day, especially our side trip to Mystic Drive in Muskego where the Haunchies famously dwell. The tales tell of a forbidden lane at the end of the street that is guarded by a rifle-toting man in a black pickup truck, where you are sure to incur a whopping fine for trespassing. We did encounter a black truck with two men but no visible rifle. But the farm at the end of the street where the lane should have been is now busily subdividing itself like an amoeba, and the Haunchy habitat appears to have been obliterated. I was amazed then when we discovered a weedy yard on Mystic Drive itself with three small, strange-looking buildings. From the looks of them, no humans of any size ever dwelled here, but I wondered whether their presence was enough to have started the Haunchy legend in the first place? Supposedly the Haunchies were a colony of little people retired from area-based circuses, but I had expected to find nothing at all from this popular urban legend. The tiny buildings were a fun bonus. They can be seen from the road, no need to trespass. Here is a picture of the oddest one: It is obvious from the state of disrepair that this is no country for old, little men. The tour was fun, though, and we barely scratched the surface of weirdness in Wisconsin. I hope the Midwest passengers get a charge out of the article and a little crypto-education to boot. Perhaps more than one will be alert enough to glimpse that pterodactyl winging its way past their cabin window…. Read Full Post » Posted in Life, Uncategorized, writing, tagged book publicity, Book signing, Burlington Wisconsin, cheesecake, Lima ax murder, speaking, strange wisconsin on March 29, 2009 \| 2 Comments » Kenosha diner sign There is a reason I like to go out and talk to people about my books. Yes I like the sales, and the refreshments are often delicious. My gig last Thursday at the Burlington Antiques Club offered cheesecake and fresh fruit. The. Best. But what really got my boat afloat occurred after I finished blathering and took the opportunity to listen to the 10 people who had gathered to see me. That is when the good stuff always happens. This time was no exception. I found out that the host of the meeting, Laurence, grew up in the same town as the Lima Ax Murderer featured in my Strange Wisconsin. And that the murderer, after he went to prison for bashing his two elderly uncles to death, faithfully sent Laurence a Christmas card every year from Waupun. Touching! I also learned that another of the attendees was the wife of the prinicipal who hired me for my first real art-teaching job, many moons ago, and that they had been following my book publication trail. They had been making a pilgrimage around the state to key sites related to the books and she had brought their map to prove it. Seeing that was even better than the cheesecake. This wasn’t unusual. People have told me all sorts of things at signings. One woman had a doctor’s diagram to prove she’d been molested by aliens. Many have related their family ghost stories, or that they have seen unknown, upright canines. The sweetest are those who share that their kids who never read sat down and read Weird Wisconsin or The Beast of Bray Road. Out loud. To their little brother. Due to the inconvenience of there being only one of me, I sadly can’t attend all the events I’d like. But every time I have to say no, I wonder what I missed. What innermost secret did I fail to learn from some blessed reader? For it really is true. Get enough cheesecake into someone, and they’ll spill their souls. With raspberry sauce. Read Full Post »
Anyone who knows me, or perhaps who is a regular reader, knows that I have an affinity for big hairy hominids. Well, actually, I should probably clarify, there’s one particular big hairy hominid that I have in mind, not just dudes with a lot of back hair. I’m referring to Bigfoot, or Sasquatch if you prefer. To clarify further, I enjoy the Bigfoot phenomenon, and though I’ve written about this pinnacle cryptid in the past, occasionally giving it more credit that it is perhaps due, I am not a believer. I concede that it could exist, however unlikely that may be, but I have and will continue to reserve judgment until evidence is found to prove its existence. It is endlessly fun to speculate and theorise on its various attributes, behaviour and ancestry though. In that vein, I tuned in to Spike TV’s newest reality show last night, the 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty, starring Dean Cain. This show has been hyped in style over the last several weeks, especially among Bigfooters and their associated blogs and online communities, of which I am not necessarily a member. It had been promised that it would be a serious effort to find talented people, who are, after all is said and done, more likely than most to actually find that elusive evidence of Sasquatch. We’ve been promised that the cast and producers will take a pointedly scientific tact and that the whole thing will be treated as a scientific endeavour, rather than a TV spectacle. Last night was the premier episode, and I have mixed feelings about it now, having slept on it. If you follow my twitter feed, you likely saw my tweets about the show during and after it aired. I was happy with it. That is to say, I was entertained by it. The show is the brain child of reality TV producer and writer Mike Riley, who is known for his contributions to several reality TV programs and series. It stars, as mentioned, actor and avid outdoorsman Dean Cain (best known for his role as Superman in ABC’s Lois & Clark), as well as anthropologist and primatologist Natalia Reagan, and renowned anthropology professor at New York University and molecular primatologist Dr. Todd Disotell. It also stars a ragtag cast of contestants with varying levels of expertise and experience in the realms of biology, Bigfooting, hunting and wildlife preservation. The first episode served to introduce us and the cast with the format of the show and with each other, which in one case wasn’t really a welcome introduction, but we’ll get to that. The contestants will spend the next several weeks living together in a cabin, a la Big Brother, and will compete in a series of research or conservatory type tasks in various locations around the American North West. These tasks are meant to give each two-person team a chance to prove to the hosts that they have what it takes to be real Bigfoot researchers. Every episode will see one team sent home for failing the given task, in the spirit of Survivor. At the end of the series, the remaining team will win the contest and be awarded the $10 million dollar prize, which is being put forward by Lloyd’s of London Insurance. The winners will also become members of a rock star Bigfoot hunting expedition, which will include Disotell and Reagan, who will ostensibly have a better chance of actually finding the elusive beast than any other. Last night’s tasks were to collect viable DNA from a wild animal in an area described as a game preserve, so as to provide Dr. D. (as he’s being called in the twitterverse) and Natalia with something to analyse. And then to spend a night in a different area and try to come up with Bigfoot evidence to be analysed. I’ll say at this point, I like this format. It should serve to teach viewers a thing or two about the scientific method and about evidence standards. I did see some things I didn’t like though. The most glaring issue is the apparently blood-thirsty attitude of some of the contestants. Justin Smeja (partnered with “tech wizard” Ro Sahebi), who is a self-proclaimed hunter, and who claims to have shot and killed two Sasquatch at some time in the past, stated openly that his only interest is in finding and killing a Bigfoot, so as to put the argument to rest. This doesn’t seem in keeping with the promise we were given that this would be a scientific endeavour. Other contestants have a history of hunting, which, in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, but it remains to be seen if the show turns into a big game hunter type exercise. The first contestants to be eliminated were husband and wife team Travis and January Miller. They failed to bring back any evidence to be analysed by the hosts and as such were eliminated. To me, this was an incorrect choice. As the Millers reasoned, is it not better to bring back nothing, than to bring back false, misleading, or just plain silly evidence? The thing I really didn’t like to see happened in the ‘look ahead’ or preview of upcoming episodes. They cut to a scene in the cabin, with all of the remaining contestants sitting around the living room, arguing about who’s the better researcher and who really deserves to be there. It’s distasteful, it’s scripted drama and it really turns me off. If the next episode turns out to be more Big Brother/Survivor-esque reality TV, I won’t be tuning in for a third episode. After all, we know that the purpose of the show, despite what the charismatic hosts want you to believe, is to make money through viewership and ratings. Historically speaking, that’s achieved through hedonistic and pseudo-violent drama, not science. They’re off to a good start, I suppose, but in my mind the quality of the show could go either direction…and reality TV’s reputation doesn’t give me a great deal of hope. Latest posts by Martin J. Clemens (see all) - The Golem: Friend, Foe, or Farce? - 15 October, 2014 - Graham Hancock Offers Update on Gunung Padang Excavation - 2 October, 2014 - The Mysterious Celestial Spheres of the Ancient Mughal Empire - 11 September, 2014 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 23rd, 2011 The New Zealand Herald recently published this interesting story about the celebrity hobby of Rhys Darby. It will be recalled that Darby was Jim Carrey‘s manager, Norman, in Yes Man. That movie had an underlying subtle “Bigfoot” theme. Rhys Darby, comedian, plays the manager in “Flight of the Conchords.” Rhys Darby performing with “Flight of the Conchords” at Gramercy Theatre in New York, June 14, 2007. What is your hobby? My hobby is cryptozoology – the search for and study of animals that may or may not exist – creatures and predominantly monsters that live on this planet but have managed to hide from scientific classification. Why did you choose that? Because I have always been fascinated by the possibility that we humans still haven’t found everything on this planet. What do you enjoy about it? I’m an old romantic when it comes to exploration and adventure. I also love science fiction and science theory. There is a chance that we live in a multi-dimensional universe. If this is the case then cryptid creatures from another world may be able to enter our own through rips in the dimensions. Is it expensive? It’s free to study cryptozoology but it starts to get expensive when you embark on expeditions to exotic locations to look for yetis. What do your friends and family think about it? They think I’m an idiot. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Monday, June 11, 2012 Many of the readers of 'Phantoms and Monsters' and listeners of 'Beyond the Edge Radio' can recall my description of my 1981 encounter with a Bigfoot type being. If not, here are a few links: Man witness confrontation between Bigfoot and stray dog, near Sykesville, MD The 'Sykesville Monster' At the time, I called it a 'Bigfoot' because, frankly, that was the only way I could have described it. It wasn't human...it wasn't an ape. For over 30 years my encounter with this being has left a strange hole in my understanding of nature and reality. I have tried to comprehend exactly what it was I witnessed. Over the years, I have tried to gather more information on my sighting as well as other sightings in the general area. Since my sighting in 1981 there have been two (2) more BFRO 'Class A' reports along the Patapsco River Valley and another four (4) general reports and sightings in the same area from 1972-1979. I interviewed and got to know several of the witnesses of the 1972-73 flap after my personal encounter in 1981. Many of these witnesses have since passed away. There were other unreported incidents in the general Sykesville and Gaither, MD areas. I personally took statements to eight (8) more sightings / encounters between 1972-1979, including a home invasion on Norris Ave. and a utility shed break-in on Oklahoma Ave...both in Sykesville. There were also several chicken pens broke into up and down the South Branch of the Patapsco River in Gaither, MD - Sykesville, MD - Woodstock, MD - Daniels, MD and Ellicott City, MD. Most of the sightings have been within the Patapsco State Park...which has a history of unusual activity (UFO, paranormal and cryptid) throughout the park. I still live within 15 miles of all the locations. Over the past few months, I decided to come to grips with my encounter and have a sketch or image of the being's face created. I knew that if the image was similar to what I actually witnessed there would be controversy and doubters...but I can't let that bother me. After making a few inquiries, I was directed to a retired police forensics artist who is now a private investigator in Florida. The image would be created digitally. I forwarded all the facial descriptions that I had gathered from the witness' sightings and subsequent interviews. On Saturday, I received the image with a note from the artist that read 'are you sure this is what you witnessed? It looks like a rendering of early man except for a few features'. I called him and assured him that this is what I witnessed...this is what we all witnessed. This was the 'Sykesville Monster'. Lon Hunt Still in Progress Baltimore Afro-American - Jun 9, 1973 Sykesville, Carroll County, Maryland Sykesville, Maryland - The fear and uncertainty that has gripped residents here the past two weeks has been intensified by two new reports of monster sightings received by police Friday. The "Sykesville Monster" was seen Friday evening by an out-of-state truck driver who described him vividly. Of high significance is the fact the 1,400-population town, 20 miles North of Baltimore, Maryland in Carroll County, has jumped into nationwide headlines in the National AFRO and other news media. Following the Baltimore zoo assistant director Dr. Ted Roth called to say that he went to Sykesville and determined the footprint is by a large human foot "with fallen arches." He said he would report after he takes another trip to Sykesville to determine "what the balance of the body may be." A Baltimore scientific research firm is also in Sykesville checking AFRO caller's from 'educators to the man-on-the-street' are on their way to the small town. TRUCK DRIVER'S REPORT According to the truck driver, (who requested anonymity), the "it" stood approximately seven to eight feet tall and appeared to be dark brown in color." It could have been a man on stilts." he said. The driver stated that whatever it was seemed to be "caked with mud from the waist down." Although he was unable to pinpoint the exact location of the sighting, the driver said it appeared to be sitting down. According to the driver, the "thing", which was evidently minding its own business, stood, turned around and sensing danger, dashed into the woods. As the result of the AFRO story Friday, an investigating organization, Odyssey Scientific Research, Baltimore, is on the scene. John Lutz, director of Odyssey, talked to the truck driver, and said there is an additional witness in Anne Arundel who reportedly saw the monster. TALKING WITH EYE-WITNESSES Although reluctant to classify the "thing" which has been running loose in Sykesville, Mr. Jutz did state that at the present time, his corporation is, "listing the incident as an unidentified prowler until more information is gathered and more positive identification was made." Mr. Lutz added that tape recordings are being made of each witnesses account in order to form verbal records, which will be studied, by veterinarians, zoologists and biologists. According to Mr. Lutz, the entire incident could be the work of a prankster. "It's very possible that a prankster will call the police department and say it was all a big joke," he said. As of Sunday, when two AFRO reporters returned to Sykesville's "Oklahoma Hill," citizens were hardly joking about the situation, which they feel is very real. Mrs. Agnes Dorsey, mother of the' young man who first saw the "thing" said she thought more should be done to effect its capture and or destruction. They should have- -gangs of men out looking for it," she said, "I hope it's caught!" According to Anthony Dorsey, the monster has also been seen in Woodstock, and Marriotsville, Md., located 6 miles from Sykesville, Md. Lon Strickler - My Bigfoot Encounter - May 9, 1981 and BFRO report Michael Frizzell - A Synopsis of the History, Reports, and Investigation of Claims of Unknown Hominids in and about the State of Maryland History of the Maryland Bigfoot BFRO - The Woodstock, MD Encounter Carroll County Times Mark Opsasnick - The Maryland Bigfoot Digest: A SURVEY OF CREATURE SIGHTINGS IN THE FREE STATE Mark Opsasnick - "Monsters of Maryland: Bigfoot" - Strange Magazine 3 (1989) NOTE: I am not going to place a copyright on this image. I sincerely hope that those people who wish to use it will include the actual story behind the rendered image. I think the big question is 'are these natural beings or are we seeing interdimensional examples of early man or other hominids from another time?'...Lon Strickler
Written by Chad Groening An author and political activist says the Democratic Party is clearly controlled by far left-wing radicals who want to create a one-party state. Recently The Washington Free Beacon obtained some unpublished correspondence between Hillary Clinton and 1960s-era left-wing radical Saul Alinsky. The letters revealed a close relationship between Clinton and Alinsky, who wrote Rules for Radicals, a controversial guide to the ends-justifies-means approach to power and wealth redistribution through community activism. David Horowitz is a former member of the communist party who has now become a conservative and is the founder and CEO of the David Horowitz Freedom Center. “The aim of Democrats is to create a one-party state,” he says. “These are totalitarians. They think they know what’s good for everybody and they’re going to force you to follow their plan – and their means are deceptive.… Continue Reading By Bill Whittle The Loch Ness Monster is a “cryptid” — something rumored to exist but without actual proof. The Socialist Utopia of the progressives is a cryptid too. In his latest Firewall, Bill Whittle shows why Good Socialism, like the Loch Ness Monster, is a giant, air-breathing creature that (conveniently!) NEVER COMES UP FOR AIR. Written by Matt Barber Judge Richard Posner, a federal judge with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, recently become a hero to the pro-”gay marriage” left when, by way of a “legal analysis” free from the troublesome constraints of logic, case precedent, biology, tradition and reality in general, he managed to somehow divine a long-hidden constitutional “right” for two dudes to get “married.” “How can tradition be a reason for anything?” an incredulous Posner demanded last month of attorneys defending marriage protection amendments in both Wisconsin and Indiana. It would seem that Posner’s contempt for tradition extends to all things sexual, up to and including the puritanical presupposition that it’s always wrong for a man to rape a woman. This idea, according to Posner in his 2011 book “Economic Analysis of the Law” (8th edition), is evidently an equally archaic tradition that, like the institution of natural marriage, needs a significant overhaul.… Continue Reading Written by Michael Medved The New York Times described a disappointing Washington rally for Democratic Senate candidates pushing the slogan, “America Needs a Raise.” Only a few dozen attended the big event and the Times concluded: “The Democrats’ strategy of making an increase in the minimum wage a midterm election rallying cry has been drowned out by world events. The party continues to talk about it, but it appears that few are listening.” While threats from ISIS, Ebola and Russia certainly dominate the news, the minimum wage was bound to flop as an election issue in any event. Only 2.6 percent of all workers are earning the legal minimum wage—and a sudden, unearned raise for them would tighten business budgets and make it harder for the 97.4 percent who already earn above minimums to win their own raises.… Continue Reading Written by Michael Medved Since her disastrous showing in the Iowa caucuses six years ago, Hillary Clinton has stayed away from the Hawkeye State—until a recent visit viewed by many as the unofficial kickoff of her new presidential campaign. Speaking to more than 5,000 at a “Steak Fry” in Indianola, the former Secretary of State got by far her biggest applause with a ringing declaration that women deserve “equal pay and that means you should get equal pay for equal work.” Unfortunately, Clinton arrived about 40 years late on this issue: in 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation guaranteeing equal pay for equal work and punishing any businesses that knowingly discriminate against women. The “equal pay” legislation Democrats push today would merely make it easier for lawyers to file suits, rather than protecting ordinary working women.… Continue Reading Written by Michael Lucci Illinoisans enjoyed a larger paycheck than their Iowa counterparts for 30 years – until 2012. For the first time ever, the median household in Iowa surpassed its Illinois counterpart, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. If you lined up all households in order of income, the median household would be the one in the very middle. The middle income in Illinois has collapsed by $12,000 in the last 15 years, indicating that the state is hollowing out its middle class. These shrinking paychecks have been driven by a number of factors, including state policies that smother entrepreneurs, a regulatory environment that strangles businesses, Illinois’ culture of cronyism and overall high taxation. In addition, Illinois’ out-migration crisis is magnitudes greater than Iowa’s, as Iowa has turned the corner and is stemming its annual loss of residents to other states.… Continue Reading Written by IllinoisReview.com The Illinois Libertarian Party candidates will be on the November 2014 ballot, the State Board of Elections Board decided Friday. “We’re certified and we’re on the ballot,” Brian Lambrecht of the DuPage County Libertarians told Illinois Review shortly after leaving the hearing in Chicago. “The Republicans did everything they could to discredit the petition signatures to get us from the 46,000 signatures we gathered to below the required 25,000 signature threshold, but they failed,” Lambrecht said. In addition to volunteer petitioners like Lambrecht, several professional petitioners had been hired by the Libertarian Party to gather petition signatures. Republican operatives worked especially hard to discredit those that had gathered 2000 or more, he said. “These people gather petitions for a living, so their livelihood was threatened by armed guards coming to their homes and demanding that they sign an affadavit admitting they had committed fraud,” Lambrecht told Illinois Review.… Continue Reading Written by IllinoisReview.com Neither Governor Pat Quinn nor his Muslim American Advisory Council have commented on, or condemned, ISIS’ beheading of American journalist James Foley. Quinn’s Muslim American Advisory Council is the only religious group to which the governor has reached out. Although the 500,000 Muslims in Illinois make the state home to the largest Muslim population in America, Catholics are the largest religious group, and unaffiliated evangelicals are the second largest. No advisory councils or committees representing those two religious groups are listed among the 58 commissions Quinn has created. He does list a “Holocaust and Genocide Commission,” although not directly linked to those in Illinois Jewish Community. In the past, Quinn has issued statements condemning attacks on mosques in Illinois, but did not comment on Foley’s death, or ISIS’ slaughter of Christians.… Continue Reading Written by Russ Stewart Illinois is an anomaly. It is “The Land of Lassitude.” Voters are passive, partisan and forgiving. In state government, there are no checks and balances to Democratic abuses, ineptitude and favoritism. In any other state, when a governor is impeached, indicted, convicted and imprisoned, the party of that incumbent would be shamed, tarnished and ousted. Not in Illinois. In any other state, when one party controls all the levers of government — governor, both houses of the state legislature and the supreme court — and that party fails to govern effectively, voters would hold them accountable and they would be ousted. Not in Illinois. In any other state, when a governor raises $24 million over a 5-year period, much of it from vendors doing business with the state government, there should be an inkling of voter, media and legislative concern, if not outrage, over “pay to play.” Not in Illinois.… Continue Reading
Who am I..? 51 Things about Me (Updated!) 1. I live with my creative genius/vampire husband, teen son, and a very shaggy dog. (Well, our son is shaggy too.) 2. Time elapsed from beginning of the first draft of my first novel to actual publication release date = two and a half years. (Light speed in publishing time.) 3. I love the smell of Starbucks coffee but not their coffee. 4. Searching for the bright spot, sometimes with both hands, but still consider myself an optimist. 5. The first song played at my wedding: Unforgettable by Nat King Cole followed by Love Shack by the B-52s. Yes, the DJ actually played You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC. (We rocked those old Episcopalians.) 6. I will stop procrastinating tomorrow. 7. I like to write stories about my dog, but he doesn’t seem to “get” me. (Everyone’s a critic.) 8. If I had a magic fairy wand, I’d give all court reporters a raise. (Except for the sucky ones.) 9. I am a court reporter. (See above note.) 10. Still think that the Beatles are the answer. 11. And that Dav Pilkey and Jeff Kinney are flippin’ geniuses! 12. Could listen to Elvis Costello sing the phone book. (At least a page or two.) 13. Believe the Beatles are the greatest band ever, for many reasons. (Yes, I will fight over this. And have.) 14. Have a back yard squirrel with a bad attitude. 15. My neighbors, for the most part, don’t suck. 16. Without chocolate and coffee, life would be much less sparkly. 17. I love Cake – the band and the food. 18. Favorite new-ish show: Downton Abbey. 19. Think Don Draper, while super handsome, is kind of a jerk. 20. Enjoy reading magical realism. 21. Langston Hughes, Shirley Jackson, and Truman Capote are among my favorite short story authors. 22. Can’t even imagine myself in stiletto heels. 23. Live in a suburban area of Los Angeles where one city blends into the next. 24. My parents met in radio school during the golden age of Los Angeles. 25. Grew up in a small, noisy household with many pets, mostly cats. 26. Have been Rickrolled on occasion. 27. Live in a household where the men sometimes speak in a strange code. 28. Will watch the 1955 version of Guys And Dolls any time. Or Grease. Especially the ending sequence where Sandy and Danny switch roles and John Travolta is looking at Olivia Newton John wearing her black neoprene outfit and salivating like a hungry dog. 29. Think that the Easter Bunny may actually be a cryptid. 30. Still reading? Give yourself 20 points! 31. My work in progress may involve a werewolf. (Or something like a werewolf.) 32. My two essentials before embarking on a monk-like pilgrimage – lip balm and sunscreen. 33. Come from pioneer stock (but don’t really feel like a pioneer). 34. Think tacos are magic. 35. Am trying to get over this annoying money allergy. 36. Spend too much time on Absolute Write. 37. Two-time breast cancer survivor. (Is there an award for that?) 38.My name spelled backward is Teragram. (Sounds like a sci-fi character name, doesn’t it?) 39. I’m kind. 40. I’m lazy. 41.Wish people would be a little bit kinder to each other and less hung up on their differences. 42. Have been known to poke my finger into the underside, looking for the “good” chocolate. 43. If you’ve made it this far, you are to be admired for your fortitude and good looks. 44. Make my own soup. (Well, I share.) 45. Always seem to have an abundance of lemons. 46. Am a coconut lover. 47. Collected 45 records when I was a youngster. (Record stores. Remember those?) 48. Have three sisters and miss my brother. 49. My mother kicks all kinds of @ss. 50. My mother-in-law still loves me. 51. And, if I had my way, no one would ever go to bed hungry. …and here's the list from 2008… 1. In my husband's eyes, I'm always 10 years younger. 2. I adore my husband and our son. 3. I like to write about my dog. 4. I believe coffee is a necessity. 5. I believe life's too short to drink bad coffee. 6. Think the Beatles are the answer. 7. Passed my driver's license on my 16th birthday, then got my first job the same day (mall clothes store). 8. Received a ticket for making an illegal left turn on my 21st birthday (while sick with a cold). 9. My favorite solo artist is Elvis Costello. 10. I'm a court reporter (depositions). 11. I'm still a (very part-time) student. 12. I don't mind change except when it involves technology. 13. I still haven't mastered our universal remote control. 14. I don't take myself too seriously. 15. Am married to a creative genius. 16. I read 30 books while I was pregnant. 17. When I was young, historical figures I most wanted to meet: J.R.R. Tolkien and Walt Disney. 18. Am fascinated with Martha Stewart. 19. Am fascinated with the word "defenestration." 20. Have never had a manicure. 21. Older women love the men in my life (Husband and Charlie). 22. I don't care for Starbucks coffee. 23. I believe in volunteering. 24. Am a font of useless pop culture trivia. 25. Talk politics in the home a lot. 26. Have a husband who automatically takes the opposite side in an argument just for fun. 27. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons. 28. Spend too much time on the internet. 29. I waited tables in a Kosher-style deli/restaurant where I learned to love matzo ball soup. 30. I'm a cancer survivor. 31. My mother-in-law loves me. 32. I watch too much TV. 33. I'm completely befuddled by social media. 34. I once did a T.V. show taping for a court show - as the court reporter. (Didn't get it.) 35. Am a native Californian. 36. Have an activist mother. 37. Have three great sisters and a sometimes sweet brother who's the oldest (who has a very large CD collection). 38. My parents met in radio school. 39. Am a news junkie. 40. Won a city-wide essay contest in the 5th grade: “How I see our town in the year 2000.” (Let's see, moving sidewalks; reduced school days; food in pill form. No, no, and no.) 41. Would be lost without my lip balm. 42. Am anxiously awaiting the new season of "Lost." 43. Favorite music era: '60s - British Invasion and Motown. 43. Grew up listening to Gilbert & Sullivan and the Singing Nun. 44. Believe that love is the most complex of all human emotions. 45. Have learned to love ABBA. 46. Love the Kids in the Hall (favorite Kids' song "These are the Daves I know, I know). 47. Still watch Seinfeld (and it's still funny). 48. Listened to AC/DC, Pat Benatar, and The Pretenders in high school. 49. Believe that Mounds is the king of the candy bar. 50. Believe that good will always win/am an optimist. 51. I have double-jointed thumbs.
But as I see more and more episodes of "Finding Bigfoot" and get wind of new "Squatching" clubs cropping up, I have a simple question to ask: where the hell are the cryptoarcheologists and cryptopaleontologists? In the world of science it works like this: if you want to discover a new species, you have two choices: 1) find it in nature or 2) find its fossil remains. We already have cryptozoology - the search for "living" legendary creatures. So where are the researchers looking for these creatures in the fossil record? It's pretty clear that Bigfoot is an elusive guy - finding him in the woods is a moving target. That hasn't worked out so well. But he's not immortal - he has to die. Even if he scatters the remains of his dead, they're going to turn up eventually. Cryptozoologists like to famously proclaim that "no one finds bear bones in the woods." OK. I don't think that's true...but even if it is, we sure as hell find bear bones in the fossil record. And we sure as hell find the remains of gigantic primates in the fossil record, as well. In 1935 Ralph von Koenigswald turned up the first known fossils of the mega-ape Gigantopithecus in an apothecary shop. Where are the researchers scouring the riverbanks of the Pacific Northwest for washed out Bigfoot teeth or combing through museum collections for anomalistic fossils? This is an aspect of Squatchology that has always bothered me, for a rather simple reason: I don't think Bigfooters, deep down, actually take what they're doing seriously. This especially includes those who have actual scientific training. Two of the leading lights of cryptozoology over the past century have been men with university training in physical anthropology: Grover Krantz and Jeff Meldrum. Admittedly neither of these scholars are "fieldmen," but their professions rest on the work of analyzing data extracted from the environment. Without "physical" remains, "physical" anthropology has no work to do. It has always struck me as irresponsible on the part of these researchers to approach the question of Bigfoot without access to the kind of evidence upon which their professional opinion would necessarily be based. Forget about the dodgy folklore upon which Bigfootery rests and approach this question as a matter of serious scholarship. Like a police investigation, other than establishing a claim, it is a waste of time to rely on witness testimony as a source of objective cryptozoological evidence. Here's an example of why this fails. If someone comes to the local university's paleontology department and describes the bones of a new species of dinosaur that they have found on their property the paleontologist is not going publish a paper establishing this new species based on that information alone. The researcher is going to want to go to the site, examine the evidence for themselves, examine the remains, and perform an objective analysis. WITHOUT ACCESS to those remains there's nothing for the researcher to do but stay in their lab - otherwise they're merely adding to the extant body of dubious folklore by putting themselves on the record. In other words, it's the remains that speak - not the expert. All the opinons of all the physical anthropologists in the world matter nothing, if those opinions have no foundation in evidence upon which to rest. This is why I doubt the sincereity of so-called Bigfoot researchers - even those with professional training. They know better. They know that without physical evidence they have no work to do. Sure, Meldrum's interest in footprints brings him a bit closer to the realm of seriousness, but without understanding the means by which that print was created, that evidence is little better than worthless. In fact, a serious Bigfooter - as opposed to someone trying to get on TV, earn publicity for themselves, or simply having fun with their buddies in the woods, would spend their time doing what Raymond Dart, Ralph von Koenigswald, the Leakey family, Donald Johanson, and a whole host of anthropoligsts and archaeologists have done to better understand our human origins: dig for the remains. By digging, I don't just mean in the ground. Diggers have been pulling fossils out of North America for close to two hundred years by now. A serious Bigfooter would begin their search for evidence in the collections of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History or the American Museum of Natural History. If Bigfoot were truly real, there's a very good chance one of his teeth or digits got dug up and tossed into a bag or box at some point during a field expedition. New species are discovered every year by researchers working in old collections. This is a common practice of grad students looking for material with which to break new ground. So if you're looking for Bigfoot - or any cryptid, for that matter - put down the infrared camera and pick up a book on anatomy and get busy combing the museums for remains. Read old journals and catalogs of finds. Ask your local fossil club to let you tag along when they go to "Bigfoot country." In short, if you're serious, get serious about finding REAL physical evidence. If a great ape ever lived in North America, he had to leave some of himself behind.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on December 19th, 2005 The Top Cryptozoology Books of 2005 It is time for my annual overviews of all things cryptozoological. Here’s my top picks for the best cryptozoology books of 2005, in order of the books’ rankings of importance, plus the books’ individual achievements noted in recognition of each of their unique niches within the cryptozoological literature this year. If you are looking for “The Top Cryptozoology Stories of 2005,” please click here. (1) The Best Historical Book on Cryptozoology in 2005 In a year that may be remembered for the rediscovery of the supposedly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker, the top honors for the best cryptozoology book of the year must go to The Lady and the Panda. It is a wonderful old-fashioned tome on the discovery of the giant pandas – one of last century’s most remarkable stories – and the relatively untold details of the woman who should get more credit for "finding" them. The search for the first live giant pandas is a fascinating but true tale of cryptozoology discovery, captured with adventure in The Lady and the Panda . Vicki Croke’s book is an exciting, warm, and intriguing volume about Ruth Harkness’ personal journey to be the initial Westerner to catch and return with the first live giant pandas. This is a book I’ve wanted to write myself for years, and I’m glad to finally see someone, appropriately a seasoned woman writer, do a great job with this subject. The Lady and the Panda also gives due credit to Harkness’ Chinese guide and eventual lover Quentin Young, who showed her how to find the giant pandas. (2) The Best Reference Book on Cryptozoology in 2005 When Michael Newton’s Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology arrived, I stayed up until the wee hours of the night, reading, flipping, reading more, surfing, reading, and smiling. What a trip, what an adventure. Newton’s critical writing is right on target, with a light hand and open-mindedness to looking at all facets, in presenting cases, cryptids, and evidence, as well as the overturning of media-driven hoax claims (Nessie Surgeon Photos, Ray Wallace fiasco, and others). Most surprising of all the entries I read is Newton’s reexamination of the supposed 1990 expose’ of Three-Toes, with a fresh look again at "all" elements of those 1948 events. This volume quite correctly is as skeptical of blanket debunking claims as it is to the fast rush to specific cryptozoological hypotheses. Newton logically critiques the various theories of cryptozoologists who have ventured forth with their thoughts. His discussion of the Minnesota Iceman, for example, in its total fairness to several points of view, I found amazing. There are 2,744 entries, including 112 individual biographies, 77 cryptozoology groups described, and, of course, lots of location data, cryptids detailed, and illustrations sprinkled throughout. It also has some fantastic appendices that are comprehensive listings of new animal discoveries, cryptofiction, cryptozoology in films, and cryptozoology on television. At 576 pages in one oversized volume, it is a rather user friendly reference work. Michael Newton’s Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology is perhaps too expensive for most private libraries (at $95 US), but I highly recommend you mention it for purchase by your local, school, or university library (the target audience of a reference work like this, anyway). For those serious cryptozoologists who can afford it, for your personal research library, it, simply put, is a must buy. The one minor shortcoming is Newton’s lack of credit to at least one work that served as the basis for data in this book. George Eberhart’s excellent cryptozoology reference work, Mysterious Creatures (from 2002 at $185) is used but not mentioned in Newton’s work, in contrast to the generous citing of material Newton obtained from the affordable reference work, Cryptozoology A to Z (from 1999, at $14). (3) The Best Bigfoot Book of 2005 In Pursuit of a Legend: 72 Days in California Bigfoot Country by T. A. Wilson This Bigfoot book pick may seem an unusual choice considering some of the others out there (such as the historically significant reprint, The Bigfoot Film Controversy: The Original Roger Patterson Book – Do Abominable Snowmen Of America Really Exist?). But occasionally one needs to read a book of passion about the Sasquatch hunt, and not just another text on the facts and stories. In Pursuit of a Legend contains a grounded level of excitement for the quest, and should be read with that in mind. It is not a book of sightings and statistics on footprints, but it is a good revisiting of the dynamic gut feelings when in the midst of the search. (4) The Best Individual Cryptid Book of 2005 Lizardmen: The True Story of Mermen and Mermaids by Mark A. Hall At 132 pages and self-published, Lizardmen gives people a book to read containing what is out there on the contemporary research into the continuing question of the original Creatures from the Black Lagoon, the Merbeings. Whether you wish to deny, dispute, debate, or dive deeper into these investigations is the reader’s choice, but Hall is not shy about placing the material and his insights in front of you on this topic. If you decide to not digest it, you will be all the more hungry for this data someday when this book is impossible to locate. (5) The Best Cryptozoological Expedition Book of 2005 Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger by Margaret Mittelbach, Michael Crewdson, and Alexis Rockman This well-written book on the pursuit of information and feelings about the probably still existing (but officially extinct) Thylacine (a/k/a Tasmanian Tiger) is not to be used as a guidebook for your next expedition. But it’s a fun record of these three’s own trek in quest of this animal. And Alexis Rockman’s art is beyond belief. (6) The Best Cryptofiction based on a Cryptozoologically Fictional Motion Picture in 2005 The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island by Weta Workshop Hey, King Kong is a blockbuster. But beyond that, as far as cryptofiction goes, The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island is a work of fiction taking into account many threads of current cryptozoological thought, and in this book elevates to it all to a high art, graphically and textually. (7) The Best Mothman Book of 2005 Mothman: Behind the Red Eyes by Jeff Wamsley What can I say, Mothman (really, I sense, it is a misnamed large avian cryptid) has to be on the list again. Wamsley knows Mothman. (8) The Best Fortean Cryptozoology Book of 2005 Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah by Colm A. Kelleher and George Knapp This book may have some bizarre interpretations for the cryptids being seen, but that doesn’t mean we can’t mine Hunt for the Skinwalker for the rich collection of data contained therein. (9) The Best Cryptozoology Book on the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker of 2005 The Grail Bird: Hot on the Trail of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker by Tim Gallagher Yep, the rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker is one of the top stories of 2005, so we are going to continue to see books on these beautiful birds coming out during the next half decade. This one is worthy of our attention for 2005. Of course, in 2006, I’d trade in two books on this bird for one on the 2004 (!) discovery of the "Hobbits," Homo floresiensis. Such a book is long-overdue. (10) The Best Cryptozoology Children’s Book of 2005 I predict more and more children’s cryptozoology books in the coming decade, some good, some really bad. This one gets this year’s honors for best: Strange New Species: Astonishing Discoveries of Life on Earth, by Elin Kelsey, with a forward by Marc van Roosmalen. Copyright 2005 Loren Coleman. Books have to be received to be reviewed in Cryptomundo’s CryptoZoo News, and, of course, received to be placed on the Top Cryptozoology Books for 2006. Please send your review copies to Loren Coleman, Post Office Box 360, Portland, ME 04112 USA, for future consideration. Thank you. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on April 15th, 2009 The same news service that tapped into the Siberian Snowman reports that seemed to go nowhere have put out an unfortunately thin story about a new Yowie sighting in Australia. Ingrid Schoen, 23, of Germany and Adi Hassan, 22, of France, two backpackers in the Blue Mountains of Australia, told a All News Web reporter that they heard branches breaking and then vaguely saw a six feet tall hairy thing running away in the distance. You can read the release here, but you won’t learn too much more, sorry to say. For those interested in a deeper historical and current discussion of Yowie, I highly recommend the North American (2006) and Australian (2007) editions of the following tome. I named it “The Best Individual Cryptid Book of 2006.” The Yowie: In Search of Australia’s Bigfoot by Tony Healy and Paul Cropper. "It is destined to become an instant cryptozoological classic." – Dean Harrison, Austalian Yowie Research, October 6, 2006. If you have an extra $10 Australian dollars or American ones, please know that amount from you builds to what we need to save the museum. Do remember to… Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 15th, 2006 Sometimes the strangest things you hear about in cryptozoology catch up with physical evidence years later. Take, for instance, Killer Kangaroos. No, I’m not talking about the Mystery Kangaroos that punched out the Chicago police in the 1970s. I’m thinking, instead, about the Killer Kangaroo of 1934. This week saw news out of Australia that “killer kangaroos,” “demon ducks of doom,” and eighteen other previously unknown species had been discovered by paleontologists at a dig site in Queensland, northern Australia. The new animals’ tags immediately made me think of the names I’d coined or heard before in cryptozoology. Who couldn’t love the “demon ducks of doom.” Obviously, someone in Australia is showing a love of the “d” sounds of alliteration for that one, just like I did when I gave the moniker to the “Dover Demon,” which was sighted in 1977, in Massachusetts. Paleontologist Sue Hand reported that during the dig that they found some very big birds — more like ducks — to which they gave the name “demon ducks of doom.” She said some may have been carnivorous. Obviously. In those same Riversleigh fossil fields, the University of New South Wales team was also uncovering evidence of a “killer kangaroo,” a flesh-eating marsupial, from 10 to 20 million years ago. Professor Mike Archer said that among the new species discovered “were meat-eating kangaroos with long fangs and galloping kangaroos with long forearms, which could not hop.” This, needless to say, reminded me of the cryptid Killer Kangaroo of 1934, which I had researched in old newspaper archives some 30 years previous. As I wrote in Mysterious America, reports of giant kangaroos are nothing new to cryptozoology. Over seven decades ago, the notorious “Killer Kangaroo” of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, even made it all the way to the pages of New York’s daily newspapers. During mid-January of 1934, a huge nasty kangaroo spread terror among the Tennessee hill farmers. This extremely atypical kangaroo was reported to have killed and partially devoured several German police dogs, geese, and ducks. The Reverend W. J. Hancock saw the animal and described it as fast as lightning, and looking like a giant kangaroo as it ran and leapt across a field. Another witness, Frank Cobb quickly came upon more evidence of the kangaroo’s activities. The head and shoulders of a large German shepherd or Alsatian were all that remained. A search party tracked the kangaroo to a mountainside cave, where the prints disappeared. In recent years, local rival newspaper writers have tried to blame this Tennessee Killer Kangaroo story on the pen of the late Horace N. Minnis, a South Pittsburg correspondent of the Chattanooga Times. The only trouble with this “newspaper hoax” theory is that Minnis was not a newspaper correspondent for the area in 1934. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
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The apparent Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur called ropen is a cryptid, and that means we are dealing with cryptozoology. Scientific methods may be used in researching and searching in cryptozoology, yet a cryptid, by definition, is not an animal being studied in a laboratory, by a science professor; it is a creature known more from eyewitness testimony. One paleontologist, Dr. Donald Prothero, has gone far astray from scientific methods in his post about “fake” pterosaurs. It’s devoted to attacks against me, Jonathan Whitcomb, as he mentions my religious beliefs and proclaims my dishonesty, in spite of my explanations for my use of two pen names in a minority of my writings. The question now is this: Is it better for a scientist to use non-scientific methods to ridicule, through bulverism, someone he disagrees with or for a cryptozoologist to use scientific methods to examine the credibility of the existence of the cryptid called ropen? I choose the latter. I now respond to Dr. Prothero by quoting from my Searching for Ropens and Finding God (4th edition). The paleontologists are rare who take notice of my associates and me, at least through mid-2014. When one has commented on what we declare about modern pterosaurs, it’s usually with a word like “extinction” but in a difference sense: the demise of all species of pterosaurs. Am I slicing quarks? I know of nobody who denies that many pterosaurs may have lived without leaving any fossil. Beware of the fog around two meanings of a word. Even if all species of pterosaurs known from fossils had become extinct long ago, we live in the real world of the present, a world in which people report encountering living pterosaurs. [page 293] Mr. Collini and Mr. Cuvier [two centuries ago] assumed the strange creature that left fossil evidence of its existence was extinct. What else could they think? They knew nothing of anything like that in the modern world. Now look at the key word: assumed. Almost all biologists, from then until now, have assumed all species of pterosaurs became extinct, for those humans apparently knew nothing of anything like them in the modern world. Paleontologists are even more rare than eyewitnesses of ropens, and if one fossil expert saw one dragon fly overhead, how could the encounter be reported? That eyewitness would probably say nothing. Gradual accumulations of new fossil species were too gradual to alert anyone. Alert them to what? Simple probability. If we were to dig into a cliff, looking for fossils, what might we find? Quite likely we would uncover a fossil of something quite similar to a modern organism, for those are common. If paleontologists had examined objectively the axiom of pterosaur extinction, over the past 200 years, they would have noticed what few have considered: As each new pterosaur genus was uncovered, by fossil discoveries, the probability of a modern version increased. Experts now have dozens of those genera to consider, yet how few paleontologists have examined the universal-pterosaur-extinction axiom itself! [page 295] Science and mathematics Statistical analysis proves that hoaxes could not have played a major part in the 128 sighting reports that I researched by the end of 2012. This is in simple math, easy for most adults to understand. I don’t know why Dr. Prothero mentioned nothing about statistics in eyewitness testimonies, but if he had, it would have reflected badly on his case for trying to persuade people to dismiss from their minds the possibility of any modern pterosaur. How much easier to use bulverism to convince followers that I, Jonathan Whitcomb, have been dishonest! Please note, I am not accusing Dr. Prothero of dishonesty; I am replying to his accusations of deceit. Of course my use of math in that situation relates to the lack of hoaxes, not misidentification possibilities. But if many eyewitnesses have been telling the truth, what about the possibility that I too have been honest? And what if the ropen really is real? Both statements in each post are false, yet some of my proper use of two pseudonyms may resemble improper usage, so this needs to be explained in detail. . . . To publicize details about the encounters with apparent pterosaurs, I needed some way to emphasize those reports without my name getting in the way. [a perfectly valid reason to use a pen name] . . . It gives me some hope that Prothero was making an honest mistake, when he included that link; nevertheless, his post appears sure to lead his readers astray from the truth, not only about my motivations but about investigations of living-pterosaur sighting reports in general. I must respond. I continue to receive eyewitness reports of apparent living pterosaurs, as I have for the past eleven years. The following are some of the more recent emails: West Virginia (Oct of 2014) . . . Minnesota (Nov of 2014) [note: this post was written on Nov 29, 2014] Did you know that the living-pterosaurs investigations that started in the mid-1990’s were in Papua New Guinea? Some reports were of large flying creatures that were covered with hair. The Woetzel-Guessman expedition of 2004 (a few weeks after my own expedition) involved detailed questionnaires, the main one being two pages long. There was also a silhouette page: 34 images of birds, bats, and pterosaurs. Recent and older editions of the nonfiction books Searching for Ropens and Live Pterosaurs in America I am shocked that somebody with so much education would make so many mistakes, indeed errors that are facing 180 degrees away from reality. But I do not accuse this man of dishonesty, for I cannot see into his mind or into his heart. Being honest or dishonest is, after all, about one’s intention. Those who search diligently will find the truth. Searching for Ropens and Finding God – in its expanded fourth edition
Posted by: Loren Coleman on March 22nd, 2010 As you may recall, in 2007, the strange piece of footage called the “Gable Film” popped on the scene. Now, it turns out, it shall be the centerpiece of MonsterQuest’s final episode. Before we get to the meat of the backstory (no pun intended), here is the History network’s blurb on the program: March 24, 2010, “MonsterQuest: America’s Wolfman” 9pm/8pm CENTRAL on History. On March 24, 2010, the MonsterQuest Season Finale examines one of the most controversial pieces of video evidence ever captured, as the team scours the Midwest for a seven-foot wolf-like monster that witnesses believe is a werewolf. On Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern on History, the episode “MonsterQuest: America’s Wolfman” closes out the fourth season of the popular investigative cryptozoology series. An expedition team will try to uncover the truth about what is striking fear into witnesses, while the science team will expose the truth behind “The Gable Film,” an internet phenomenon that is possible evidence of a werewolf-like creature. The film, shot on grainy 1970s Super 8, captures a hairy creature running on all fours toward the camera in an apparent attack, prompting widespread debate over its identity and authenticity. This episode of History’s highly acclaimed series features appearances by Wisconsin werewolf researcher Linda Godfrey and Michigan DJ Steve Cook, who first posted the Gable Film. There are frightening stories from witnesses including a former contractor for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a Deputy Sheriff, who all claim to have encountered this mystery creature that has been part of local legend for centuries. MonsterQuest is produced by Whitewolf Entertainment; the episode “MonsterQuest: America’s Wolfman” is produced by Chicago’s Frank Haney Films. The Gable Film is what I called the “Blair Dog Project” in 2007. I stated at the time that it seemed to be an alleged hoax, but, of course, there was no proof of its background. Chris Noel did an enhancement of the supposedly more gorilla-like moments of the film now on video: In 2009, it was back, thanks to Fox News. New footage had been discovered that throwed some light on this case. Javier Ortega had this to say in 2009: The “Gable film” is an edited 8mm film that has been raising a lot of questions and theories for the last few years. Many have declared this to be an elaborate hoax created by someone wanting to capitalize on the “Michigan Dogman” stories. The film itself is owned by MindStage Productions and can be seen online in a very edited and low quality version. It shows what many have said to be the actual cryptid creature lurking around the Wisconsin and adjacent states. Many researchers have claimed that this is just a hoax created by a radio DJ by the name of Steve Cook. The same person who helped create a fictional story of the “Michigan Dogman” as an April Fool’s joke, stated that he had acquired an old 8mm film with the images of a strange beast that attacks the camera man. He stated that the film was found in an estate sale in the lower peninsula of Michigan. The 8mm reel did not have any detailed information about who or where the film was shot. The only information known was the inscription “Gable Case #MPO41177-1” that was on the film canister. All the recent chatter about the “Beast of Bray Road” and “Michigan Dogman” is kicking up dust again since the news report on Fox’s Sean Hannity show last week in which Linda Godfrey was interviewed and the Gable film was shown on national television…. See the rest of the story, with all the goods, including good comparative images, like below here, here. Below are my two postings from September and October 2007. Excuse the fact that some video and other links may have been removed since then: Our excitement was so intense, as we saw the way to Solomon’s treasure chamber thrown open at last, that I for one began to tremble and shake. Would it prove a hoax after all, I wondered, or was old Da Silvestra right? Were there vast hoards of wealth hidden in that dark place, hoards which would make us the richest men in the whole world?H. Rider Haggard, King Solomon’s Mines. It’s time to bring out the silver bullets. Okay, Cryptomundo will stop ignoring the Gable Film, and take up the hunt. Since September 24, I’ve tried to get some straight answers about a piece of footage that has been floating around the internet, the so-called “Gable Film.” The footage shows, well, let me just say it outloud, what appears to be a “werewolf” and is being promoted as nonfiction. As the story goes, Michigan disc jockey Steve Cook obtained the rights to the film reportedly taken with an old 8 mm camera. The Gable Film was allegedly found in an estate sale in the lower Peninsula. Steve Cook’s Michigan Dogman site was created around the song “The Legend” that was allegedly recorded a couple decades ago as a prank. After it aired, folks began calling the radio station and saying they had seen the creature described in the song. Fast forward to this recent “discovered” film that is said to “prove” the “Legend.” To me this sounds like a song and dance I’ve heard before, too good to be true. But Cryptomundo readers, here’s the footage – and the Dogman site (link below) gets their viewers from Cryptomundo. Below, there is more discussion. I’m not sure how long it will be there, but someone placed it back up on YouTube four days ago: Chris Noel has also done an enhancement of the more gorilla-like moments of the film now on video: What do you think? I wrote Steve Cook about this, being very open with my concerns about this footage: The Gable Film is a good story, and builds in many ways like The Blair Witch Horror and the discovered film canisters of the Jersey Devil film. As a work of cryptofiction cinema and art, it can stand on its own, without it being declared to be nonfiction. I’ve worked with Haxan Films folks, and understand [after the fact, why they went about] creating of such fakes, planted early, to promote such things. I am not saying you are doing any of this, but the background of the April Fool’s prank, the Legend, the poetry of it all, the scenario, the unfolding have to be seen as obvious clues. You have to be asked the hard question – is this a piece of creative narrative fiction performance art – before this gets all blown out of proportion and it becomes a cornerstone of supposedly real werewolf lore?Loren Coleman Steve Cook replied: First, let me re-state that I do not take a position on the authenticity of evidence presented on michigan-dogman.com. Of course I have a personal opinion, but to state it publicly would serve nothing more than to encourage the kind of charges your e-mail implies. The simple answer is, I don’t know what The Gable Film is or what it shows. I understand fully the scripted nature of this. For that reason, we expended considerable effort having it analyzed by a range of people from a variety of backgrounds. Even though none of those people was able to find an obvious flaw indicating a forgery, I still was very hesitant to release it before we had more answers. Then a few weeks ago, I offered a private preview of the film to Linda Godfrey’s Yahoo group, the Unknown Creature Spot. Linda and I are old friends, going back some 15 years. I placed the film on YouTube for two days and invited members of UCS view and evaluate it. In that time, the film was pirated by at least three and perhaps many more individuals. That forced my hand, leading to the release of the video now on my website. The key question you need to ask is, do I stand to gain by releasing a forged film? The answer is no. I have no intention of marketing or selling the Gable Film in any form. I have no desire to do interview shows or speaking tours. If the resulting publicity leads to increased sales of “The Legend,” it will just mean more work packaging and mailing – because I donate the profits from the sale of the CD/DVD set to charity. I put The Gable Film out there because I think it needs to be seen.Steve Cook Obviously, I understand the gray area inhabited by Steve Cook, but the bottomline is that Mr. Cook did not answer my question with a “yes or no” response. The footage in fact, I see, is now generating wider and wider discussions as if it is real, across the internet. People want me to state my opinion on Cryptomundo, declare one way or another – or even come out in careful support of the film. Other emails are also coming in, from fans like Melanie, asking me about the “Blair Dog Project.” Even with offers to look at this frame by frame that is not really illuminating. A deeper analyses of the frames merely will only convey what the creature, costumed or otherwise, looks like more clearly. It actually won’t do too much in revealing the reality behind what was filmed, one way or the other. At this point, this film is only as good as its context and its source. The origins of this footage are cloudy, at best. Unrevealed and untestable, if you believe the stories. A prank, if you consider the history, perhaps. I’ll stop there. Okay, I won’t beat around the wolfbane, any longer. I don’t buy it. My past experiences and eye for forgeries tell me there’s something here that smells like a fake, a copycatted forgery, with the telltale signs of a found-film, the shaky camera, and the blurry imagery. Steve Cook may be a film genius or he may have been hoaxed, but there’s something that is very off about all of this for me. I think this is cryptofiction, developed out of the traditional folkloric motif of found treasures. Other than that, until someone comes forth declaring they created the Gable Film to keep the tale going, what else do we all have to go on but our gut? As I recently noted here about a “Sasquatch” film shown as new on YouTube, these kinds of incidents are sadly piling up in an ever increasing daily body count. Perhaps a whole new division of cryptozoology will have to be cryptocinemahoaxology? “How would that strike you if you read it?” “It would strike me as either being a hoax, or else written by a lunatic.”Agatha Christie, The Secret Adversary. Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.Friedrich Nietzsche The Gable Film is merely, as seemed obvious in the beginning, an alleged hoax. Many readers have sent in comments and links. I will pluck one, that of Cyptomundo reader SC, as an example that gets directly to the point: Follow this link to read Mr. Steve Cook’s explanation as to the nature of the “unintended hoax.” It seems three frames of the film reveal a human leg moving to the side, which, according to him, exposes the “creature” as a man on all fours. Pondering the footage from this new perspective has lead Mr. Cook to conclude it is definitely faked, but not intentionally created to hoax anyone. It is merely vintage footage of an amateur crew of filmmakers working on their own backyard “Boggy Creek.” Pondering Mr. Cook’s conclusions, I can come up with a different idea. The obvious one. Let’s call it “The Intentional Hoax” theory.SC If you follow the link to Steve Cook’s posting, you will find his message ends with the following paragraphs: On the other side of that coin, I now fully understand why witnesses to real events are so reluctant to come forward with evidence; and even when they do, they do not want their name associated with the story. Despite the fact that I had no intent to ever market the film in any form, and that I never claimed it to be authentic, my character suddenly came into question. In the six days The Gable Film was publicly available, I was grilled, cajoled, insulted, and called everything from a profiteer to a liar to other names I would be ashamed to type. Not just from one or two people, but from hundreds. In addition, my website has been hacked, and the film and several other unpublished files have been stolen and posted on the internet. In conclusion, there are a handful of self proclaimed experts in the crypto-creature industry (make no mistake folks, it’s an industry, and a lucrative proposition for some of them) who have become so jaded and cynical, they really should look for a new line of work. It would seem that if evidence has not had the good sense to fall into their lap it is automatically dismissed as a fraud, and so is anyone associated with it. It is precisely that attitude that will prevent real evidence, when it comes, from ever seeing the light of day. There is no need to mention any names. You know who you are. First, one must wonder why he took this all so personally? The reality, of course, is that such discussions as evidenced above infrequently issue from people who seem to not understand that healthy skepticism is part of cryptozoology, that no one in cryptozoology really makes any money, and that most of us have all heard it before. As John Green says, it takes strong personalities in the field to deal with all the criticisms hurled our way, inside and outside the community. Those who have promoted this footage, who either were hoaxed themselves or were behind this alleged docudrama, should not be surprised by hundreds of people who wish to say something, one way or the other, about this Gable Film. That’s what happens, and that’s what is assumed would occur in our media age. It has nothing to do with people wanting to undermine the good stories and the remarkable sightings. On the contrary, it has a lot to do with the credibility of the field being maintained at a high standard, in an awkward age of YouTube-screened hoaxes and website showings linked to wild speculations. This state of affairs has been known in the Bigfoot world for years, and merely comes down to, “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Even a man who is pure in heart And says his prayers by night, May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms And the autumn moon is bright.The Wolf Man, 1941 Universal Pictures. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
I will be there, having fun with friends. I'll be updating this post with any new info between now and then. :) San Diego Comic Con Schedule! Saturday, July 25 4:00-5:00 How to Create a Children's Book— Brianne Drouhard (Billie the Unicorn), Mike Collins (Monster Mythos), Erich Haeger (Rosita Y Conchita), Beth Sleven(Cryptid Case Files), and Steph Laberis (Ghost Chef) discuss the process of creating a children's book from scratch. Topics include designing a character and its world, choosing illustration materials, and creating a story. The panel participants have backgrounds in animation and gaming and will discuss how this influences their art. Development art will be presented, followed by Q&A. Room 30CDE ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆★☆UPDATE!: I'll be signing books at the Hard Eight booth #1802, Saturday after the panel at 5pm. Thanks so much Erich Haeger and the rest of you Hard Eight guys!☆★ Sunday, July 24 1:00-2:00 The New Wave of Children's Books — Artists/creators Attaboy (You Might Be a Monster & Other Stories...), James Kochalka (Johnny Boo), Ragnar (Got Your Nose), Rhode Montijo (Cloud Boy), and Brianne Drouhard (Billie the Unicorn) discuss the exciting new wave of innovative books for kids (and the rest of us!). Moderated by Bob Self (Baby Tatto Books). Room 24ABC Sunday, July 24 10:00am-12:00 Billie the Unicorn book signing Tr!ckster will be held across the street from Comic Con at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Drive, Suite 120. I'm planning on hanging around there Friday at 3pm, and Saturday afternoon before the panel, for anyone who would like a signed book. Tr!ckster will have Billie available in their pop up store during the convention. I'm very thankful they are willing to carry it and to let me sign! Also really excited to be on a panel with some good friends!
\|Last Sighting\|\|20th Century\| \|Habitat\|\|Remote Forests of US\| Unique breeds of monkey have been described as being about 3 to 4 feet tall, although some eyewitnesses have sworn that these furry fiends can reach a height that is in excess of 7 feet. It seems clear, however, that those who have had an encounter with this larger version of the beast are actually describing a run-in with a prototypical hairy humanoid and not the smaller, more primate-like Devil Monkey. Unlike the legendarily gorilla-like Bigfoot or Yeti , these creatures — which have been seen throughout the American South and Mid-West and as far North as Alaska — have been described as a shaggy, canine-faced baboon-like creatures with powerful, almost kangaroo-like legs, a trait they share with the South America’s notorious “goat sucker” the chupacabra. Other distinguishing traits that Devil Monkeys are said to bear include 3-toed, razor-clawed feet, tiny pointed ears and a long, often bushy, tail. The first reported encounter with this swift, dangerous predator occurred in 1934, in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. According to the reports — which were allegedly published in national newspapers — eyewitnesses described a mysterious beast that could “leap across fields” with “lightening speed.” This ability to jump great distances — up to 20 feet according to some accounts — have led some to speculate that these animals may have something in common with the Kangaroos that have been seen throughout the United States for decades. The suggestion is that those who think they’re seeing kangaroos from a distance are, in fact, spying Devil Monkeys. While these 1934 encounters may or may not be associated with this phenomenon, the first “official” Devil Monkey sighting occurred in 1959, while a couple by the name of Boyd were driving through the mountains near their home in Saltville, Virginia. According to their account, an ape-like beast attacked their car, leaving three scratch marks on the vehicle. The Boyd’s daughter, Pauline, described the terrifying attacker: “(It had) light, taffy colored hair, with a white blaze down its neck and underbelly… it stood on two, large well-muscled back legs and had shorter front legs or arms.” Boyd went on to describe a second Devil Monkey encounter that occurred just days later in the same region: “Several days after this incident, two nurses from the Saltville area were driving home from work one morning and were attacked by an unknown creature who ripped the convertible top from their car.” Luckily the nurses — though surely frightened out of their wits — were unharmed. In 1969, esteemed mystery ape researchers Johnn Green looked into accounts of a long-tailed “monkey” beast that eyewitnesses claimed was lurking near Mamquam, British Columbia. This creature was said to have left a series of distinctive, three toed tracks — much like those attributed to Devil Monkeys as well as the legendary Bigfoot— in its wake. In 1973, famed cryptozoologist and author Lauren Coleman investigated reports of three, black bushy-tailed “giant monkeys” that were said to have slaughtered livestock in Albany, Kentucky. Coleman mentioned the event in an interview with Animal Planet: “I investigated that case in depth. I interviewed the people, who were very sincere. In the whole context of devil monkey reports, it seemed extremely sincere. You have these reports of hairy, monkey-like creatures with tails, very different from Bigfoot.” In 1979, there was a spate of reported encounters with a bipedal, monkey-like critter known as the Bigfoot which hailed from the rural depths of Georgia. One female eyewitness described it as: “The ugliest looking thing I've ever seen… (it had a tail) like a beaver’s, but it’s bushy.” She also claimed in bore “a face like a dog.” These traits are all known to be Devil Monkey characteristics. In fact, more than a few eyewitnesses have describe these beasts as resembling a wild dog at a distance, which suggests that this creature may employ both bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion. This depiction of the creature coincides with what some consider to be the most recent — and controversial — Devil Monkey encounter on the books to date. According to the report, On January 12, 2006, an anonymous witness claimed that he and his family entered their Chicago home to discover what he asserted was a “devil-like creature violently attacking my 6 year-old labrador dog.” The man further described the beast as being “an unusual combination of a monkey, wolf, and devil” with “long fangs, a monkey-like tail and extremely bright glowing eyes.” Surprisingly, this fellow — unlike so many others who are taken aback by their first encounter with an ostensibly violent cryptid — claimed that he remained calm enough to grab a nearby camera and snap a photo of the allegedly diabolical fiend. It was after the flashbulb’s burst that this creature purportedly “sprang to its hind legs and ran,” nearly pushing over this lucky fellow and his family in an effort to escape through the open door behind them. This unnamed observer also claimed that his neighborhood had been hereafter plagued with numerous reports of missing pets and even went so far as to state that there was an additional — as yet wholly unsubstantiated — account of yet another individual seeing an identical beast hanging from a local tree by its tail. While we here at American Monsters pride ourselves on being champions of the bizarre, rather than judges — a chore we leave up to you dear readers — it seems fairly obvious to us that this image depicts not an unknown cryptid but a typical canine with it’s eyes reflecting the camera’s flash. The Labrador, which it was supposedly “attacking,” does not appear to be in a state of duress — as one would assume it might be in such a situation — and there even seems to be an indication of a collar around this allegedly “unknown” animal’s neck. While the aforementioned case may reek of a hoax, some investigators feel that there is an intriguing link between these vicious, new world primates and the still controversial Deridder Roadkill photos — which appeared on the internet in 1996 — and seem to depict the CURIOUS CARCASS of an unidentified, baboon-like animal with canine features on a Louisiana road side. It’s worth mentioning that in 1996, Louisiana was also the site for another strange eyewitness report that seems very much like a Devil Monkey.
Thursday, March 20, 2008 Loren Coleman thinks this video, of a "creepy gnome" terrorizing the Argentinian town of General Guemes, is a hoax. And it is true: ever since The Blair Witch Project certain stylistic tics derived from that movie have crept into fake Bigfoot/cryptid footage. Here, teenagers sit around filming themselves pointlessly on a deserted Argentinian street until something untoward (the gnome pitching stones, apparently) attracts their attention. Shaky, grainy cellphone footage ensues. This footage, genuine or not, has a certain grungy effectiveness, however. (You should see some of the lousy Bigfoot fakes out there!)The gnome has a certain resonance from 80s slasher flicks, and the scream at the end is fairly convincing.
All the creatures shown on this page either are or were believed to be REAL creatures at one time or another by one people or another. For the time being, please look up these creatures in The PIRG Paranormal Dictionary for more information on them. Over time, this page may become several pages of images like the few below as more are added from our archives to this one. Therefore, we suggest that you bookmark this page and check back with us often! Rabbi Paul E. Umbarger II The images below are of creatures that many in history have lived in fear of. They reflect the terror, imagination and creativity of diverse populations from various cultures around the world. Some of the following images MAY be disturbing to A creature form Japanese folklore. Literally,"Filth licker". A hideous type of Japanese bogeyman that quite literally licks dirty bathrooms clean with its tongue and the aid of poisonous saliva. It is believed that the monster may have originated as a way for parents to motivate their children to keep the bathroom clean. Deformed spirits from the folklore of the Tinguian tribe of the Philippines. They have wings, and their fingers and toes point backwards. Alans are said to take drops of menstrual blood, miscarried fetuses, afterbirth, or other reproductive waste and transform them into human children, whom they then raise as their own. They live near springs in extremely fine houses, made of gold and other valuables. The modern Alan spirit has long since left the Philippines, pointed their toes forward again and roam the wilds. (Filipino Folklore) The aswang is one of the most common of Filipino monsters since there are so many different types of Aswang. In general, they are shape shifters who are human by day and then at night turn into a dog, a pig, a bat, cat, snake… the type of animal depends on the regional lore. They break into funeral homes and steal recent corpses. They are also known to enter homes to drink human blood and can turn people into aswang by tricking the human to bite them in return. The aswang are especially hungry for human fetus so some of the more superstitious stories include neighborhoods patrols set up in front of the home of a pregnant woman to protect her from wandering stray animals in case they are the aswang in disguise. In Irish mythology, the Fomorians, Fomors, or Fomori (Irish Fomóiri, Fomóraig) were a semi-divine race who inhabited Ireland in ancient times. They may have once been believed to be the beings who preceded the gods, similar to the Greek Titans. It has been suggested that they represent the gods of chaos and wild nature, as opposed to the Tuatha Dé Danann who represent the gods of human civilization. Alternatively, they may represent the gods of a proposed pre-Goidelic population of Ireland. Creature from Japanese folklore. Buddhist name for restless or hungry spirits. (Visit our paranormal dictionary and see the definition for "Yurei" also). Artists depiction of a Gaki Painting of Gakis in a Japanese village. (Circa: 1700) A real species of bird from the Amazon sometimes mistakenly believed to be a cryptid. They are considered living fossils, which is especially impressive since these things survived since halfway back to the dinosaur extinction (about 34 million years ago), in an area crawling with anacondas and crocodiles, not to mention spiders the size of your head. Outside of having baby chicks that climb trees like lizards, they also have the distinction of smelling bad enough to literally scare away predators with their stink. Creature from Japanese folklore. A small goblin-like creature also known as a "Water Monkey". A Kappa has a dent in its head that is full of water from its native spring. If the water spills out of its head, it looses its magical powers. Kappas generally drink blood but can be either good or evil. Kappas love to eat cucumbers and a family wishing to gain the favor of a kappa, or at least avoid its wrath, writes their names on a cucumber and throws it into the Kappa’s pond. The creatures are known for being polite and always keeping promises. There are over a dozen different, weirdly specific categories of Kappa. There are different names for one-eyed Kappas, hairy Kappas, cowardly Kappas, mountain-climbing Kappas, and even a "party animal" Kappa. Creature from Filipino Folklore. Hairy giants with glowing eyes and a cigar that never burns out. They can usually be found sitting atop of trees waiting for nightfall to scare naughty children who are outside of their homes late at night. The Kapre is a unique Filipino monster because he doesn’t steal fetuses, eat people or cut them up. The Kapre simply enjoys terrorizing young children. Some stories claim they are actually very friendly beings who can grant wishes if you find their magical white stone. One can assume a Kapre is nearby when trees sway while there is no breeze or you see faint smoke from high above, probably from the Kapre‘s cigar. An animated parasol. An old umbrella that becomes spirit possessed. Apparently, at some point in Japanese history, umbrellas were reported to be animating so often that someone eventually decided that they required their own name, just to separate them from other Tsukumogami. "Kasa-obake" is the name for . (Visit our paranormal dictionary and see the definition for "Tsukumogami" also). A mythological aquatic creature with a female human head and torso and the tail of a fish. Mermaids have a broad representation in folklore, literature, and popular culture. The word is a compound of mere, the Old English word for "sea", and maid, a woman. The male equivalent is a merman. Much like sirens, mermaids sometimes sing to people and gods and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or run their ships aground. Other stories depict them squeezing the life out of drowning men while attempting to rescue them. They are also said to carry humans down to their underwater kingdoms. Mongolian Death Worm Crypid from the Gobe Desert in Mongolia. (Nation between China and Russia).Allegedly, a fat, bright red snakelike animal measuring two to four feet in length that supposedly has the dramatic ability to kill people and animals instantly at a range of several feet. The Mongolian Death Worm is believed to accomplish this by either spraying an enormously lethal poison, or by somehow transmitting high electrical charges into its victims. The worm is said to be found solely in the sand dunes of the southern part of the Gobi Desert; Allghoi Khorkhoi (local name, meaning "intestine worm," because of its color and appearance) is so feared among the people of Mongolia that the simple mention of it is considered bad luck. It is believed that touching any part of the worm will bring instant death, and its venom supposedly corrodes metal. Local folklore also tells of a predilection for the color yellow and local parasitic plants such as the Goyo. First reported in 1929, the Mongolian Death Worm is said to emerge during the hot months of June and July and to hibernate the rest of the year. Cryptid species of Buddhism. A pod people that appeared to Buddha as beautiful women while he meditated in a secluded area. They disappeared and left a humanoid pod form behind on a nearby tree. There are two alleged Naree Pon pods in a Thai temple near Bangkok in Thailand. Cryptid species from Japan. (Ningen is Japanese for "Human"). Gigantic humanoid life-forms inhabiting the icy waters of the Antarctic. Reportedly observed on multiple occasions by crew members of government-operated “whale research” ships, these so-called “Ningen” are said to be completely white in color with an estimated length of 20 to 30 meters. Eyewitnesses describe them as having a human-like shape, often with legs, arms, and even five-fingered hands. Sometimes they are described as having fins or a large mermaid-like tail instead of legs. The only visible facial features are the eyes and mouth. For the most part, the existence of the Ningen is considered an urban legend. Much of the information about this rumored creature can be traced back to a series of posts on the 2channel forums, written by a person describing the experience of a friend employed on a government “whale research” vessel. Nonetheless, there are many pictures claiming to be of authentic Ningen still circulating. The name of an evil spirit which is believed by residents to have first appeared on the Tanzanian island of Pemba. In 1995 it was the focus of a major outbreak of collective hysteria or panic which spread from Pemba to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, and across to Dar es Salaam and other urban centres on the East African coast. Popobawa has since joined the global pantheon of occult beings, a development fuelled by journalists’ reports and the dissemination of these on the internet. A type of "Yokai" similar to nukekubi but instead of heads that completely sever, the rokuro-kubi have necks that stretch to enormous lengths during night-time. They look like normal human beings by day, but at night they gain the ability to stretch their necks to great lengths. They can also change their faces to those of terrifying oni to better scare mortals. In their daytime human forms, rokurokubi often live undetected and may even take mortal spouses. Many rokurokubi become so accustomed to such a life that they take great pains to keep their demonic forms secret. They are tricksters by nature, however, and the urge to frighten and spy on human beings is hard to resist. Some rokurokubi thus resort to revealing themselves only to drunkards, fools, the sleeping, or the blind in order to satisfy these urges. Other rokurokubi have no such compunctions and go about frightening mortals with abandon. A few, it is said, are not even aware of their true nature and consider themselves normal humans. This last group stretch their necks out while asleep in an involuntary action; upon waking up in the morning, they find they have weird dreams regarding seeing their surroundings in unnatural angles. According to some tales, rokurokubi were once normal human beings but were transformed by karma for breaking various precepts of Buddhism. Often, these rokurokubi are truly sinister in nature, eating people or drinking their blood rather than merely frightening them. These demonic rokurokubi often have a favored prey, such as others who have broken Buddhist doctrine or human men. Tanuki often imitated rokurokubi when playing practical jokes on people. Literally "The corpse who stands up". A magical rite performed by Tibetan Buddhist ngagspas (sorcerers) for the purpose of obtaining a magical charm from them. It was first reported to the west by Alexandra David-Neel in the early 20th century. There are several versions of the rite practices but, the most common involves laying on the corpse in a dark room mentally reciting a specific chant. After a time the corpse is believed to begin to move and try to escape. At some point during this struggle, the corpses tongue will protrude and the sorcerer bites it off. The tongue is later dried and used as a powerful magic weapon. Losing control of the corpse means certain death for the sorcerer and there are stories of Rolang corpses that have escaped from the ngagspas and roam the countryside. Prior to the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet, the Rolang was practiced as a funerary rite by the shamans of Bon, the early shamanistic religion of the country. This is a suspected image of a "rolang". Unfortunately, we have been unable to determine for certain if it actually is a re-animated corpse or simply someone playing the part. Special thanks to Spencer Barrett and Maid Stone Paranormal, based in the United Kingdom, for granting the PIRG permission to use the image on his site. You can find out more about Maid Stone Paranormal by visiting their FaceBook page: Or by Email @: Folkloric Creature from Japan. The name given to an apparition resembling a man with an eyeball where his anus should have been. Now, we’re not given much, if any information on why such an apparition should exist at all. In fact, there is only one recorded story of the Shirime, but the idea was apparently so well liked by the Japanese poet and artist Yosa Buson that he included it in several of his paintings of supernatural creatures. The story of the Shirime simply states that a lone samurai was walking down a road at night when somebody called to him. He turned, to see a mysterious man undressing and pointing at his derriere when a large, glittering eye opened from the indicated area. The samurai was, understandably, so horrified that he ran away screaming, and the Shirime was never seen again. (Filipino Folklore) Described as having the head of a horse, the body of a man and the hooves of a horse where human feet would be. In northern regions, the tikbalang is considered a nuisance but generally harmless. They enjoy disorienting weary travelers and making them imagine things that don’t exist. Travelers can easily stop the pranks by turning their own shirt inside out and asking the tikbalang to stop bothering them. The stories of tikbalang from southern regions paint the creature as a much more sinister monster. He has glowing red eyes, a large cigar and smells of the stench of burning hair. When angered (and he angers easily), the tikbalang will stamp you to death. To tame the beast, the person must pluck the one of three unusually long hairs found in its mane. After that, the tikbalang is your slave. Folklore states that when the sun shines through the clouds while it is raining, a pair of Tikbalang are getting married. A creature which imitates the form of a child. It usually takes the form of a newborn baby and cries like one in the jungle to attract unwary travelers. Once it is picked up by the victim, it reverts to its true form and attacks the victim. Aside from slashing victims, the tianak also delights in leading travelers astray, or in kidnapping children. While various legends have slightly different versions of the "true" form of the tiyanak, the stories all agree on its ability to mimic an infant, with its ability to imitate an infant's cries the most powerful tool for luring victims into its trap. In some legends, the Tiyanak may take the form of a specific child. In its true form, there are varying differences of the tiyanak: The tiyanak is similar to the Greek mythological siren in that it lures its prey with its voice. A person hears a baby cry from deep in the woods and then follows the sound to rescue the baby. Some stories say the person wanders aimlessly in search for the baby and becomes hopelessly lost. Other stories claim that the person eventually finds a baby in the middle of the woods. When it is picked up, the baby then shape-shifts into a monster with large, sharp teeth. It then eats the person and transforms back to a baby to await its next victim. Mythical creature who rises up out of it's grave at night to feed on the blood of others. Mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person. Although vampiric entities have been recorded in many cultures and in spite of speculation by literary historian Brian Frost that the "belief in vampires and bloodsucking demons is as old as man himself", and may go back to "prehistoric times", the term vampire was not popularized until the early 18th century, after an influx of vampire superstition into Western Europe from areas where vampire legends were frequent, such as the Balkans and Eastern Europe, although local variants were also known by different names, such as vrykolakas in Greece and strigoi in Romania. This increased level of vampire superstition in Europe led to mass hysteria and in some cases resulted in corpses actually being staked and people being accused of vampirism. While even folkloric vampires of the Balkans and Eastern Europe had a wide range of appearance ranging from nearly human to bloated rotting corpses, it was the success of John Polidori's1819 novella The Vampyre that established the archetype of charismatic and sophisticated vampire; it is arguably the most influential vampire work of the early 19th century, inspiring such works as Varney the Vampire and eventually Dracula. However, it is Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula that is remembered as the quintessential vampire novel and which provided the basis of modern vampire fiction. Dracula drew on earlier mythologies of werewolves and similar legendary demons and "was to voice the anxieties of an age", and the "fears of late Victorian patriarchy". The success of this book spawned a distinctive vampire genre, still popular in the 21st century, with books, films, video games, and television shows. The vampire is such a dominant figure in the horror genre that literary historian Susan Sellers places the current vampire myth in the "comparative safety of nightmare fantasy". Mythical creatures of popular folklore, a man who is transformed, or who transforms himself, into a wolf in nature and appearance under the influence of a full moon. The werewolf is only active at night and during that period, he devours infants and corpses. According to legend, and the plant wolfs bane is said to act as a deterrent. Werewolf: Mythical creatures of popular folklore, a man who is transformed, or who transforms himself, into a wolf in nature and appearance under the influence of a full moon. The werewolf is only active at night and during that period, he devours infants and corpses. According to legend, and the plant wolfs bane is said to act as a deterrent.
Posted by: Nick Redfern on May 27th, 2012 The beast of Boggy Creek will be putting in an appearance in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Sunday June 10. Well, kind of… What’s actually happening is that Lyle Blackburn – author of The Beast of Boggy Creek – will be lecturing on the subject of his book and the history of the Boggy Creek affair for the DFW-based Extraordinary Phenomena Investigations Council (EPIC) group. Yep, I know it’s still two weeks away, but I figured that those who live close enough to attend, and who want to plan well in advance, would like to know what’s forthcoming. And, having seen Lyle lecture before, I can say with certainty you won’t want to miss this one! I will be attending as well. And here’s the group’s founder, Ken Cherry, to tell you all about the event: EPIC Members and Friends: EPIC Meeting, 2 PM Sunday, June 10, 2012 at the Grapevine Community Activities Center, Room 102, 1175 Municipal Way. EPIC looks forward to meeting our special guest speaker, Lyle Blackburn, June 10th. Lyle will discuss the true story for the basis of his book, THE BEAST OF BOGGY CREEK. For more than a century, reports of a strange beast known as “The Fouke Monster” have circulated among the locals in southern Arkansas near the Texas border. Over the years, the creature has been seen by numerous witnesses including respected citizens, experienced hunters, famous musicians, and even a police officer. The encounters were often so shocking, they served as inspiration for the classic horror film, THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, by Charles B. Pierce. The movie, which became a drive-in sensation in the 1970s, influenced many of today’s top cryptozoologists, including Loren Coleman and others. Tales of the creature have long existed in scattered pieces across news clippings, memoirs, police reports, and movies, but it is only now that the complete history of the Fouke Monster has been assembled in one book: The Beast of Boggy Creek: The True Story of the Fouke Monster, by author Lyle Blackburn. At the upcoming EPIC meeting, Lyle will offer a visual presentation about his research regarding this fascinating and influential cryptid, which, according to recent reports, still lurks in the remote river bottoms just a few hours north of Dallas-Fort Worth. For more information about Lyle, visit his website at: www.monstrobizzaro.com Students $5.00 — Members $7.00 — Guests $8.00 Annual Memberships Available for $10 at the door. Correct Change Appreciated. Location: Grapevine Community Activities Center, 1175 Municipal Way in Grapevine, TX 76051. After the meeting, we will be seated in the banquet room at El Fenix, 401 S. Highway 114 in Grapevine. El Fenix is very conveniently located from the meeting room. Head south on Main Street, cross the bridge at Hwy. 114, turn right at the first driveway into restaurant row and proceed to El Fenix. There is plenty of parking and the location is wheelchair accessible. Location: El Fenix Famous Mexican Restaurant, 401 W State Highway 114, Grapevine, TX 76051. We are dedicating this meeting to long-time friend and EPIC Sr. Investigator, John Gilliland. We have reduced member dues for this meeting and we hope that you will all attend and meet afterwards at El Fenix to celebrate John’s life. Thank you all and hope to see you there. Punk music fan, Tennents Super and Carlsberg Special Brew beer fan, horror film fan, chocolate fan, like to wear black clothes, like to stay up late. Work as a writer.
Along the DMZ, golf is not a sport for the faint of heart. The golf course at Camp Bonifas, just south of the Korean demilitarized zone, boasts just one hole, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in hazards. Live land mines line the course, and bizarre animals stumble out from the woods. Formerly Camp Kitty Hawk, United Nations Command post Camp Bonifas was renamed in 1986 to honor Captain Arthur G. Bonifas, who had been axe murdered in 1976 during a conflict with North Korea soldiers over pruning a poplar tree. The camp lies 400 meters south of the DMZ's southern border, and that remote location offers little entertainment to the folks stationed there. So in 1972, a group of soldiers decided to make their own fun by constructing a golf course. There was only room for one hole, so the builders decided to up the ante on the hazards. The small astroturf green is surrounded on three sides by live mines. Once your ball has rolled out of bounds, it's gone. Still the soldiers have said there's a certain zen to hitting the balls down their deadly course. Par is three, but hitting par is rare. While the most obvious hazards are man-made, the soldiers have reported some natural hazards as well. Golfers have spotted wild boars, Korean tigers, and water deer (sometimes called "vampire deer" for their protruding fangs). Some have even claimed to have seen a creature they call "man-bear-pig," which sounds like Al Gore's least favorite cryptid from South Park, but which the soldiers were apparently serious about. What the folks stationed out there would really like, though, is a little money to help them clean up the course a bit. Not to remove the mines, of course. After all, the possibility of an exploding golf ball is most of the fun. Photo by Morning Calm News.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 30th, 2011 Due to my new posting yesterday about a Massachusetts “crazy croc,” an Australian commented on the Cryptomundo Facebook page a couple times, taking me to task for using “croc” regarding an alligator. As I tried to explain, alligators are crocodilians. Besides, it has become a shorthand Fortean and crypto way to talk about all of these out-of-place caimans, crocodiles, and alligators as “crazy crocs” for years. Then he came back with this: “I always read ‘Crocs’ to mean ‘crocodiles’ or, at a pinch, ‘very ugly shoes’. If one has to abbreviate, why not ‘Gators’? Not lovely and alliterative, but less misleading.” Actually, “crocs” is the least misleading term to use. Americans often “report” or “sight” an animal that they tell law enforcement officials are definitely “alligators,” but which turn out in reality to be a “cryptid” and sometimes do turn out to be caimans or crocodiles. Since alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and a few other species are indeed crocodilians, to call the initial accounts “crazy crocs” is more correct, in the long run. Tensions always seem high in the media when the subject of “crazy crocs” comes up every spring for one major reason: people have been killed by them. Florida suffers fatal alligator attacks more frequently than one might suppose, so Floridians are on super alert. “Croc” sightings (from places as diverse as Tennessee and Austria) and findings (especially of things like “Maine Gators”) are of interest to cryptozoologists. Why, you ask? Well, there are several reasons, including (please add your own, in comments): 1) some Lake Monsters are initially reported to look like alligators; 2) some water cryptids may turn out to be alligators or other pet croc escapees; 3) keeping track of the expanding or pet escapee enhanced alligator range is a good idea; 4) field-aware cryptozoologists like to know if there are any dangerous animals in the path of their pursuits; 5) out-of-place ‘gators are cool and very Fortean. Of course, getting killed and eaten by a gator is not cool, but it might be Fortean. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Archive for the “Living Fossils” Posted by: Karl Shuker on September 6th, 2014 With an area of more than 340,000 square miles, New Guinea is second only to Greenland as the largest island in the world (Australia is bigger than both but is officially deemed an island continent, rather than a mere island). Throughout its length and breadth, however, are dense and often little-explored rainforests where various surprising […] Read: Dung-Heaps, Devil-Pigs, and Monckton’s Gazeka » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on August 27th, 2014 …Kronos Rising delivers on the fun: it has plenty of plot twists, roller-coaster suspense, colorful characters, and action. On that score, I got my money’s worth. Read: Kronos Rising Reviewed » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on August 26th, 2014 Jonathan David Whitcomb offers his e-book titled Live Pterosaurs in Australia and Papua New Guinea for free! Read: Free E-Book: Live Pterosaurs in Australia and Papua New Guinea » Posted by: Karl Shuker on July 9th, 2014 Whereas the African pygmy elephant has attracted appreciable interest and even more appreciable controversy, both within and beyond the cryptozoological community, a second contentious proboscidean reported from the Dark Continent has received far less attention, but in my view is much more intriguing. This latter cryptid is the so-called water elephant. ((c) Markus Bühler The […] Read: Whither the Water Elephant? » Posted by: Nick Redfern on June 17th, 2014 “When the Wiltshire-based host asked me to comment on the theory that the Nessies are plesiosaurs, I replied it was complete nonsense. For a second or so, there was a noticeable silence…” Read: Nessie Is Not A Plessie » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on May 27th, 2014 Numerous eyewitnesses have reported seeing a living dinosaur in the jungles of Cameroon. The locals refer to the creature as Mokele-Mbembe and it may be the last living sauropod dinosaur. The dinosaur sightings report a creature with a heavily armored body, a fringe of scales down its back, three foot circumference footprints, long neck, snake like head, a body as big as an elephant, claw-like feet and a long tail. In the MonsterQuest Episode “The Last Dinosaur”, the team goes to Africa in search of this last living dinosaur. Read: Are Dinosaurs Really Extinct? » Posted by: John Kirk on May 27th, 2014 I want to let you in on a great documentary series done by my mate Wayne Hall. It’s called In Search of the Congo dinosaur. Yes, there are creationist overtones which some may not agree with, but the essence of Mokele-mbembe research is captured in this series. This is a real passion of mine and I reckon that all the deprivations that me (my) mates and I have undergone has been worth it. Read: In Search of the Congo Dinosaur » Posted by: John Kirk on May 9th, 2014 New findings concerning Mokele-mbembe have prompted us to launch a major expedition set for late 2014. Watch out for our crowd funding event with some great concessions, coming soon. Thanks for watching! Read: Mokele Mbembe – A New Hunt Is On! » Posted by: Scott Mardis on May 4th, 2014 Like many people, I’ve followed the hunts for the Loch Ness Monster, Sasquatch, and an assortment of other cryptids, over the years. Given the vastness of our largely unexplored oceans, it wouldn’t surprise me to have a supposedly extinct marine predator turn up entangled in a trawler’s net tomorrow. You just never know. ~ Max Hawthorne Read: Q & A With Kronos Rising Author » Posted by: Scott Mardis on April 28th, 2014 Freed by chance geologic events from the refuge that saved its kind 65 million years previously, a Mesozoic horror rises to engulf a quaint East Coast Florida town. An 80-foot eating machine that’s neither fish nor mammal, the relentless beast wreaks havoc in the already-complicated lives of several disparate people: a former Olympic fencing champion turned small town sheriff, a conservationist/marine biologist and a psychotic politician. Some other Mesozoic dietary staples of this monster make cameos along the way, as well as some familiar “sea monsters” of modern oceans. Read: Reviewed: Kronos Rising » Posted by: Scott Mardis on March 21st, 2014 “After 65 Million years, the world’s greatest predator is back…. “ Read: Kronos Rising Soon! » Posted by: Nick Redfern on March 19th, 2014 “Martin Clemens has a good, thought-provoking new article at Mysterious Universe on the Woolly Mammoth, and specifically on whether or not attempts should be made to clone the creature…” Read: Cloning the Woolly Mammoth » Posted by: Scott Mardis on March 14th, 2014 We must remember that the best case for most cryptids at this point in time is based on ambiguous, circumstantial evidence and any possible connections to extinct animals are tenuous at best. Assuming the bulk of descriptive and photographic evidence might be correct and bear some resemblance to a known fossil form, we should not overlook the remarkable phenomenon of convergent evolution. It’s within the realm of possibility that some recently evolved animal, unknown to us in fossil form, has developed features similar to some well known extinct forms. Read: Prehistoric Survivor Paradigm Under Fire? » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on March 13th, 2014 Sharon Hill, geologist, skeptic, and Sounds Sciencey columnist, has given the boot (boot? Hill? Get it?) to the claims that prehistoric survivors are still roaming around causing cryptozoologists to get all excited. Read: Putting the Kibosh on Prehistoric Survivors? » Posted by: Scott Mardis on March 11th, 2014 Vertebrate paleontologist Darren Naish has posted a wonderful article on the probable behavior and lifestyles of plesiosaurs at his Scientific American blog, Tetrapod Zoology. This is obviously of interest to those in cryptozoology with questions regarding what we know about real plesiosaurs versus speculation about “long necked sea monsters”. Dr. Naish himself does not endorse the “relict plesiosaur” theory but is open minded to the giant long necked seal idea. Read: Plesiosaur Peril and the Prehistoric Survivor Paradigm »
"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" Trailer Officially Released In 2011, writer Joey Esposito and artist Jonathan Moore kickstarted Footprints, a four-issue, hard-boiled detective comic that followed Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil and other cryptids as they investigated the death of a Yeti. Now the duo has returned to that world — and to Kickstarter — for a one-shot subtitled “Bad Luck Charm.” “The one-shot features two new tales — one set before the events of Vol. 1 and one set after,” Esposito told ROBOT 6. “The first story, given away for free on the Kickstarter campaign, features the oafish Jersey Devil and Vol. 1’s big bad, Motheresa, heading to 1962 to Las Vegas to try their luck. The second story will catch up with Foot, Nessy, Devil and Choop as they investigate a new cryptid emerging in the swamps of South Carolina, the Lizard Man.” Esposito provided ROBOT 6 with that first story, which is posted in its entirety below. If you’d like to see the second one (and get your hands on a digital copy of the first Footprints collection, which is included at every reward level above $15), check out the Kickstarter campaign. Welcome to Food or Comics?, where every week we talk about what comics we’d buy at our local comic shop based on certain spending limits — $15 and $30 — as well as what we’d get if we had extra money or a gift card to spend on a splurge item. If I had $15, I’d go all-in on AvX: Vs #1 (Marvel, $3.99). As a story format-junkie, this seems like an ideal supplemental series to the event comic series as we know it – I may have read it wrong, but this seems low on continuity and high on action – kind of a throwback to the condensed comics of the ’60s, I hope. And seeing Kathryn and Stuart Immonen on this together is a big deal – wish they’d get more chances like this! Next up would be the finale of The Twelve, #12 (Marvel, $2.99). I argued with myself about waiting for the trade at this point, but at the end of the day I’m more interested in this than a lot of everything else going on out there. Plus, I bought the eleven previous issues so I should finish it out, right? Next up would be Spaceman #6 (DC/Vertigo, $2.99). I’m finding this series benefits from a deeper re-reading prior to each new issues, but it’s paying off in spades in terms of my enjoyment. This is definitely a palate cleanser after Azzarello and Risso’s run on 100 Bullets, but in a good way. Finally, I’d get Daredevil #11 (Marvel, $2.99). The Eisner Awards judges got this one right when they piled nominations on this book, because Waid, Martin, and Rivera have really made the quintessential superhero book here. The fill-ins from Khoi Pham and Marco Checchetto seem off-putting, but they’ve earned some lee-way after the murderer’s row of creators who started the book. Can’t wait to see Samnee on this, however. If I had $30, I’d start off with an interesting looking project that’s gotten no press – Airboy: Deadeye #1 (Antarctic Press, $3.50). Chuck Dixon and Ben Dunn — what a pairing. After that I’d go back to get Supercrooks #2 (Marvel/Icon, $2.99); Mark Millar knows how to sell a high-concept, but it’s Leinil Yu that’s making me come back past the first issue. After that would be an Avengers two-fer: New Avengers #25 (Marvel, $3.99) and Secret Avengers #26 (Marvel, $3.99). I dropped off New a few issues back, but with this new issue covering some never-before-seen connections between Iron Fist and the Phoenix Force, I’m back in for this one. And Secret Avengers, well, Remender’s on a roll with his Marvel work and this is continuing on that without being an Uncanny X-Force retread. And guest artist Renato Guedes seems a better fit for this than his work on Wolverine. If I could splurge, I’d lunge for a copy of The Art of Amanda Conner (IDW/Desperado, $29.99). I was fortunate enough to get a digital review copy of this earlier, and seeing it like that only made me want this more. Rather than just being a template art book plugging in her work, the design and packaging really go along with what you’d expect from Amanda’s tongue-in-cheek comic style. Reading this makes me want to go back and track down her earlier work that I missed.
Monday, November 09, 2009 Even the orange cat laughs at me, whilst Biggles keeps his own council, asleep by the rayburn. The garden does look very misty and mysterious at the moment, and it is one of those times of year when I begin to believe all that I have written about Britain still being a surprisingly wild and mysterious place, and for an hour or so before anyone gets up I can still live in the mysterious land of my imagination. But I am waffling. I am actually supposed to be writing about the reason that I haven't done as much as I should have done during the past few weeks. As I believe I have mentioned before on these pages I am not in the best of health. Diabetes, a history of heart failure, and manic depression are not a very healthy mix, especially when the patient has a propensity for self-medication with brandy and raspberry doughnuts (not always at the same time). Howewer, I have managed to muddle on through reasonably well for half a century, and I have reached some sort of detente with my body in that if I do not treat it too badly, it limps along helping me through the rigours of life to the best of its ability. However, as I said last week, I have had a benign lump on my chest for twenty years, that has suddenly gone nasty. I have been on antibiotics for a fortnight now, and the infection shows no sign of clearing up. I have several doctor's appointments this week, and I hope that by the end of the week I shall be a little more functional. However, for the past few weeks I have done little apart from get up early, do the blog, talk to the cat, play with the dog, and then stagger back to bed at lunchtime because either the antibiotics or the toxins that the lumpy thing is pumping into my bloodstream make me feel like crap. Apart from the blog I have achieved practically nothing for weeks now, and I am painfully aware that I am very much behind schedule with both my correspondence, my writing and the CFZ Press work. However, guys, I am doing my best. I promise. And normal service will be resumed as soon as body and soul can manage it. In the meantime I want to thank Corinna for looking after me, and doing so much CFZ stuff behind the scenes. From ‘..Chinese Tales of the 3rd – 6th Centuries’, ‘The Serpent Sacrifice’. In the province of Minchung in Tungyueh, Mount Yungling towers many miles into the air. In its north-west corner there used to live a huge serpent, seventy to eighty-feet long and so thick that it too a dozen men to encircle it. The local people went in terror of it, and many officers of Tungyeh, capital of Tungyueh, and other adjoining districts were killed by it. Though they sacrificed oxen and sheep, they had no peace. Then someone dreamed, or some oracle predicted, that this serpent demanded virgins of twelve or thirteen. The authorities were dismayed, but since the serpent continued to make trouble they began supplying it with local girls, especially from families of criminals. So every eighth month they made a morning sacrifice, setting down the girl at the mouth of the serpent’s cave. And the serpent would come out to eat her. This went on year after year until nine girls had been sacrificed in this way. But when the order came down the tenth time, no virgin could be found. Li Tan of Chianglo County had six daughters but no son, and his youngest daughter Chi offered to go. Her parents would not agree. “My unhappy parents have six daughters only and no son”, said Chi. “So they have no real descendant. We are not like To Yung in the Han dynasty who offered to serve as slave in place of her father. Since we cannot work to support our parents, but are simply a burder to them, the sooner we die the better. Besides, my sale will bring in some money for the old folk. Surely this is best!”. Still her parents could not bear to let her go. But in spite of this, Chi left home secretly. Having procured a sharp sword and a dog which could catch snakes, early on the first day of the eighth month she went and sat down in the temple, taking her sword and her dog. As she put several large rice cakes soaked in honey at the mouth of the cave, very soon the serpent came out. Its head was the size of a bin, its eyes like bronze mirrors two feet in diameter. When it smelt the fragrant cakes and started eating them, Chi loosed her dog to worry it while she cut and wounded it several times from behind. The serpent fled, writhing with pain, but did not get far before it died. The Chi went into the cave and found the skeletons of the nine other girls. She carried them out and said sadly: “Because you were timid, the serpent ate you, poor creatures.” Then she made her way leisurely home. When the prince of Yueh heard of this he made her his queen, appointed her father magistrate of Chianglo, and richly awarded her mother and her sisters. Since then there have been no more monsters in Tungyeh, and the local people sing her praises to this day. See also Part one of this series BTW, one of the types of sightings associated with giant otter types is the fact that they will come out on land and then sit back on their hind legs, making them stand up about as tall as a human being (more usually a small human being of course, but tradition exaggerates). You get that all along the Western coast of North America and you get that rarely in the "Master-otter" lake reports in Ireland and in Scotland. One of Costello's reports was a 'THING sitting up on a rock' evidently as tall as a human, only Costello seems to have missed the importance of that . That would more likely be one of the giant otter types than a long-necked sea lion. This is from In Search of Lake Monsters pages 181-182; Costello says it is like a seal, but it has a tail distinctly mentioned, and it resembled a monkey when sitting up and a crocodile when stretched out at length. The Irish reports specify a very reasonable length of 8 to 12 feet for it, probably only a little exaggerated, but the corresponding McDuff Morag sighting (p.150) and the 1923 sighting by Alfred Cruikshank ashore at Loch Ness (p122) guess the length as 20 feet; 20 feet seems a common exaggeration. In both of these cases, the creature was NOT reported as long-necked and in fact in both cases the animal had clawed, webbed feet and not flippers. And despite Costello, long tails. Here is the new revised map for the theory. This version makes a discrimination between recent historical and legendary refernces to the giant otters (of the Holarctic sort) and the more current monster reports, meaning the actually recorded reports from the 1920s on, plus strongly suspected rumours in the same areas. There is traditional material from the Hudson's Bay area and what used to be Canada's NWT, but I don't think that comes as close as saying actual reports since the 1920s or so. And the Greenland traditions were evidently already of an extinct version at the time the tradition was recorded. The midwestern U.S. water panthers (Mishipizhiws) may well have persisted until colonial times but there is nothing to connect them to more recent monster reports. Almost all locations on this map are only tenative at this point, but there is some strong suspicion that some of the creatures have been video-taped in recent years. The gist of the matter is rather simple: at one point, group member Dave F. was considering that Steller's reported sea ape was a giant otter and I did a comparison of the description with the Irish master otter, and found that the description of the pointed nose and pricked ears matched. I also found ample evidence for a cryptid called the sea wolf off the northwest coast area to Alaska, and thought that the descriptions matched better than Mackal's hypothetical eared-earless seal. So I made the construction that the two were possibly the same based on that, and other traditional reports filled in from Greenland, the Hudson's Bay area, the Mound-culture area of the USA, Iceland, Scandinavia, Far-Eastern Siberia and Japan. When I had done my water monsters survey and statistical analysis for the SITU in the late 1970s (with revisions up until the early 1980s), I had noted that there was a distinctive series of reports at Lochs Ness and Morar that did not conform to the pattern of a long-necked plesiosaur-like creature, that it had a shorter neck and clawed feet with webbed digits, and that it seemed to be the same as the Irish Master-otter going by Costello's In Search of Lake Monsters. When the discussion got to this point, I mentioned that the master otter had the "Greyhound"-like head mentioned in later lake monster reports such as at Glenderry Lough, and in fact that the 1527 report by Sir Duncan Campbell (Costello's version of this differs somewhat in the wording). The Irish reports specify something ordinarily in the range of six to twelve feet long but there is another series of such reports that estimates the size range as double that. The 1923 land sighting at Loch Ness by Alfred Cruikshank is one of the short-necked creatures supposedly in the realm of 20-24 feet long, but seen only briefly in bad lighting at night and Costello assumes that the length must have been doubled. The similar creature seen through clear water at Loch Morar might also have had its length misjudged if it had not actually have been sitting on the bottom. And Costello's composite creature has a large ear seen in several sightings, sometimes flopped down (at Loch Ness in 1954, according to In Search of Lake Monsters p.81) and at Lake Storsjon. Costello himself suggests that there might be both a giant seal and a giant otter involved - citing Burton's theory - but eventually settles on the seal. There could very well actually be two separate creatures that his composite runs together, one a type of otter that has the ears and the other the more usual longer-necked creature. At the Frontiers-of-Zoology group, mention was made of the fossil giant otter Megalenhydris and it was suggested as a candidate. The species is represented by fragmentary remains in an ambiguous context at Corsica: it could have been saltwater or freshwater, late-Pleistocene or more recent: it is permissible to say ALL of these are possible. It was a giant otter larger than the present giant otter in South America, with a similar flattened tail, and I said there was a good chance that it represented Burton's giant otter (NOT that such a creature would account for the rarer reports of a plesiosaurian or eel-like creature, either one of which Burton had also supported earlier). Unfortunately, the parts of the face that would have been diagnostic for the reports are missing from the skull, and things like pricked ears and a pointed nose do not preserve anyway. It is only fair to say that after Dave was satisfied with this much of the theory, he withdrew his suggestion that the Steller sighting involved a giant otter and began working on the suggestion that it was merely an ordinary river otter washed out to sea. There is actually quite a bit more of this at the FOZ and actually I was trying to market the suggestion of a book on the matter, but nothing ever came of it. I also include some of the photos from the group in the sea wolves and sea apes photo album, concerning giant unknown otters, possible surviving Megalenhydris. This includes my reconstruction from the sightings as I mentioned last time, the one that Karl Shuker had seen. Unfortunately the skull material left cannot determine if the fossil genus had the characteristic pointed snout and upstanding ears, and so the identification must remain open to some doubt. If the reports are any indication, it is both amphibious and able to tolerate both saltwater and fresh, it is basically a fish- and shellfish-eater but will sometimes attack land animals (including humans) - possibly as males defending their territory. The fossil Megalenhydris is tantalisingly incomplete but it was a giant otter larger than the current South American giant otter; but from the remains (one individual, an incomplete skeleton) we do not know for certain if it was Pleistocene or recent, marine or freshwater; possibly it was all of these. There are also other reports of possibly unknown giant otters in the tropics but the feeling at FOZ is that these reports would not be referring to creatures closely related to the master-otters. The ‘Haptic Cow' recently won Sarah Baillie the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year Award. Hear that, Adam Frucci? It's for learning. Don't get any ideas. Miss Baillie's invention solves one of the biggest problems in veterinary medicine. That is, once your hand is up an cow's butt you can't really see anything you're doing. Now, with robotic organs and a monitor, she can teach students exactly what they should (and definitely should not) be grabbing. On a related note, Miss Baillie claims she is also working on a 'Haptic Horse.' This week’s film is Batman; no not the polished modern adaptations of the last 20 years or so, the Adam West batman movie: And here’s the news: You’d be ‘lion’ if you said that didn’t look cool.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on August 28th, 2009 This will be the final comment published by Mr. Whitcomb, as Cryptomundo does not wish to engage in a protracted debate about creationism, but in the spirit of fairness, he can have this last forwarded statement aired here. Needless to say, if he produces proof of a living pterosaur, we’ll cover that. The creation-versus-evolution topic is far too deep for me to get involved with much here; but the label “creationist” deserves attention. How much do we know about a person who wears that label? We really are individuals, regardless of labels; we do hold individual beliefs. This topic of labels deserves more thought, but to be concise: Why don’t we try to use the labels “creationist” and “evolutionist” like name-tags: to make it a little easier to start a conversation? Do I down-play labels too much? I wear the label “creationist,” but how many persons could guess my opinion about the age of the universe? (No, not 6,000 years.) I believe it could be infinitely older than the billions of years that are commonly advocated in Western science. Why? The word “universe” does not have a solid definition; no scientist that I have heard of has come up with any method for demonstrating that there is any end to galaxies beyond what our instruments can now detect. If there is no known limit to universe-size, why pronounce a limit to universe-age? (And why believe that the “beginning” mentioned in Genesis refers to all galaxies in existence?) To the point, could anyone predict my opinion about universe-age from the label I wear? Let’s look beyond the surface, OK? Getting back to living pterosaurs: JMonkey said, “to support creationism there are easier ways.” I don’t expect anyone to deeply understand my motives; I’ve only just touched on some of them in my first book, “Searching for Ropens.” I briefly mention one or two more in my recent book. To be brief: I have little interest in ‘what is an easy way to support creationism;’ But I have much interest in encouraging thoughtful pondering about our core assumptions about who we are and why life exists. I also want to help people recognize our cultural beliefs and how they influence our thoughts. Each person is free to continue to believe in Western traditions (or Western “standard models”) but I will continue to pronounce what I have learned about the influence of traditions on our assumptions. JMonkey also mentioned “unsupported claims.” Beware of long-waiting for overwhelming support! Once a pterosaur is proven to exist, that cryptid is no longer a cryptid, for it has graduated into biology: It then has broken out of the dark, zoomed through our twilight world of cryptozoology, and entered the sunlight of operation science. It will then be lost to cryptozoology forever (at least for that species). PhotoExpert said, “It is almost impossible to be totally objective and unbiased.” I agree. And it is also all too easy to perceive or imagine bias in the thinking of those with whom we strongly disagree. But when we concentrate on the topic at hand, rather than the potential weakness of an individual, dialogue is more likely to move forward constructively. Thank you, PhotoExpert; I wish commentators would come to understand that: those who comment on living pterosaurs in cryptozoology.com (I find much better objectivity here on Cryptomundo, at least often). Subrosa mentioned “He has no evidence.” But has he read either of my two books? Has he seen any of my web pages? The evidence I have is more than pterosaur-eyewitness testimonies and those testimonies themselves are more than what I have included in my two books and in my web pages. Beware of trying to eliminate eyewitness-observation from any part of the meaning of the word “evidence.” Without a human experiencing something, not only is cryptozoology eliminated, but science is eliminated as well. Science requires a human who experiences something, often through eyesight. The strength of that evidence, in operational science, depends on how much of the original experience is repeatable (so that someone else can see it). It seems that cryptozoology is not totally outside operational science, for we sometimes travel to a location where a cryptid was observed, not just to interview an eyewitness: Sometimes we watch for a reappearance of the cryptid. And with living-pterosaur investigations, reappearances have occured, both in Papua New Guinea and in the United States. Some faith is required for science to exist. Without any faith in anyone, why would we try to experience what someone else has experienced? In the extreme case, it’s not just that an astronomer would refuse to travel somewhere to observe an eclipse and test an idea of Einstein’s: An astonomer could doubt that the eclipse would take place, doubt that the required scientific instruments someone else had constructed could do the job, doubt the plane pilot could take him to the destination, and even doubt the value of reading anything (whether about astronomy, Einstein, or anything). Both reasonable faith in our personal experience and reasonable faith in the experiences of others is critical to human existence. And with that sermon on science and philosophy I will close: Amen! ~ J. D. Whitcomb Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Exotic Animal Newsflash: A Kentucky man, Kenny Mahoney, has a motion sensor hunting camera in his backyard, which often picks up images of rabbits, turkeys and deer. What he found was an unidentified mysterious animal (UMA) on the photo raiding his garden. Check out this video: Skeptical that it could be bigfoot, but unable to rule it out completely, the investigation moves on in the woods of Kentucky for bigfoot. They say the figure looked to be six feet tall and had black fur, but they can’t be certain it wasn’t a bear, although it didn’t appear to be one. The form looks like it has a gorilla like head and shoulders with it’s arms crossed. What do you think it was mulling around his back garden? Let us know by leaving a comment below… * For more information, check out: Kentucky man says photo might show Bigfoot raiding his garden I hope you enjoyed this Unidentified Mysterious Animal Sighting on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time… P.S. For more information on the history of Bigfoot, check out this really great DVD: Technorati Tags: bigfoot, yeti, sasquatch, mysterious animal, cryptozoology, UMA, unidentified mysterious animal, latest bigfoot sightings, bigfoot sightings, bigfoot video, Kentucky bigfoot, cryptid, Kenny Mahoney - Bigfoot in a Freezer? - Yeti – Alive And Well? - Giant Pandas – Giant Cute - Animals Are Scared of Us – Isn’t That Sad? - Killer Whales Spotted in the Gulf of Mexico
Latest digital media Stories South Dakota Dirt Track Speedway to be rebranded as Badlands Motor Speedway SIOUX FALLS, S.D., April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Badlands Entertainment Group has struck a deal to purchase BEIJING, April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Just two hours after NetEase released the mobile version of Fantasy Westward Journey on March 26, 2015, the title had reached number one spot Jason Hope and Venture Beat indicate that a recent $40 million investment into visual sensors indicates a strong push in the Internet of Things marketplace. New tech-themed variety show to be hosted by Leo Laporte PETALUMA, Calif., April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- TWiT announced today that it will launch "The New Screen Savers" on BEIJING, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Heyi Pictures, the movie making division of Youku Tudou, announced today six strategic partnerships to bring quality IPs from across domains to the silver - Only Rentrak Provides the Official Global Movie Results - LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rentrak The Internet of Things may not be as safe as consumers would like, warns Jason Hope. PubNub, the leading Data Stream Network, announced today that Info Security Products Guide, the industry's leading information security research and advisory guide, has named the PubNub Secure The experience will be integrated into an Angry Birds title during the General Assembly of the United Nation events in New York this September when world leaders will announce sustainable goals around AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- -- Campaign launches in North America on Friday, April 17 -- The 60-second launch commercial, "Renegades," features original The Flatwoods monster is claimed to be an unidentified species of either a terrestrial cryptid or an extraterrestrial being. It was reported being seen in the town of Flatwoods, West Virginia, on September 12, 1952 on some land owned by a local farmer, G. Bailey Fisher. The witnesses include two brothers, Edward and Fred May, their mother Kathleen, a friend of the boys, Tommy Hyer, along with Neil Nunley, Ronnie Shaver, and national guardsman Eugene Lemon. It was described as being ten... The TurboExpress was a handheld video game console produced as a portable version of the TurboGrafx-16/PC. It was released in 1990 by NEC and known as PC Engine GT (Game Talk) in Japan. Considered to be the most advanced handheld upon release, it could play all of the TurboGrafx-16’s HuCard games. It only sold 1.5 million units and was plagued with problems. Frequent sound failure and screen pixel failure were mostly reported. Also, text was difficult to read and certain RPG games were... The Zeebo is a 3G enabled system for entertainment and educational use. It allows the user to play video games, connect to the Internet, and run educational programs. The unit was developed by Zeebo Inc. and announced in November 2008 in Brazil. It went on sale in limited supply on June 1, 2009. The original price was dropped twice by November 2009, and was distributed nationwide in December 2009. By August 2010 around 40 games were released and on September 1, 2010 Zeebo was going to add... The iQue Player was developed by Nintendo and manufactured by iQue as a video game console. The Chinese name for the iQue is Shen You Ji (Devine Gaming Machine). The console is in the shape of a controller that plugs directly into a television. An accessory is available for multiplayer use. It is sold exclusively in China and was released on November 17, 2003. The game cartridges contained a built in 64 MB flash card that plugged into the console / controller. Upon release of the unit,... Born on April 24, 1983, Alexis Ohanian is an American internet entrepreneur, activist and investor based in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for co-founding the social news website Reddit, helping launch travel search website Hipmunk, and starting social enterprise Breadpig. Ohanian attended the University of Virginia in 2005 and went on to start Reddit.com with co-founder Steve Huffman. Reddit was later acquired by another company, but Ohanian, stays closely connected by being on its... - Growing in low tufty patches.
Blendtec – The blender product, claimed by its creator Tom Dickson to be the most powerful blender, is featured in a series of YouTube videos, "Will It Blend?" where numerous food and non-food items are used within the blender. “...but that's none of my business” – A still frame from a Lipton tea commercial, featuring Kermit the Frog drinking a cup of the beverage, was later adapted into a meme where users caption the frame with passive-aggressive judgments about other people, following their judgment with “but that's none of my business.” Elf Yourself (2006) and its related Scrooge Yourself (2007) are both interactivewebsites created by Jason Zada and Evolution Bureau for OfficeMax's holiday seasonadvertising campaign. Elf Yourself allows visitors to upload images of themselves or their friends, see them as dancing elves, and includes options to post the created video to other sites or save it as a personalized mini-film. According to ClickZ, visiting the Elf Yourself site "has become an annual tradition that people look forward to". While not selling any one specific product, the two were created to raise consumer awareness of the sponsoring firm. FreeCreditReport.com – A series of TV commercials that were posted on the Internet; many spoofs of the commercials were made and posted on YouTube. HeadOn – A June 2006 advertisement for a homeopathic product claimed to relieve headaches. Ads featured the tagline, "HeadOn. Apply directly to the forehead", stated three times in succession, accompanied by a video of a model using the product without ever directly stating the product's purpose. The ads were successively parodied on sites such as YouTube and rapperLil Jon even made fun of it. "Nope, Chuck Testa" – A local commercial made for Ojai Valley Taxidermy, owned by Chuck Testa, suggesting that the stuffed creatures were alive until Testa appeared, saying "Nope, Chuck Testa!"; the ad soon went viral. Ship my pants - A double entendre-laden online advertisement for Kmart's free ship-to-store service earned notoriety for it being one letter away from a profane word, a particularly risqué approach for such a mainstream company as Kmart. Adarsh liberal - Minor alteration to the Adarsh Balak posters which is used to make fun of Indian liberals was shared in Twitter by an anonymous handle. This resulted in Adarsh Bhakt(devotee) posters coming up as counter in the same social media website. Animutations – Early Flash-based animations, pioneered by Neil Cicierega in 2001, typically featuring foreign language songs (primary Japanese, such as "Yatta"), set to random pop-culture images. The form is said to have launched the use of Flash for inexpensive animations that are now more common on the Internet. Axe Cop – Initially a web comic series with stories created by five-year-old Malachai Nicolle and drawn into comic form by his 29-year-old brother Ethan; the series gained viral popularity on the Internet due to the vividness and non sequitur nature of Malachai's imagination, and has led to physical publication and a series of animated shorts in the 2012–2013 season for the Fox Television Network. "Caramelldansen" – A spoof from the Japanese visual novel opening Popotan that shows the two main characters doing a hip swing dance with their hands over their heads, imitating rabbit ears, while the background song plays the sped-up version of the song "Caramelldansen", sung by the Swedish music group Caramell. Also known as Caramelldansen Speedycake Remix or Uma uma dance in Japan, the song was parodied by artists and fans who then copy the animation and include characters from other anime performing the dance. Charlie the Unicorn – A four-part series of videos involving a unicorn who is repeatedly hoodwinked by two other unnamed unicorns, colored blue and pink, who take him on elaborate adventures in order to steal his belongings or cause him physical harm. Joe Cartoon – Alias of online cartoonist Joe Shields. Best known for his interactive Flash animationsFrog in a Blender and Gerbil in a Microwave, released in 1999. Two of the first Flash cartoons to receive fame on the Internet. Polandball – A user-generated Internet meme which originated on the /int/ board of German imageboard Krautchan.net in the latter half of 2009. The meme is manifested in a large number of online comics, where countries are presented as spherical personas that interact in often broken English, poking fun at national stereotypes and international relations, as well as historical conflicts. Rage comics – A large set of pre-drawn images including crudely drawn stick figures, clip art, and other art work, typically assembled through website generators, to allow anyone to assemble a comic and post to various websites and boards; the New York Times claims thousands of these are created daily. Typically these are drawn in response to a real-life event that has angered the comic's creator, hence the term "rage comics", but comics assembled for any other purpose can also be made. Certain images from rage comics are known by specific titles, such as "trollface" (a widely grinning man), "forever alone" (a man crying to himself), or "rage guy" (a man shouting "FUUUUU..."). Salad Fingers – A Flash animation series surrounding a schizophrenic green man in a desolate world populated mostly by deformed, functionally mute people. Weebl and Bob – A series of flash cartoons created by Jonti Picking featuring two egg-shaped characters that like pie and speak in a stylistic manner. xkcd – A webcomic created by Randall Munroe, popularized on the Internet due to a high level of math-, science- and geek-related humor, with certain jokes being reflected in real-life, such as using Wikipedia's "" tag on real world signs or the addition of an audio preview for YouTube comments. Bill Gates Email Beta Test – An email chain-letter that first appeared in 1997 and was still circulating as recently as 2007. The message claims that America Online and Microsoft are conducting a beta test and for each person you forward the email to, you will receive a payment from Bill Gates of more than $200. Realistic contact information for a lawyer appears in the message. Goodtimes virus – An infamous, fraudulent virus warning that first appeared in 1994. The email claimed that an email virus with the subject line "Good Times" was spreading, which would "send your CPU into a nth-complexity infinite binary loop", among other dire predictions. Lighthouse and naval vessel urban legend – Purportedly an actual transcript of an increasingly heated radio conversation between a U.S. Navy ship and a Canadian who insists the naval vessel change a collision course, ending in the punchline. This urban legend first appeared on the Internet in its commonly quoted format in 1995, although versions of the story predate it by several decades. It continues to circulate; the Military Officers Association of America reported in 2011 that it is forwarded to them an average of three times a day. The Navy has a page specifically devoted to pointing out that many of the ships named weren't even in service at the time. MAKE.MONEY.FAST – One of the first spam messages that was spread primarily through Usenet, or even earlier BBS systems, in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The original email is attributed to an individual who used the name "Dave Rhodes", who may or may not have existed. The message is a classic pyramid scheme – you receive an email with a list of names and are asked to send $5 by postal mail to the person whose name is at the top of the list, add your own name to the bottom, and forward the updated list to a number of other people. Mouse Ball Replacement Memo – A memorandum circulated to IBM field service technicians detailing the proper procedures for replacing mouse balls, yet filled with a number of sexual innuendos. The memo actually was written by someone at IBM and distributed to technicians, but it was distributed as a corporate in-joke, and not as an actual policy or procedure. On the Internet, the memo can be traced as far back as 1989. Neiman Marcus Cookie recipe – An email chain-letter dating back to the early 1990s, but originating as Xeroxlore, in which a person tells a story about being ripped off for over $200 for a cookie recipe from Neiman Marcus. The email claims the person is attempting to exact revenge by passing the recipe out for free. Nigerian Scam/419 scam – A mail scam attempt popularized by the ability to send millions of emails. The scam claims the sender is a high-ranking official of Nigeria with knowledge of a large sum of money or equivalent goods that they cannot claim but must divest themselves of it; to do so, they claim to require a smaller sum of money up front to access the sum to send to the receiver. The nature of the scam has mutated to be from any number of countries, high-ranking persons, barristers, or relationships to said people. Re-cut/Mashup Movie Trailers – User-made trailers for established films, using scenes, voice-overs, and music, to alter the appearance of the film's true genre or meaning or to create a new, apparently seamless, film. Examples include casting the thriller-drama The Shining into a romantic comedy, or using footage from the respective films to create Robocop vs. Terminator. RedLetterMedia/Mr. Plinkett Reviews – Independent filmmaker Mike Stoklasa's long, in-depth critical reviews of the Star Wars prequel trilogy and several other large budget films, re-enacted under his crotchety "Mr. Plinkett" persona, became highly popular through word-of-mouth on the Internet. Snakes on a Plane – Attracted attention a year before its planned release, and before any promotional material was released, due to the film's working title, its seemingly absurd premise, and the piquing of actor Samuel L. Jackson's interest to work on the film. Producers of the film responded to the Internet buzz by adding several scenes and dialogue imagined by the fans. Marble Hornets is a documentary-style horror, suspense short film series based on alternate reality experiences of the Slenderman tale. Marble Hornets was instrumental in codifying parts of the Slender Man mythos, but is not part of the intercontinuity crossover that includes many of the blogs and vlogs that followed it, although MH does feature in other canons as either a chronicle of real events or a fictional series. The Room (2003) – Written, produced, directed, and starring Tommy Wiseau, the low budget independent film is considered one of the worst films ever made, but through social media and interest from comedians, gained a large number of fans of movie while further becoming a popular source for memes based on some of the poorly delivered lines in the movie, such as "You're tearing me apart, Lisa!" Flappy Bird - a free-to-playcasualmobile game released on the iOS App Store on 24 May 2013, and on Google Play on 30 January 2014, by indie mobile app developer Dong Nguyen. The game began rapidly rising in popularity in late-December 2013 to January 2014 with up to 50 million downloads by 5 February. On 9 February, Nguyen removed the game from the mobile app stores citing negative effects of the game's success on his health and its addictiveness to players. Following the game's removal from the app stores, numerous clones and derivatives of the game were released with varying similarities to the original game. Giant Enemy Crab – The meme originated during the demonstration of Genji: Days of the Blade at the SonyE3 2006 press conference. The producer Bill Ritch claimed that Genji 2 's epic battles were based on "famous battles which actually took place in ancient Japan." Almost immediately after this was spoken, the gameplay footage showed a boss battle against, in his own words, a "giant enemy crab." Popular memes originating from the Genji demonstration included the game features described such as "you attack its weak point for massive damage" and "real-time...weapon change," despite neither of these being at all new to video gaming, being staples of classic 1980s games such as Metroid. In IGN's E3 2006 wrap-up, they listed a number of Genji 2 quotes. Hoenn Confirmed - A saying rooted in the fact that Nintendo had made remakes of the first two generations of Pokémon games in a predictable timeline, then never did one for the third one, taking place in the Hoenn region. Fans would find extremely obscure clues in other media and call it evidence that Nintendo had finally gotten around to making the remake. Hoenn finally was confirmed on May 7, 2014, with the announcement of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire I Love Bees – An alternate reality game that was spread virally after a one second mention inside a Halo 2 advertisement. Purported to be a website about Honey Bees that was infected and damaged by a strange Artificial Intelligence, done in a disjointed, chaotic style resembling a crashing computer. At its height, over 500,000 people were checking the website every time it updated. "I Took An Arrow in the Knee" – Non-player characters in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim repeat the line: "I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee". The latter part of this phrase quickly took off as a meme in the form of "I used to X, but then I took an arrow in the knee" with numerous image macros and video parodies created, and soon became overused and considered an annoyance; it was mentioned in an episode of NCIS. Leeroy Jenkins – A World of Warcraft player charges into a high-level dungeon with a distinctive cry of "Leeeeeeeerooooy... Jeeenkins!", ruining the meticulous attack plans of his group and getting them all killed. Line Rider – A Flash game where the player draws lines that act as ramps and hills for a small rider on a sled. Luigi's Death Stare - Game footage from Mario Kart 8 typically showing Luigi taking out an opponent's kart or narrowly avoiding being knocked out himself, followed by Luigi giving his victim a death stare as he drives off. Portal/Portal 2 – The popular video games Portal and its sequel, both written with black humor undertones, introduced several Internet memes, including the phrase "the cake is a lie", and the space-obsessed "Space Core" character. QWOP – A browser based game requiring the player to control a sprint runner by using the Q, W, O, and P keys to control the runner's limbs. The game is notoriously difficult to control, typically leaving the runner character flailing about. The concept developed into memes based on the game, as well as describing real-life mishaps as attributable to QWOP. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon – A trivia/parlor game based around linking an actor to Kevin Bacon through a chain of co-starring actors in films, television, and other productions, with the hypothesis that no actor was more than six connections away from Bacon, similar to the theory of six degrees of separation or the Erdős number in mathematics. The game was created in 1994, just at the start of the wider spread of Internet use, populated further with the creation of movie database sites like IMDb, and since has become a board game and contributed towards the field of network science. Surgeon Simulator 2013 – An absurd, unrealistic surgical simulation game with game play consisting of the player attempting to perform various surgical procedures, either in an operating room or an ambulance, using difficult controls similar to those of the game QWOP. Initially created by Bossa Studios in a 48-hour period for the 2013 Global Game Jam and released in January 2013, the game was further developed and later released as a full version via Steam in April 2013. Twitch Plays Pokémon - An "experiment" and channel created by an anonymous user on the Twitch live streaming video site in February 2014. Logged-in viewers to the channel can enter commands corresponding to the physical inputs used in the JRPG video game Pokémon Red into the chat window, which are collected and parsed by a chat software robot that uses the commands to control the main character in the game, which is then live-streamed from the channel. The stream attracted more than 80,000 simultaneous players with over 10 million views with a week of going live, creating a chaotic series of movements and actions within the game and a number of original memes and derivative fan art. The combination has been called an entertainment hybrid of "a video game, live video and a participatory experience," which has inspired similar versions for other games. Allison Stokke – A high school track athlete whose 2006 photo of herself adjusting her hair at a track meet in New York made its way across the Internet. She had more than 1,000 new messages on MySpace. A three-minute video of Stokke standing against a wall and analyzing her performance at another meet had been posted on YouTube and viewed 150,000 times. Ate my balls – An early example of an Internet meme. Created to depict a particular celebrity or fictional character eating testicles. Baby mugging and Baby suiting - MommyShorts blogger Ilana Wiles began posting pictures of babies in mugs, and later adult business suits, both of which led to numerous others doing the same. "Children & Hallucinogens: The Future of Discipline" - A book purportedly published in the 1970s by Penguin Books was actually created for the British satire website Scarfolk. It prompted many people to contact the aforementioned publisher in search of available copies. Cigar guy – An October 2010 photograph of Tiger Woods at the 2010 Ryder cup included a costumed man with a wig and cigar, which spread widely and was photoshopped. Crasher Squirrel – A photograph by Melissa Brandts of a squirrel which popped up into a timer-delayed shot of Brandts and her husband while vacationing in Banff National Park, Canada, just as the camera went off. The image of the squirrel has since been added into numerous images on the Internet. Crave that mineral - A Tumblr post about alpine ibexes climbing up nearly vertical rock faces to get salt deposits, accompanied by the phrase "They crave that mineral", which quickly went viral. Dog shaming – Originating on Tumblr, these images feature images of dogs photographed with signs explaining what antics they recently got up to. Doge - Images of dogs, typically of the Shiba Inus, overlaid with simple but poor grammatical expressions, typically in the Comic Sans MS font, though have since been applied to any picture as a form of commentary. The Dress - An image of a dress posted to Tumblr that, due to how the photograph was taken, created an optical illusion where the dress would either appear white and gold, or blue and black. Within 48 hours, the post gained over 400,000 notes and was later featured on many different websites. Ecce Homo / Ecce Mono / Potato Jesus – An attempt in August 2012 by a local woman to restore Elías García Martínez's aging fresco of Jesus in Borja, Spain leads to a botched, amateur-ish, monkey-looking image, leading to several image-based memes. Grumpy Cat - A cat named Tardar Sauce that appears to have a permanent scowl on her face due to feline dwarfism, according to its owner. Pictures of the cat circulated the Internet, leading it to win the 2013 Webby for Meme of the Year, and her popularity has led to star in a feature film. Heineken Looter Guy / Lootie – An Associated Press photo taken in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, under the caption, "A looter carries a bucket of beer out of a grocery store in New Orleans." The original photo shows a black man in waist-deep waters carrying a tub full of bottles of beer. This image and the man's face were incorporated into a parody of a Heineken magazine advertisement. The image has since shown up in hundreds of photoshopped images across the web. Kermit Bale – An Internet meme from the Livejournal gossip blog Oh No They Didn't in which the original poster constructed a detailed post pointing out the similarities between Kermit the Frog and actor Christian Bale. In a mock interview with Netscape, Kermit "commented" on the phenomenon, saying: "I had absolutely no idea. But, now that I look at the Internet, there sure are a lot of similarities between us. Christian and I haven't met, but I'm really looking forward to talking to him about this. As for the rumors that we're related: well, it's pretty unlikely, but since I'm one of 2,353 brothers and sisters, anything is a possibility." Oolong – Photos featured on a popular Japanese website of a rabbit that is famous for its ability to balance a variety of objects on its head. Ridiculously Photogenic Guy – A picture of one of the runners – later identified as Zeddie Little – during a local 2012 marathon in Charleston, South Carolina, was called out for how photogenic he looked, and later spread virally. Rosinés Chávez – In January 2012, Rosinés Chávez, the 14-year-old daughter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, posted a picture of herself on Instagram holding U.S. currency. The Washington Post reported "In polarized Venezuela, where the president excoriates businessmen and calls capitalism a scourge on humanity, the photo touched off a controversy as critics went to social media sites to mock the first family." Soon afterward, other people posted similar pictures of themselves holding cooking oil, coffee, sugar, and other staples which are sometimes hard to obtain in the country. "Seriously McDonalds" – A photograph apparently showing racist policies introduced by McDonald's. The photograph, which is a hoax, went viral, especially on Twitter, in June 2011. Success Kid - An image of a baby who is clenching his fist while featuring a determined look on his face. Tron Guy – Jay Maynard, a computer consultant, designed a Tron costume, complete with skin-tight spandex and light-up plastic armor, in 2003 for Penguicon 1.0 in Detroit, Michigan. The Internet phenomenon began when an article was posted to Slashdot, followed by Fark, including images of this costume. Vancouver Riot Kiss – An image of a young couple lying on the ground kissing each other behind a group of rioters during the riots following the Vancouver Canucks' Stanley Cup loss to the Boston Bruins on 15 June 2011. The couple, later identified as Australian Scott Jones and local resident Alexandra Thomas, actually were not kissing but Jones was consoling Thomas after being knocked down by a police charge. Bed Intruder Song – A remix by the Gregory Brothers of a televised news interview of Antoine Dodson, the brother of a victim of a home invasion and attempted assault. The music video became a mainstream success, reaching the Billboard Hot 100, and became the most watched YouTube video of 2010. "Chocolate Rain" – A song and music video written and performed by Tay Zonday (also known as Adam Nyerere Bahner). After being posted on YouTube on 22 April 2007, the song quickly became a popular viral video. By December 2009, the video had received over 40 million views. Ekrem Jevrić, immigrant construction worker and cab driver from New York City. In 2010 he recorded video spot "Kuća poso" (House, work), a video detailing the hard life of immigrants, which became an instant hit across former Yugoslavia. "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" - A song and associated video by the Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis prepared for their upcoming television show. The song's verses note the noises other animals make, but in the chorus, ask what noise a fox makes, at which point the song offers nonsense phrases like "gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!" and "fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!", while the video takes a similarly funny turn. The video saw over 43 million hits within a few weeks of its release, topping music charts, and leading to Ylvis being signed for more music by Warner Bros. Records. "Friday" – A music video sung by 13-year-old Rebecca Black, partially funded by her mother, which received over 200 million views on YouTube and spread in popularity through social media services. "Gangnam Style" – A song and music video by South Korean rapper, Psy, showing him doing an "invisible horse dance" and saying the catchphrase "Oppan Gangnam Style" across a number of odd locations, leading to its viral spread as well as the single's reaching international music charts. The video has since become the most watched video on YouTube as of November 2012. "Gwiyomi" – A K-pop single by the South Korean indie musician Hari. The song was released on 18 February 2013 and is based on an Internet meme known as the Gwiyomi Player, which was invented in October 2012 by the K-pop idol Jung Il Hoon and has inspired many similar versions uploaded onto the Internet by Asian netizens. Literal music video – Covers of music videos where the original lyrics have been replaced with ones that literally describe the events that occur in the video, typically disconnected with the original lyrics of the song. Mandatory Fun #8days8videos campaign - A viral marketing campaign by comedy singer/songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic to promote his 2014 album Mandatory Fun by releasing eight videos for the new album over eight consecutive days across different streaming providers. The Internet-aided approach was considered very successful, leading to the album to become Yankovic's first number one hit in his 32-year career and became the first comedy album to hit Number 1 on the Billboard charts in over 50 years. "Pop Culture" – A 2011 YouTube video of a live mash-up by the musician Hugo Pierre Leclercq aka "Madeon", aged 17 at the time, using a Novation touchpad to mix samples from 39 different songs. The video went viral within a few days of being posted, and led to Leclercq's fame in the electronica music genre. "United Breaks Guitars" – A video by the band Sons of Maxwell, recounting how United Airlines broke a guitar belonging to band member Dave Carroll. The video reached 11 million views, was named one of the top ten of 2009, and created speculation that it had caused a $180 million drop in the airline's stock value. "We Gon Rock" - A music video showing a 17-year-old Canadian rapper by the name of Boostalk. The video gained popularity when it was shown on G4TV during the '"Around the Net" segment of Attack of the Show. The music video is often mocked on the Internet due to its lack of production value and claims that Boostalk is the "Worst Rapper Ever". 2 Girls 1 Cup – Videos of two girls engaging in coprophilia. This video has also originated a series of amateur videos showing the reactions of people seeing the original video. Ain't Nobody Got Time for That – A news interview with Kimberly "Sweet Brown" Wilkins, of Oklahoma City, in April 2012. Wilkins was asked about her escape from her burning apartment complex; she concluded the conversation by remarking "I got bronchitis! Ain't nobody got time for that!" The phrase has been reprinted on various forms of merchandise, while Wilkins appeared on television programs. Jimmy Kimmel later made a parody starring Queen Latifah as Wilkins inspiring people across history with phrases from the video. Wilkins herself appears in a cameo. Angry German Kid/Keyboard Crasher – A video of a German teenage boy getting so frustrated in playing an online video game that he begins ranting at the screen and smashing his keyboard. Though later shown to be staged, numerous parodies of the video were made, with made-up translations from the initial ranting, and became popular in Japan under the name "Keyboard Crasher". Anime Music Videos/MADs – A staple of anime conventions both in Japan and Western countries, these fan-made videos take footage from various anime works and re-edit them in different order, addition of new soundtracks (including to full-length songs), and other manipulations such as lip-syncing characters to lyrics; with the propagation of the Internet and popularity of anime in the United States in 2003, this type of user-created content flourished, and grew to include footage from other works including video games and Western animated shows. The Annoying Orange – A series of comedy sketches featuring a talking orange annoying other fruits and vegetables, as well as some appliances, with his one-liners and puns. Charlie Chaplin Time Travel Video – A YouTube video posted in October 2010 by Irish filmmaker George Clarke in which he suggested that additional footage contained in a DVD release of the Charlie Chaplin film The Circus depicted a time traveler talking on a cell phone received millions of hits and became the subject of widespread Internet discussion. Dancing Matt – Video game designer Matt Harding became famous in 2003 when he filmed himself dancing in front of various world landmarks. Eventually, a chewing gum company sent him off to dance on seven continents, and by October 2006, five million viewers have seen his videos. Harding compiled two similar videos in 2008 and 2012. Double Rainbow – a video posted to YouTube by Paul Vasquez of him filming a rainbow with a secondary one at Yosemite National Park. Vasquez's amazed and overwhelmed response includes philosophical questions about the rainbows, such as "what do they mean?". Subsequently, the video went viral, and an auto-tuned remix named the "Double Rainbow Song" using the video's audio track was later released by the Gregory Brothers, receiving more than 30 million views and becoming another meme. Downfall Parodies – A series of videos featuring a scene of Adolf Hitler (portrayed in this film by Swiss actor Bruno Ganz) ranting in German, from the 2004 film Downfall. The original English subtitles have been removed and mock subtitles added to give the appearance that Hitler is ranting about modern, often trivial topics, reviews, just the audio and without the actual image of Hitler doing something and sometimes even breaking the fourth wall. While the clips are frequently removed for copyright violations, the film's director, Oliver Hirschbiegel, has stated that he enjoys them, and claims to have seen about 145 of them. By 2010, there were thousands of such parodies, including many in which a self-aware Hitler is incensed that people keep making Downfall parodies. Dramatic Chipmunk – A video featuring a prairie dog (almost always inaccurately called a chipmunk in the video title) turning its head suddenly toward the camera, with a zoom-in on its face while suspense music is playing. eHarmony Video Bio – Video of a woman calling herself "Debbie" in an online dating video who ends up getting very emotional over her affection for cats. The video, which received over 3 million hits on YouTube between 3 and 12 June 2011, was later attributed to Cara Hartmann, a 23-year-old entertainer and a resident of the United States. Epic Beard Man – Video of a bus fight in Oakland, California in which 67-year-old Thomas Bruso physically defends himself against an African-American man after being accused of racial prejudice then punched by him. Within a week of the video's posting on YouTube, there were over 700,000 hits. Evolution of Dance – A video of a six-minute live performance of motivational speaker Judson Laipply's routine consisting of several recognizable dance movies to respective songs. The video was one of the earliest examples of a viral video posted on YouTube, having received 23 million hits within 2 weeks of posting in mid-2006, and was marked as an example of low budget, user-generated content achieving broadcast television-sized audiences. Fenton – Video of a dog chasing deer in Richmond Park, London, and its owner's attempts to call it off. The video was taken by the owner's 13-year-old son and gained over 800,000 hits on YouTube in November 2011. Fred Figglehorn – Video series featuring a fictional six-year-old named Fred with "anger-management issues", who lives with his alcoholic mother and whose father is doing jail time. Fred is portrayed by 18-year-old actor Lucas Cruikshank, and his YouTube channel had over 250,000 subscribers and was the fourth most subscribed channel in 2008. Fuck her right in the pussy – The act of shouting the eponymous phrase in public, most notably interrupting outside broadcast television reports. It became popular in early 2014 after a television reporter allegedly made a statement about a missing woman on live TV ending off with "Fuck her right in the pussy", which purportedly got him fired. The quote got further attention after a man allegedly screamed the phrase during two live broadcasts on Cincinnati TV stations WLWT and WKRC-TV. However, all of the clips were actually hoaxes made by a video producer. Gallon smashing – The act of smashing a gallon of liquid in a manner that appears to be accidental. The prank often involves throwing a gallon of milk onto a grocery store aisle, then falling and sometimes having difficulty returning to a standing position. Harlem Shake – A video based on Harlem shake dance, originally created by vlogger Filthy Frank and using an electronica version of the song by Baauer. In such videos, one person is dancing or acting strange among a room full of others going about routine business, until after the drop and a video cut, everyone starts dancing or acting strangely. The attempts to recreate the dance has led to a viral spread on YouTube. I Like Turtles – A video news clip of 10-year-old Jonathon Ware at the Portland Rose Festival on 31 May 2007. His face was painted like a zombie, and when asked for comment by a news reporter, responded with the non sequitur "I like turtles!" The video was viewed more than 500,000 times by 30 July 2007 and 46 million times by 2 January 2015. "Ken Lee" – Badly garbled song sung by Bulgarian Music Idol hopeful Valentina Hasan. The name "Ken Lee" was misunderstood from the English lyric "Can't live," as in "Can't live, if living is without you" from the song "Without You" by Badfinger Kony 2012 – An online video created by Invisible Children, Inc. to highlight the criminal acts of Joseph Kony to an international spotlight as part of a campaign to seek his capture and arrest, quickly gained tens of millions of viewers within a week, becoming, according to CNN, "the most viral YouTube video of all time". "Leave Britney Alone!" – A video posted on YouTube by Chris Crocker in response to the media's harsh treatment of Britney Spears. The video was seen by 8 million viewers by September 2007 and saw many repeat versions and parodies. An example of the anime-style moe images of Natalia Poklonskaya following her press conference "Let's Play" videos – A format popularized by the website Something Awful, "Let's Play" feature a video game player playing through a game using video capturing devices and providing ongoing humorous commentary as they play. Such videos have expanded via the introduction of YouTube and streaming video sites, and have been seen as promotional for the games that are played. The format been proven highly successful for some people, such as Felix Kjellberg (known as PewDiePie) who has over 28 million YouTube subscribers and earning more than $4 million from ad revenue sharing in 2013. Mélissa Theuriau – A French journalist and news anchor for M6. She became an Internet phenomenon after a compilation video, entitled "Beautiful News Reporter", was posted online. She was voted by Maxim readers as "TV's sexiest news anchor" in 2007. Michelle Jenneke – "michelle jenneke dancing sexy as hell at junior world championships in Barcelona 2012" is a video of 19-year-old hurdler Michelle Jenneke during her pre-race warm-up at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona. The video of Jenneke dancing pre-race was uploaded on 25 July on YouTube and had more than 13 million views in less than a week. The video made Jenneke an instant online celebrity. Natalia Poklonskaya – Shortly after Natalia Poklonskaya was appointed a so-called Prosecutor General of the Republic of Crimea a video of Poklonskaya during a press conference went viral on YouTube and spawned an onslaught of anime-style fanart dedicated to her which garnered international media attention. Nek Minnit – A 10-second YouTube video from New Zealand featuring skater Levi Hawkin. This video inspired the term Nek Minnit, which is used at the end of a sentence in place of the words Next Minute. The video has received over two million views and has been parodied several times on YouTube; the TV3 show The Jono Project ran a series of clips titled Food in a Nek Minnit which parodied a nightly advertisement called Food in a Minute. As a result of the video, the term Nek Minnit was the most searched for word on Google in New Zealand for 2011. The Peckham Terminator – A video filmed by two youths on 1 August 2010 of a man in his twenties screaming abuse at fellow passengers on the 37 bus at Rye Lane. The man uses racial abuse and tries to pick a fight with one passenger. The man finally smashes through the glass of the rear doors (after making a few attempts beforehand) and walks off unscathed. The youths filming the incident dub him the "Peckham Terminator", after the Arnold Schwarzenegger character. Puppy-throwing Marine viral video – A video from March 2008 of a US Marine on patrol in Iraq throwing a puppy off of a cliff. The video sparked outrage from numerous animal rights groups and was later removed from YouTube. The Marine was later identified as Lance Corporal David Motari, who was removed from the Marine Corps and received a non-judicial punishment. His accomplice, Sergeant Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion, received a non-judicial punishment as well. Rickrolling – A phenomenon involving posting a URL in an Internet forum that appears to be relevant to the topic at hand, but is, in fact, a link to a video of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up". The practice originated on 4chan as a "Duckroll", in which an image of a duck on wheels was what was linked to. The practice of Rickrolling became popular after April Fools' Day in 2008 when YouTube rigged every feature video on its home page to Rick Astley's song. Shreds – A series of mock videos, initially created by Santeri Ojala a.k.a. StSanders. The original videos show footage of famous rock guitarists and/or bands in their "shredding" moments, but feature Ojala's own purposely warped, yet precisely synchronized, guitar playing in place of the original audio. Supercuts – Videos consisting of numerous clips from movies and television typically highlighting the reuse of a common phrase or trope within each clip. Such can be specific to a show (such as highlighting every swear stated in the film The Big Lebowski), an oft-quoted line (numerous reality television show contestants saying they're not played to make friends) or as non-verbal critique of a specific medium (reuse of similar dialog lines throughout shows created by Aaron Sorkin). "This is my story" – A two-part video of 18-year-old American Internet personality Ben Breedlove, explaining about his heart condition, using note cards as a visual aid. The YouTube video was released on 18 December 2011, a week prior to Breedlove's death, and received world-wide attention. "Too Many Cooks" – A 2014 short produced by Adult Swim that parodies the openings of many 1980s and 1990s American television shows with both meta and dark humor. Originally only played on Cartoon Network in place of early morning infomercials, the short soon gained attraction via social media. Tourettes Guy – A series of videos featuring an apparent Tourette's syndrome sufferer by the name of "Danny" and several events in his daily life, including many interactions with his son, who always remains behind the camera. In 2007, it was reported that Danny had died; however, a video released of him in 2008 disproved this. Twin Baby Boys Having a Conversation – A video of 17-month-old twin boys, Sam and Ren, having a "conversation" in their own special "language" was posted to YouTube by their mother and viewed by thousands of people in the next 24 hours. "Ty kto takoy? Davay, do svidaniya!" ("Who are you? Come on, goodbye!" in Russian) – A video of Azerbaijani meykhana performers, that gained over 2 million views on YouTube. The jingle "Ty kto takoy? Davay, do svidaniya!" started trending on Twitter with the Russian hashtag #путинтыктотакойдавайдосвидания and a number of songs sampled the jingle since then. UFO Phil – A series of music videos and short films featuring cult celebrity UFO Phil, whose real name is Phil Hill. Phil is an American novelty songwriter most notable for appearing with George Noory on the radio program Coast to Coast AM. Very erotic very violent – An Internet catchphrase in the People's Republic of China, after a report by Xinwen Lianbo, the most viewed of China's state-sponsored news programs, where a young girl was reported to have come across content on the Internet which was "very erotic, very violent". This incident sparked wide forms of parody on the Internet, and also questioned the credibility of the state broadcaster's newscasts. Wii Fit Girl – A video entitled "Why every guy should buy their girlfriend a Wii Fit" showing 25-year-old Lauren Bernat hula hooping with the fitness video game in only her T-shirt and panties. The video was viewed more than 10 million times on YouTube by September 2010, and was suspected as being a viral marketing plot because both Bernat, and her boyfriend Giovanny Gutierrez, who filmed the footage, work in advertising. Nintendo has since denied the claim that it was a marketing plot. Winnebago Man – A series of profane video outtakes first circulated underground on VHS tape before YouTube videos turned them into an online sensation. The reclusive Rebney is the subject of a feature film, Winnebago Man. Xtranormal – A website allowing users to create videos by scripting the dialog and choosing from a menu of camera angles and predesigned CGI characters and scenes. Though originally designed to be used to ease storyboard development for filmmakers, the site quickly became popular after videos made with the tool, including "iPhone 4 vs HTC Evo", became viral. Zangief Kid (a.k.a. "Little Zangief") – A video clip first seen on YouTube depicting a fight in school between two students, which begins with the smaller pupil punching the taller sixteen-year-old boy Casey Heynes, who in turn retaliates by lifting the boy upside down and slamming him on the ground. Casey has been nicknamed "The Zangief Kid" by many Internet users as the grappling move used closely resembles the Spinning Piledriver, the signature special move of the character Zangief from the Street Fighter video game series. Alex From Target – A Twitter user posted a picture of a teenaged Target worker named Alex with the hashtag #alexfromtarget. The tweet went viral in a day and created spin-offs such as #kieranfromtmobile and #stevefromstarbucks. Creepypasta – urban legends or scary stories circulating on the Internet, many times revolving around specific videos, pictures or video games. The term "creepypasta" is a mutation of the term "copypasta": a short, readily available piece of text that is easily copied and pasted into a text field. "Copypasta" is derived from "copy/paste", and in its original sense commonly referred to presumably initially sincere text (e.g. a blog or forum post) perceived by the copy/paster as undesirable or otherwise preposterous, which was then copied and pasted to other sites as a form of trolling. DashCon Ball Pit – A convention held in July 2014 by users of Tumblr that "imploded" due to a number of financial difficulties and low turnout. During the convention, a portable ball pit was brought into a large empty room, and for some premium panels that were cancelled, the attendees were offered an extra hour in the ball pit as compensation. The implosion and absurdity of aspects like the ball pit quickly spread through social media. Dogecoin – A form of cryptocurrency created as a parody of Bitcoins, after the popularity of the Doge meme, it has since become a currency of actual value, with an estimated total of $65 million in circulation and used for legitimate real-world purchases. Horse ebooks / Pronunciation Book – A five-year-long viral marketing alternate reality game for a larger art project developed by Synydyne. "Horse_ebooks" was a Twitter account that seemed to promote e-books, while "Pronunciation Book" was a YouTube channel that provided ways to pronounce English words. Both accounts engaged in non-sequiturs, making some believe that the accounts were run by automated services. Pronunciation Book shifted to pronouncing numerals in a countdown fashion in mid-2013, concluding in late September 2013 revealing the connection to Horse_ebook and identity of Synydyne behind the accounts, and the introduction of their next art project. Ice Bucket Challenge – A charity-driven effort where a person "tags" three other people over social media, challenging them either to donate $100 to the ALS Association, or to otherwise douse themselves with a bucket of ice-cold water while filming themselves as well as making a smaller donation and tagging three others with the same challenge. As the challenge propagated, it tagged various celebrities and people with large numbers of social followers, causing the challenge to grow in a viral manner. Illegal flower tribute – when Google China began considering withdrawing from the country because of disputes with the government over censorship and the Chinese government's intrusion into their computer systems, supporters of Google from around Beijing laid flowers at the company's headquarters in Zhongguancun. The flowers donated by previous visitors were promptly removed by the security guards, one of whom said that people needed to apply for government permits in order not to make an "illegal flower tribute". The paperclip that Kyle MacDonald converted into a house, after 14 trade-ups. Jeff the Killer – Jeff is depicted as a serial killer who stabs people to death in their beds. He is the main character in a well-known creepypasta, appears as an internet meme with the caption "go to sleep" and was the inspiration of an independent game and several gaming mods. The origin of the "go to sleep" meme is unknown, although 4chan and promotional material for Saw V have both been suggested as the original source. One red paperclip – The story of a Canadian blogger who bartered his way from a red paperclip to a house in a year's time. Put Out Your Bats – Following the death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes in November 2014, a Sydney father placed his cricket bat outside his house as a mark of respect, and tweeted the image using the hashtag #putoutyourbats. Subsequently, this phenomenon caught up and many cricket fans worldwide joined in on the act. Rules of the Internet – An informal body of observed "laws" gathered over time that typically apply to discussions and forums on the Internet that project the type of behavior and content that can be expected. Such rules include Godwin's law: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1"; Poe's law: "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of fundamentalism that someone won't mistake for the real thing", and Rule 34: "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions." Slender Man or Slenderman is a creepypasta meme and urban-legend fakelore tale created on 8 June 2009 by user Victor Surge on Something Awful as part of a contest to edit photographs to contain "supernatural" entities and then pass them off as legitimate on paranormal forums. The Slender Man gained prominence as a frightening malevolent entity: a tall thin man wearing a suit and lacking a face with "his" head only being blank, white, and featureless. After the initial creation, numerous stories and videos were created by fans of the character. Slender Man was later adapted into a video game in 2012 and became more widely known. The Rake – A humanoid Creepypasta cryptid that is depicted as infrequently stalking people, sometimes appearing at the foot of the victims bed, and has been known to mutilate and abduct children. The Rake originated as a Creepypasta created by an anonymous poster on 4chan's /b/ imageboard in late 2005. The Rake has appeared in many hoax videos and YouTube videos. It is often depicted as existing within the same canon as the Slender Man due to its inclusion in EverymanHYBRID, one of the most well known and popular Slender Man ARGs. "Thanks, Obama" Originally a phrase used to negatively reflect on the impact of United States President Barack Obama's decisions on American politics, the phrase morphed to be used jokingly to blame Obama for any problem or happenstance that occurred to them. Vuvuzelas – The near-constant playing of the buzz-sounding vuvuzela instrument during games of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa led to numerous vuvuzela-based memes, including YouTube temporarily adding a vuvuzela effect that could be added to any video during the World Cup.
\|Sub grouping\|\|Water deity, Tutelary deity, Snake deity\| \|Other name(s)\|\|Nāgī or Nāgiṇī\| \|Habitat\|\|Lakes, rivers and caves\| Nāga (IAST: nāgá, Burmese pronunciation: [nəɡá]) is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for a deity or class of entity or being, taking the form of a very great snake—specifically the king cobra, found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. A female Nāga is a nāgī or nāgiṇī. - 1 Etymology - 2 Mahabharata - 3 Hinduism - 4 Buddhism - 5 Other traditions - 6 Notable nāgas - 7 Residences [mythically] - 8 Popular culture - 9 See also - 10 References - 11 Further reading - 12 External links \|Wikispecies has information related to: Naja naja\| In Sanskrit, a nāgá (नाग) is a cobra, the Indian cobra (Naja naja). A synonym for nāgá is phaṇin (फणिन्). There are several words for "snake" in general, and one of the very commonly used ones is sarpá (सर्प). Sometimes the word nāgá is also used generically to mean "snake". The word is cognate with English 'snake', Germanic: snēk-a-, Proto-IE: (s)nēg-o-. In the great epic Mahabharata, the depiction of nagas tends toward the negative. An epic calls them "persecutors of all creatures", and tells us "the snakes were of virulent poison, great prowess and excess of strength, and ever bent on biting other creatures" (Book I: Adi Parva, Section 20). At some points within the story, nagas are important players in many of the events narrated in the epic, frequently no more evil nor deceitful than the other protagonists, and sometimes on the side of good. The epic frequently characterizes nagas as having a mixture of human and serpent-like traits. Sometimes it characterizes them as having human traits at one time, and as having serpent-like traits at another. For example, the story of how the naga prince Shesha came to hold the world on his head begins with a scene in which he appears as a dedicated human ascetic, "with knotted hair, clad in rags, and his flesh, skin, and sinews dried up owing to the hard penances he was practising." Brahma is pleased with Shesha, and entrusts him with the duty of carrying the world. At that point in the story, Shesha begins to exhibit the attributes of a serpent. He enters into a hole in the Earth and slithers all the way to bottom, where he then loads the Earth onto his head. (Book I: Adi Parva, Section 36.) Enmity with Garuda The great nemesis of the nagas in the Mahabharata is the gigantic eagle-king Garuda. Garuda and the nagas began life as cousins. The sage Kasyapa had two wives (amongst his 13 wives, all prajapati Daksha's daughters), Kadru and Vinata, the former of whom desired many offspring, and the latter of whom desired few but powerful offspring. Each got her wish. Kadru laid 1000 eggs which hatched into snakes, and Vinata laid two, which hatched into the charioteer of Surya the sun god and Garuda. Through a foolish bet, Vinata became enslaved to her sister, and as a result Vinata's son Garuda was required to do the bidding of the snakes. Through compliant, he chafed and built up a grudge that he would never relinquish. When he asked the snakes what he would have to do in order to release his mother, Vinata, from her bondage, they told him he would have to bring them amrita, the elixir of immortality. Garuda stole the elixir from the gods and brought it to the serpents in fulfillment of their requirement, but through a ruse prevented them from partaking of it and achieving immortality. From that point onward, he regarded them as enemies and as food. (Book I: Adi Parva, Sections 16ff.) Kadru, the ancestral mother of snakes, made a bet with her sister Vinata, the stakes being that the loser would be enslaved to the winner. Eager to secure victory, Kadru requested the cooperation of her offspring in order to fix the bet so that Kadru would win. When her offspring balked at the request, Kadru grew angry and cursed them to die a fiery death in the snake-sacrifice of King Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, who was the son of Abhimanyu the son of Arjuna. The king of the snakes Vasuki was aware of the curse, and knew that his brethren would need a hero to rescue them from it. He approached the renowned ascetic Jaratkaru with a proposal of marriage to a snake-goddess, Manasa, Vasuki's own sister. Out of the union of the ascetic and the snake-maiden was born "a son of the splendor of a celestial child." This son was named Astika, and he was to be the savior of the snakes. In accordance with Kadru's curse, Janamejaya prepared a snake sacrifice of a type described in the scriptures, the Puranas. He erected a sacrificial platform and hired priests and other professionals needed for the rites. Following the proper form, the priests lit the sacrificial fire, duly fed it with clarified butter, uttered the required mantras, and began calling the names of snakes. The power of the rite was such that the named snakes were summoned to the fire and were consumed by it. As the sacrifice took on genocidal proportions, Astika came to the rescue. He approached Janamejaya and praised the sacrifice in such eloquent terms that the king offered to grant him a boon of his choosing. Astika promptly requested that the sacrifice be terminated. Though initially regretful of his offer, Janamejaya was true to his word, and the sacrifice came to an end. (Book I: Adi Parva, Sections 13-58.) Stories involving the nāgas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in predominantly Hindu regions of Asia (India, Nepal, and the island of Bali). In India, nāgas are considered nature spirits and the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought. Nāgas are snakes that may take human form. They tend to be very curious. According to traditions nāgas are only malevolent to humans when they have been mistreated. They are susceptible to mankind's disrespectful actions in relation to the environment. They are also associated with waters—rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure.[citation not found] They are objects of great reverence in some parts of South India, where it is believed that they bring fertility and prosperity to their venerators. Expensive and grand rituals like the Nagamandala and the Nāgārādhane are conducted in their honor. Another example comes from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Women gather at Hindu temples to worship nāgas (considered snake goddesses in south Indian Hinduism). At the temples, the nāgas take the form of snakes carved into stones. Hindu women gather around the stones to make offerings to the female snake goddesses. These goddesses are believed to make women fertile, protect the women and her family, and bring prosperity. The snake goddess is represented as an anthill or a snake that lives inside an anthill or stones with snake carvings on them. In each form, women of Tamil Nadu honor the nāgas with offerings. Hindus in Tamil believe a person who harms or kills a snake will be inflicted with a condition known as nāga dösam which causes infertility and delays in marriage. Nāga dösam can only be reversed through varying degrees of worship to nāga. Nāgas live in Pātāla, the seventh of the nether dimensions or realms. They are the children of Kashyapa and Kadru. Among the prominent nāgas of Hinduism are Manasa, the nagaraja or King of the nāgas Śeṣa and Vasuki. Nāgas also carry the elixir of life and immortality. Garuda once brought it to them and put a cup with elixir on kusha grass but it was taken away by Indra. The nāgas licked the kusha grass, but in doing so cut their tongues on the grass, and since then their tongues have been forked. Vishnu is originally portrayed in the form sheltered by a Śeṣanāga or reclining on Śeṣa, but the iconography has been extended to other deities as well. The serpent is a common feature in Ganesha iconography and appears in many forms: around the neck, use as a sacred thread (Sanskrit: yajñyopavīta) wrapped around the stomach as a belt, held in a hand, coiled at the ankles, or as a throne. Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake. Maehle (2006: p. 297) states that "Patanjali is thought to be a manifestation of the serpent of eternity". Traditions about nāgas are also very common in all the Buddhist countries of Asia. In many countries, the nāga concept has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons such as the Burmese nat (Burmese: နတ်; MLCTS: IPA: [naʔ]). In Tibetan religion, the nāga was equated with the klu (Tibetan: ཀླུ་) that dwell in lakes or underground streams and guard treasure. In China, the nāga was equated with the Chinese dragon (Chinese: 龍; pinyin: lóng). The Buddhist nāga generally has the form of a great cobra, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. At least some of the nāgas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance. In Buddhist painting, the nāga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head. One nāga, in human form, attempted to become a monk; when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a human, able to become a monk. In the "Devadatta" chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the daughter of the dragon king, an eight-year-old longnü (nāga), after listening to Mañjuśrī preach the Lotus Sutra, transforms into a male Bodhisattva and immediately reaches full enlightenment. This tale appears to reinforce the viewpoint prevalent in Mahayana scriptures that a male body is required for Buddhahood, even if a being is so advanced in realization that they can magically transform their body at will and demonstrate the emptiness of the physical form itself. Nāgas are believed to both live on Mount Meru, among the other minor deities, and in various parts of the human-inhabited earth. Some of them are water-dwellers, living in streams or the ocean; others are earth-dwellers, living in underground caverns. The nāgas are the servants of Virūpākṣa (Pāli: Virūpakkha), one of the Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction. They act as a guard upon Mount Sumeru, protecting the dēvas of Trāyastriṃśa from attack by the asūras. Among the notable nāgas of Buddhist tradition is Mucalinda, Nāgarāja and protector of the Buddha. In the Vinaya Sutra (I, 3), shortly after his enlightenment, the Buddha is meditating in a forest when a great storm arises, but graciously, King Mucalinda gives shelter to the Buddha from the storm by covering the Buddha's head with his seven snake heads. Then the king takes the form of a young Brahmin and renders the Buddha homage. It is noteworthy that the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Sariputta and Moggallāna are both referred to as Mahānāga or "great nāga". Some of the most important figures in Buddhist history symbolize nagas in their names such as Dignāga, Nāgārsēna, and, although other etymons are assigned to his name, Nāgārjuna. In the Vajrayāna and Mahāsiddha traditions, nagas in their half-human form are depicted holding a naga-jewel, kumbhas of amrita, or a gter-ma (Tibetan: གཏེར་མ་, Wylie: gter ma, Lhasa dialect IPA: [teːmə]; "hidden treasure, concealed text") that had been elementally encoded by adepts. Norbu (1999: p.?) states that according to tradition, the Prajñapāramita gter-ma are held to have been conferred upon Nāgārjuna by the Nagaraja, who had been guarding them at the bottom of a lake. In Thailand Nagas figure in some stories of the Thai folklore and are represented as well in Buddhist temples as architectural elements. Phaya Naga is a well-known Naga said to live in the Mekong river. Thai television soap opera Manisawat (มณีสวาท) is based on a naga legend. In Malay and Orang Asli traditions, the lake Chinni, located in Pahang is home to a naga called Sri Gumum. Depending on legend versions, her predecessor Sri Pahang or her son left the lake and later fought a naga called Sri Kemboja. Kemboja is the former name of what is Cambodia. Like the naga legends there, there are stories about an ancient empire in lake Chinni, although the stories are not linked to the naga legends. In a Cambodian legend, the nāga were a reptilian race of beings under the King Kaliya who possessed a large empire or kingdom in the Pacific Ocean region until they were chased away by the Garuda and sought refuge in India. It was here Kaliya's daughter married an Indian Brahmana named Kaundinya, and from their union sprang the Cambodian people. Therefore Cambodians possess a slogan "Born from the Nāga". As a dowry, Kaliya drank from an area of the waters of Southeast Asia and exposed the land for his daughter and son-in-law to inhabit and thus, Cambodia was created. The Seven-Headed Nāga serpents depicted as statues on Cambodian temples, such as Angkor Wat, apparently represent the seven races within Nāga society, which has a mythological, or symbolic, association with "the seven colors of the rainbow". Furthermore, Cambodian Nāga possess numerological symbolism in the number of their heads. Odd-headed Nāga symbolise the Male Energy, Infinity, Timelessness, and Immortality. This is because, numerologically, all odd numbers come from One (1). Even-headed Nāga are said to be "Female, representing Physicality, Mortality, Temporality, and the Earth." Naga are believed to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong river or estuaries. Lao mythology maintains that the Naga are the protectors of Vientiane, and by extension, the Lao state. The Naga association was most clearly articulated during and immediately after the reign of Anouvong. An important poem from this period San Lup Bo Sun (or San Leupphasun Lao: ສານລຶພສູນ) discusses relations between Laos and Siam in a veiled manner, using the Naga and the Garuda, to represent Laos and Siam, respectively. The Naga is incorporated extensively into Lao iconography, and features prominently in Lao culture throughout the length of the country, not only in Vientiane. \|\|This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (May 2008)\| \|\|This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. (November 2009)\| The legend of the Nāga is a strong and sacred belief held by Thai and Lao people living along the Mekong River. Many pay their respects to the river because they believe the Nāga still rule in it, and locals hold an annual sacrifice for the Nāga. Each ceremony depends on how each village earns its living from the Mekong River—for instance, through fishing or transport. Local residents believe that the Nāga can protect them from danger, so they are likely to make a sacrifice to Nāga before taking a boat trip along the Mekong River. Also, every year on the night of the 15th day of 11th month in the Lao lunar calendar at the end of Vassa, an unusual phenomenon occurs in the area of the Mekong River stretching over 20 kilometres between Pak-Ngeum and Phonephisai districts in Nong Khai province, Thailand. Fireballs appear to rise from the river into the nighttime sky. Local villagers believe that Nāga under Mekong River shoot the fireballs into the air to celebrate the end of Vassa, because Nāga meditate during this time. In 2000, Richard Freeman from the Centre for Fortean Zoology visited the area and talked with witnesses who claimed to have seen gigantic snakes far larger than any python. The general description was of a 60 foot serpent with black scales that had a greenish sheen. Freeman speculated that the nāga legend was based on a real animal, possibly a giant madtsoiid snake. A popular photograph on display in bars, restaurants, guesthouses, and markets around Thailand captioned, Queen of Nagas seized by American Army at Mekhong River, Laos Military Base on June 27, 1973 with the length of 7.80 meters is a hoax. The photograph is actually that taken by USN LT DeeDee Van Wormer, of an oarfish found in late 1996 by US Navy SEAL trainees on the coast of Coronado, California. In Javanese culture, a Naga is a crowned giant magical serpent, sometimes winged. It is similarly derived from the Shiva-Hinduism tradition, merged with Javanese animism. The concept of Naga is prevalent in the Hindu period of Indonesia, before the introduction of Islam. In a wayang theater story a snake (Nāga) god named Sanghyang Anantaboga or Antaboga is a guardian deity in the bowels of the earth. In many parts of pre-Hispanic Philippines, the naga is used as an ornament in the hilt ends of longswords locally known as kampilans. - Aadhi-Sesha, ("Limitless-Eternal") the world serpent with a thousand heads. - Balarama, origin of Ananta-Sesha. - Bakunawa, Naga is also present in the Kapampangan polytheistic beliefs, such as Lakandanum see Deities of Philippine mythology - Kaliya, a snake conquered by Krishna - Karkotaka controls weather. - Manasa, the Hindu goddess of Nagas and curer of snake-bite and sister of Vasuki - Mucalinda protects the Buddha. - Padmavati, the Nāgī queen & companion of Dharanendra. - Paravataksha, his sword causes earthquakes and his roar caused thunder. - Shwe Nabay (Naga Medaw), a goddess or a Nat in Burmese animistic mythology, she was believed to have married a Naga and died from heartbreak after he had left her. - Takshaka, king of the Nāgas. - Ulupi, a companion of Arjuna in the epic Mahabharata. - Vasuki, king of the Nagas who helped the devas recover amrita from the Ocean of Milk. - The dragon king of the western sea in the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West becomes a naga after completing his journey with Xuanzang - Patala (or Nagaloka), the seventh of the "nether" dimensions or realms, Bhoga-vatī being its capital. - Lake Manosarowar, lake of the Great Nāgas. - Mount Sumeru - Naggar, village in the Himalayas, Tibet, that derives its name from Naga (Cobra). - Nagpur, Indian city derived from Nāgapuram, literally "city of nāgas." - Pacific Ocean (Cambodian myth) - Sheshna's well in Benares, India, said to be an entrance to Patala. - Nagadaa, where naag-yaGYa was performed. - Mekong river - Anantnag, Indian city (Kashmir) named after one of 12 prominent divine naga king mentioned in Bhavishyapuran. - Takshila, an ancient place in Pakistan named after one of 12 prominent divine naga king in Bhavishyapuran. - In the 2014 anime Cross Ange, the character Naga is a member of a race of beings that can transform into Dragons. - Nagas (and in their upgraded version Naga Queens) are playable monsters in Heroes of Might and Magic III - The antagonists in Rudyard Kipling's story "Riki Tiki Tavi" are a pair of cobras named Nag and Nagaina. - Several Bollywood films have been made on the theme of Nagin (female nāga), including Nagin (1954), Nagin (1976), Nagina (1986), Nigahen (1989), Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002), Hisss (2010), and the television series Naaginn (2007-2009). - The Nagas are monsters in the Monster Rancher franchise. In the anime, the Nagas are among the baddies that serve Master Moo. One Naga is a member of the Big Four. - In Jungle Boy, the Naga is depicted as a large cobra deity that grants the gift of understanding all languages to those who are pure of heart and punishes those who aren't pure of heart in different ways. - The eighth installment of the Tomb Raider series, Tomb Raider: Underworld, features both Nagas and Nagin as primary enemies in the level Bhogovati. - Slithice the Naga Siren is a playable character in Defense of the Ancients and Dota 2 who incorporates features of the Naga and various Western sea creatures. - Naga are humanoid sea serpents in the Guild Wars computer game series, first appearing in Guild Wars as a non-playable race. - Naga are humanoid sea serpents in the Warcraft computer game series. They first appeared in Warcraft III as a non-playable race. - Nagini is the name of Lord Voldemort's giant snake in the popular Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling. - The Nagas are antagonists in the cartoon The Secret Saturdays. They served the ancient Sumerian cryptid Kur and attempted to push Zak Saturday into the dark side after learning that he was Kur reincarnated, but eventually served V.V. Argost when he gained his own Kur powers. - Naga the Serpent is a character featured in the anime series The Slayers, though primarily the films. She is a sorceress and self-proclaimed rival to series protagonist Lina Inverse. Her main role is that of a comedic foil to Lina. - In the Amelia Atwater-Rhodes book series The Kiesha'ra, the term Naga is used to refer to the mate of the leader of the serpent shape shifters. - In Lost Girl, Lachlan is a Nāga. - Nagas are a highly dangerous, man-eating predator species in the fictional world of Felarya. In it they have the upper body of beautiful women and the lower body of snakes and are gigantic in size. They often snatch up humans they come across and eat them alive. - In the Fire Emblem series of video games, Naga is the name of a recurring character who is the leader of the Divine Dragons. - Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest features naga as evil creatures to be fought and defeated towards the end of the game. Naga are depicted as transforming halfway between snake and human forms, becoming a small snake after taking on a significant amount of damage. Their attacks are typically based around the abilities of a snake, such as poison bites and constriction-based moves. - The Divine Blood RPG Supplement notes that naga went extinct by interbreeding with humanity until they were no longer a separate species. - The Nagah in Classic World of Darkness are weresnakes historically charged as being the assassins of Gaia as compared to the garou (werewolves) who were the warriors of Gaia. - In the manga Beelzebub, there is a character called Naga, modeled after the mythological creature. - Chinese dragon - Deities of Philippine Mythology - Naga people of Sri Lanka - Nagin (disambiguation) - Nagini (disambiguation) - Rainbow serpent - Reptilian humanoid - Sea serpent - Serpent (symbolism) - Shape shifting - Snake worship - Western dragon - Elgood, Heather (2000). Hinduism and the Religious Arts. London: Cassell. p. 234. ISBN 0-304-70739-2. - Apte, Vaman Shivram (1997). The student's English-Sanskrit dictionary (3rd rev. & enl. ed. ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-0299-3., p. page=423 - Proto-IE: (s)nēg-o-, Meaning: snake, Old Indian: nāgá- m. 'snake', Germanic: snēk-a- m., snak-an- m., snak-ō f.; *snak-a- vb.: http://starling.rinet.ru/cgi-bin/response.cgi?single=1&basename=/data/ie/piet&text_number=2649&root=config. Missing or empty - Allocco, Amy Leigh. "Fear, Reverence And Ambivalence: Divine Snakes In Contemporary South India." Religions Of South Asia 7.(2013): 230-248. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 3 Feb. 2015. - Mahābhārata 1.30.20, Sanskrit, English - For the story of wrapping Vāsuki around the neck and Śeṣa around the belly and for the name in his sahasranama as Sarpagraiveyakāṅgādaḥ ("Who has a serpent around his neck"), which refers to this standard iconographic element, see: Krishan, Yuvraj (1999), Gaņeśa: Unravelling An Enigma, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN 81-208-1413-4, pp=51-52. - For text of a stone inscription dated 1470 identifying Ganesha's sacred thread as the serpent Śeṣa, see: Martin-Dubost, p. 202. - For an overview of snake images in Ganesha iconography, see: Martin-Dubost, Paul (1997). Gaņeśa: The Enchanter of the Three Worlds. Mumbai: Project for Indian Cultural Studies. ISBN 81-900184-3-4. , p. 202. - Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-43878-0.; p. 151 - "Indian Nagas and Draconic Prototypes" in: Ingersoll, Ernest, et al., (2013). The Illustrated Book of Dragons and Dragon Lore. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN B00D959PJ0 - Brahmavamso, Ajahn. "VINAYA The Ordination Ceremony of a Monk". - Schuster,Nancy (1981). Changing the Female Body: Wise Women and the Bodhisattva Career in Some Mahāratnakūṭasūtras, Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 4 (1), 42-43 - Kubo Tsugunari, Yuyama Akira (tr.). The Lotus Sutra. Revised 2nd ed. Berkeley, Calif. : Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2007. ISBN 978-1-886439-39-9, pp. 191-192 - Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism, "Devadatta Chapter" - Peach, Lucinda Joy (2002). Social responsibility, sex change, and salvation: Gender justice in the Lotus Sūtra, Philosophy East and West 52,55-56 - P. 72 How Buddhism Began: The Conditioned Genesis of the Early Teachings By Richard Francis Gombrich - P. 74 How Buddhism Began: The Conditioned Genesis of the Early Teachings By Richard Francis Gombrich - Béer 1999, p. 71. - สีสันบันเทิง 17-12-11#ฟิตติ้ง มณีสวาท - Lake Chinni - Ngaosīvat, Mayurī; Pheuiphanh Ngaosyvathn (1998). "III.13 In the Machine Room of a Grand Design". Paths to conflagration : fifty years of diplomacy and warfare in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, 1778-1828. Studies on Southeast Asia, no. 24. Ithaca, N.Y.: Southeast Asia Program Publications, Cornell University. p. 68. ISBN 0-87727-723-0. OCLC 38909607. Retrieved November 16, 2011. Lay summary (Jan–March 2001). The first stanza of the San lup bo sun depicted the situation allegoricallyCheck date values in: - Bang Fai Phaya Nark (Naga fireballs) - "In the coils of the Naga," ForteanTimes, January 2003 - Ranges, Trevor (2002–2006). "A Big Fish Tale". thailandroad.com. p. 2. We were on our morning physical fitness run when we came across this huge fish lying on the sand. - JOSN Jojm; photos by LT DeeDee Van Wormer (April 1997). "SEALs and a serpent of the sea" (PDF). ALL HANDS. Naval Media Center. pp. 20–21. The silvery serpent of the sea – an oarfish – was discovered last year by Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Instructor Signalman 2nd Class (SEAL) Kevin Blake. - Susanne Rodemeier: Lego-lego Platz und naga-Darstellung. Jenseitige Kräfte im Zentrum einer Quellenstudie über die ostindonesische Insel Alor. (Magisterarbeit 1993) Universität Passau 2007 - Heinrich Zimmer: Indische Mythen und Symbole. Diederichs, Düsseldorf 1981, ISBN 3-424-00693-9 - Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.26.25 - Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10.1.24 - Bhāgavata Purāṇa 1.11.11 - Rowling, J.K. (2001) Harry Potter. London: Bloomsburg Children's. - Béer, Robert (1999), The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, Shambhala, ISBN 978-1-57062-416-2 - Müller-Ebeling, Claudia; Rätsch, Christian; Shahi, Surendra Bahadur (2002), Shamanism and Tantra in the Himalayas, Inner Traditions, ISBN 9780892819133 - Maehle, Gregor (2007), Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, New World Library, ISBN 978-1-57731-606-0 - Norbu, Chögyal Namkhai (1999), The Crystal and The Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen, Snow Lion Publications, ISBN 1-55939-135-9 - Hāṇḍā, Omacanda (2004), Naga cults and traditions in the western Himalaya, Indus Publishing - Visser, Marinus Willem de (1913), The dragon in China and Japan, Amsterdam:J. Müller - Vogel, J. Ph. (1926), Indian serpent-lore; or, The Nāgas in Hindu legend and art, London, A. Probsthain \|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nāga.\| - Nagas in the Pali Canon - Image of a Seven-Headed Naga - Nagas and Serpents - Depictions of Nagas in the area of Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Desperately Seeking Sasquatch Stalking Eugene’s bigfoot bash By Rick Levin \|Autumn Williams speaks to the Sasquatch crowd at LCC. Photo by Todd Cooper\| \|Oregon Sasquatch Symposium organizer Toby Johnson. Photo by Trask Bedortha\| \|Frame 352 of the Gimlin/Patterson sasquatch clip\| \|“Emily’s bigfoot” presented by Sali Shepard-Wolford\| \|Autumn Williams’ rendering of “Enoch”\| \|Bigfoot documentarian Bob Gimlin. Photo by Todd Cooper\| The Northwest is a hairy place. For folks raised in these parts, and especially in the boonies, the world was all hair — uncles with big bushy beards, deadheads, tangle-haired hippies and yippies, the swinging tresses of grunge rockers, bears, beavers, not to mention the fuzzy moss that spreads like kudzu on every damp surface. Here, where the forests reign supreme, we like to let our hair down. Keeps us warm. Sends a message. Part and parcel of that literal hairy-ness is the history and mythology we inherit. The pantheon of legends comprising our folklore is peopled by real and fictional icons as hirsute as Samson and bearded as billy goats: From the stubble-chinned trappers and shaggy settlers of yesteryear, from Paul Bunyan to John Whiteaker, Oregon’s first governor, right on up to present day hipsters sporting retro-porn mustaches and bushy sideburns, our life west of the Cascades is largely about hair, and lots of it. Few things better epitomize the Great Hairy Northwest than the bigfoot legend — that super tall, reportedly stinky and mysterious ape-like creature of the woods, allegedly seen and allegedly heard and allegedly photographed and filmed and tape-recorded hundreds of times, yet never once captured. Never definitively proven to exist. When it comes to sasquatch, there is no corpus delicti — no body, no fossils — and for that reason, among others, the thing is lumped in with other such paranormal phenomena as the Loch Ness Monster, flying saucers, alien abductions and people who see dead people. Bigfoot, then, is our particular contribution to the trove of urban legend, though the sasquatch couldn’t be less urban. And, for some people, he ain’t no legend, neither. He’s as real as you or me. It’s just that there’s something a little, well, elusive and dodgy about bigfoot. Like an electron or Snuffleupagus, the harder you look, the less likely you are to find it. According to the Oregon Bigfoot web site, there have been 1,248 bigfoot sightings in Oregon, 76 of those in Lane County. Neighboring Linn and Douglas counties notch 28 and 37 sightings, respectively, so we’re sort of a hotbed of sasquatch activity. That considered, it’s only right that a bunch of bigfoot people converged at Lane Community College this past weekend, coming together like Pentecostal tent revivalists for the first-ever Oregon Sasquatch Symposium on June 19-20. The two-day bigfoot bash, which was attended by more than 200 people, featured presentations by witnesses, researchers, tenured professors, one high school science teacher and a few big-time bigfoot celebrities. OSS organizer Toby Johnson hasn’t seen a sasquatch first hand, but he is a BF believer through-and-through. This wasn’t always so. Five years ago, he and his son found what Johnson calls “a large human footprint” during an early morning hike around Thurston, though even then he wasn’t convinced he’d stumbled upon anything special. “I was used to seeing bear tracks in that area,” he said. “It just looked like it was a hoax.” Nonetheless, Johnson snapped a photo of the print and began “shopping it around to people in the community,” and things began to change. To his surprise, Johnson discovered that the Eugene area is teeming with bigfoot witnesses, though many of the people he spoke with were unwilling to go public with their stories. “For whatever reason, people don’t want to be associated out and out,” Johnson said, giving examples of witness “backlash” than can run from ostracizing and stigmatizing to the breaking up of families and workers getting fired “for sticking to their story,” he said. Because of this, the symposium partly served as a sasquatch support group, albeit one where the therapeutic model is reversed — instead of opening up and sharing your problems, you’re simply sharing what you consider to be a healthy and indisputable truth. “Right around us there are little small miracles,” Johnson said, adding that one of his motivations in putting together the symposium was to provide “a safe environment for two or three days to talk about that weird thing that happened in the woods.” A confederacy of bigfooters Every night I fall asleep listening to Coast to Coast, the widely syndicated radio show that plants its flag in the shifting sands of paranormal phenomena. The listeners who call to gab with host George Nory fill the airwaves with a cross-section of belief’s outermost fringe — alien abductees and Flat Earthers, time trippers and Nostradamus fanatics, along with people who have seen flying saucers, ghosts, demons, little green men and, yes, bigfoot. I’ve always pictured the generic caller as looking like a backcountry cross between Ted Nugent and Zippy the Pinhead, and paranoid to the point of psychosis. It’s a grossly unfair portrait, I know, but there it is. And I’ll admit that it was just this species of lunatic zealot I expected to be attending the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium. I couldn’t have been more wrong. There was nothing weird or offbeat about the people at the symposium, nor was there anything discernible in the way of gender, age, class, fashion or any other outward indicator that might describe the average symposium-goer — nothing, that is, save a rapt collective attention to the matter at hand. These folks emanated that unmistakable aura of people who know exactly why they are where they are. To a person, they were polite, attentive, responsive and knowledgeable. The symposium started off with a bang. Autumn Williams, an Oregon native and daughter of bigfoot witness and symposium speaker Sali Shepard-Wolford, was a childhood sasquatch witness as was her mother, and at 16 began doing field research. She has appeared on television, including a stint hosting Mysterious Encounters, and she also heads up the Oregon Bigfoot organization. Her specialty is habituators or what she’s dubbed “long-term witnesses,” which are people who experience ongoing sasquatch encounters in the vicinity of their homes. Basically, Williams — with her striking good looks and the sharp, angular features that telegraph an intimidating don’t-mess-with-me disposition — is about as close as the bigfoot movement gets to having its own superstar. Big feet, big johnson Williams is an engaging speaker whose gestures and vocal style, at times, border on the theatrical. She understands how to construct a strong narrative and she also knows that when it comes to bigfoot the best offense is a good defense. This means she’s dismissive of non-believers, contemptuous of mainstream media, and distrustful of governmental and scientific agencies with their driving need for forensic evidence. “If you found a body tomorrow,” she said, “the government’s going to go, ‘Thank you very much, that’s a weird specimen.’” Williams spent a good deal of time talking about a pseudonymous witness she called Mike, a “redneck” bulldozer driver from Florida, who claims to have developed close ties to a sasquatch he calls Enoch. Williams’ relationship with Mike appears to have had a profound, almost life-altering impact on her. “I felt like somebody had handed me the Holy Grail of sasquatch research,” she said of hearing Mike’s story. Williams attested that Mike was an “incredibly credible” witness whose stories were “detailed” and “intense” and never once changed despite several retellings. If it’s that the devil is in the details, and so is the believability of any good yarn. And, as related by Williams, Mike shared some lovely, offbeat and wonderfully colloquial observations about “skunk apes,” which is what he calls sasquatch. Sasquatch, Mike said, will eat just about anything, but they particularly like turtles, which they crack open and slurp “like we eat oysters on the half shell.” “When he takes a crap, he squats down and lets fly.” “Skunk ape farts are in a class all by itself.” And, regarding males, Mike has this to say: “Big feet, big johnson,” meaning a horse ain’t got nothing on a squatch, though “with all the hair you can’t see it.” According to Mike, skunk ape eyes look like “the inside of a Tootsie Pop,” their eyebrows are bushy “like Andy Rooney,” their skin color is “like a Pakistani.” They smell “like a wet, musky garbage dump,” and their mustaches grow right out of their nostrils. Williams’ bigfoot presentation, over time, took on a distinct utopian vibe, one of rosy romantic primitivism. The underlying message of her story was that the bigfoot — community oriented, nonmaterialistic, free of artifice and, overall, purely pure as nature itself — lives a simpler, less encumbered and more peaceful way of life than human beings. In fact, it is actually us, with our alienating cities and glitzy consumer goods and fear of boredom and, as Williams put it, our constructed selves that “change on a daily basis with fads,” who must learn from the skunk apes. “We’re so far removed from what we were,” Williams said. Once upon a time To come clean personally about this bigfoot thing, I’ll put it like this: I don’t recall believing in Santa Claus even when I was a wee lad, and deep in my guts I’ve always suspected that we create gods in our image rather than visa versa, so it’s not likely you’ll convince me there are big hairy hominids thumping around the forests and we haven’t unearthed a single fossilized metacarpal. Call me a cautiously agnostic positivist, I suppose. Bigfoot, by the way, is a cryptid (roughly, a “hidden animal”), and the study of bigfoot falls under the category of cryptozoology. Most mainstream biologists consider cryptozoology a pseudoscience. Accusing a cryptozoologist of pseudoscience is like telling a Baptist that Jesus is just a fairy tale. Over the years there have been a handful of mainstream scientist and tenured academics — including anthropologist Carleton Coon, primatologist Jane Goodall and symposium speaker zoologist Jeff Meldrum — who have staked their reputations on the reality of sasquatch, or at least saying, like Goodall, that it sure would be cool if bigfoot is real. I’ve interviewed quite a few people recently who seemed determined to at least get me to entertain that possibility of bigfoot’s existence. I’ve been handed stacks of research papers, directed to a numerous web sites and passed a pile of CD recordings. I’m no scientist, but as far as I can tell a good portion of this research hardly qualifies as scientifically rigorous, and the prose is often riddled with typos and grammatical boners. Not exactly the stuff to inspire confidence. A lot of amateur sasquatch research employs a forced, mangled scientific jargon that sounds silly, and there are conclusions drawn that make a Swiss cheese of logic. And the more touchy-feely bigfoot writing heaps on the nativist hoo-haw and New Age fluff like so much whipped cream spooned atop the honky appropriation of indigenous myth. That said, it’s just as difficult to prove, scientifically speaking, the reality of burning bushes, parted seas, 40-day floods and a six-day work week where God cooked up heaven and earth, yet hoards of people continue to believe these things heart and soul. As both legend and contested reality, the real source of bigfoot’s appeal, like the source of the Bible’s appeal, is anecdotal — as a fable filled with wonder, suspense and local color, all ringed with a halo of otherworldliness. Dave Rodriguez, who spoke at the symposium, tells one hell of a sasquatch story. A California native who moved to Oregon in the early ’80s, Rodriquez, 52, said his first sasquatch encounter occurred in 1977, when he and a buddy were driving home to Yosemite late one night. With his friend asleep in the passenger seat, Rodriguez was steering his pickup around a corner when, all of a sudden, “here’s an eight-foot hairy creature that had stopped just off the hill, right in front of me. I’m looking right into his eyes when he looks down at me.” Skidding to a stop, Rodriguez was able to observe the monster. “I’m taking in every hair on his body, looking at every detail … the palms of his hands, his eyes, his nose.” He described the creature as extremely powerful looking. “They’re nothing but muscle,” Rodriguez explained. In the end, he and his friend agreed not to tell anyone about what happened. “They’d all think we were crazy, so we just sort of kept it to ourselves,” Rodriguez said, noting this was the beginning of a self-imposed public silence he finally broke at last weekend’s symposium. Rodriguez has had other bigfoot sightings, bit it was his third encounter, just five years ago in the Cascades, that was the “biggie” — a harrowing close encounter that had him freaked and housebound for a week and a half afterward. “That one shook me,” he said. Although accompanied by his hunting dog and armed with a deer rifle, Rodriguez still didn’t feel safe. “My 30-30 felt like it was about six inches long,” Rodriguez says of his rifle, adding that in terms of ballistics, “there’s no match” for a sasquatch. “I was able to keep calm,” he said of having to pass within feet of the beast in order to return to his truck. At one point, Rodriguez and the bigfoot “both turned toward each other, breathing heavy,” and he caught a whiff of the creature’s odor. “I got a really good, strong smell of him,” Rodriguez explained, discounting widespread claims about the horrible stench of a sasquatch. “He smelled just like a wet elk. It wasn’t all smelly or sewagey.” Perhaps the most interesting part of Rodriguez’s story is the epilogue: After keeping quiet for years, the concerns that ultimately compelled him to go public about bigfoot were ecological and humane. Basically, Rodriquez wants you and me and everyone to believe in sasquatch so we can get busy protecting the creatures and their habitat. “There needs to be some education,” he said, which for him means moving beyond the “mindset” that they don’t exist. “Whether they’re endangered or not, that’s another question,” he said. “But they need to be treated as a sentient being. We trash the environment and shoot up things we don’t understand. We need to respect them more, but they need to ‘exist’ before that can happen.” Movies, myths and the bigfoot fetish By far the most famous sasquatch footage is the sequence captured in the region of Bluff Creek, California (some say staged) with a 16-millimeter camera in 1967 by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin. This is the Zapruder film of bigfoot footage, with a history just as long, tangled and topsy-turvy with intrigue. The Patterson/Gimlin film has been endlessly played and analyzed and and dissected, frame by grainy frame. And, whether hoax or cinematic proof, the jumpy footage is seriously creepy, especially that moment (the fabled Frame 352) when bigfoot turns and looks into the camera. So let me confess that shaking hands with Robert Gimlin at the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium was just as thrilling as the times I met Spaulding Gray or Alex Chilton. I can’t believe I just said that, but I think my excitement had something to do with being a Northwest boy who had the crap scared out of him repeatedly by that footage. Nearly every culture on the planet has ancestral stories of super-sized human-like monsters roaming the earth, but sasquatch is a distinctly Northwest phenomenon, as much a part of our culture as rain, Raymond Carver, good pot and red delicious apples. And, just like Nike or Microsoft, sasquatch has gone global, becoming a worldwide superstar of the supernatural. Bigfoot battled the Six Million Dollar Man, for Pete’s sake, and also took the lead alongside John Lithgow in Harry & the Hendersons. He’s the hero of a current kids’ cartoon, and I would argue that sasquatch inspired the wookie Chewbacca in Star Wars. Bigfoot was even mentioned in the most recent episode of HBO’s vampire series True Blood. Sure, sasquatch sightings have been reported down South and on the East Coast, but I would chalk that up to nothing more than bigfoot envy. Let them name their Hampton hairballs and Baton Rouge rampagers something else. Sasquatch is ours. Leaping with faith, looking with logic “We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” Joan Didion wrote. At the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium, people told stories in order to prove that something else lives despite mountains of doubt and a lack of palpable proof, which is something akin to the religious impulse compelling converts to proselytize. Some symposium speakers trotted out science, some offered up anecdotal evidence while yet others simply presented the defiant example of their personal belief, which was a “leap of faith” into the contested realm of all things paranormal. This tension between science and storytelling begs the question: Is there a hierarchy or status among all these inexplicable, unsolved tales we continue to talk about and debate? Is the possibility of bigfoot’s existence, by its very nature, somehow more believable than, say, the idea of being abducted by aliens? Somehow, I think there is a difference, not of degree but of kind. Or, put another way, if I happened upon a sasquatch in the woods, I’d be far less shocked than if I were to discover I had a double living an alternate life in another dimension. There were times during the symposium — like when “Mike” phoned Autumn Williams, a little too conveniently, right in the middle of her lecture — that pushed the envelope of credibility. Mostly, however, the presentations I attended were interesting, entertaining, earnest and unexpectedly full of diverse or conflicting opinions. Organizer Toby Johnson did a superb job enlisting an array of speakers and presenters who proved unencumbered by any single strain of bigfoot orthodoxy. My mind was changed not one iota about the existence of bigfoot, which is not to say my mind wasn’t changed at all. It’s possible to gain respect for someone’s views without believing the things they so devoutly believe. So I must say that, after hanging out at the Oregon Sasquatch Symposium, and as odd and disconcerting as it is to say, I think I might have been the person most drastically affected by the proceedings. I’m not sure what to think anymore, because either there’s one serious mass delusion going on, or bigfoot exists, or those people were the best liars I’ve ever encountered.
History Channel // 2008 // 611 Minutes // Not Rated Reviewed by Judge Paul Pritchard (Retired) // May 28th, 2008 "Witnesses around the world report seeing monsters. Are they real or imagined? Science searches for answers on Monster Quest." "What's that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? Is it a monster?" -- Monster by The Automatic. Cryptozoology; the study of hidden animals, is MonsterQuest's raison d'être. Setting out to prove or disprove the existence of mythical creatures such as Sasquatch or Swamp Beast, scientists use modern techniques in DNA testing, photo analysis, and field research to seek out the truth behind these legendary beings. MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One contains four discs, featuring investigations into the following cryptids: * "America's Loch Ness Monster" * "Sasquatch Attack?" * "Gigantic Squid Found?" * "Mutant Canines" * "Lions in the Backyard" * "Gigantic Killer Fish" * "Swamp Beast" * "Russia's Killer Apemen" * "Unidentified Flying Creatures" * "The Real Hobbit" * "American Werewolf" Imagine, if you will, a world where Stalin presides over us all, having conquered the planet with his army of apemen, a human/ape hybrid created from a group of willing female volunteers and an ape named Tarzan. In this world gone mad, to quote Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, "We won't spank the monkey, the monkey will spank us." As farfetched as this may sound, MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One reveals that Russian scientists did indeed work on such a project -- and there you were expecting the show to consist solely of footage of supposed Bigfoot encounters. Though Bigfoot does of course make an appearance or two, it is the manner in which MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One deals with each subject that makes it such riveting viewing. Combining eyewitness accounts with photographic and video "evidence," active field research, and scientific analysis results in a series that's both informative and thoroughly entertaining, with episodes often building to an exciting climax as we await the results of the investigation. Ranging from the well-known to the obscure, from the bizarre to the all too real, MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One is just as enjoyable when it's dealing with the actual capture of a giant squid in Mexico's Sea of Cortez, as it is when investigating the phenomena that is Rods, a strange flying creature said to be able to travel through dimensions. Each episode generally consists of the same basic components: we'll get a history on the creature in question, eyewitness accounts, any documented evidence, and, finally, an active attempt to find evidence as to whether the creature in question ever existed. It is the field research that so often proves to be the key to success for MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One. Sure it's easy to laugh at some of the tales being recounted by eyewitnesses (one or two clearly being the work of a deranged mind), but when the show sends a group of scientists out to investigate these claims, the results are often startling. Chief amongst these is the "Sasquatch Attack?" episode. Placing a "screw board" (a large wooden board, with screws sticking out) at the doorway of a cabin, reputedly the site of numerous attacks by Sasquatch, the scientists return to discover a bloody stain on the board. Further examination finds both hair and body tissue on the screws. Not only does the size of the bloodied area point to a creature with a footprint some 18 inches in length; the DNA sample reveals whatever it was that stood on the board was human, but for one unknown genome. It makes for some fascinating viewing, often making you question your preconceived notions on the subject. In a somewhat brave move, MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One, refuses to give a definitive answer, as to whether the cryptid-of-the-week actually exists or not. Instead the show presents well-balanced arguments both for and against the existence of each creature, often presenting other possibilities for the supposed sightings, and leaves the viewer to make their own mind up. The only extra, presented on the disc, is a behind-the-scenes featurette. Mostly consisting of crew members talking about their experiences out in the wild, it fails to really add anything to the experience and tends to get a little repetitive. The 1.78:1 transfer is clean and sharp, with vibrant colors. The stereo soundtrack does its job, but is flat and lacking any real oomph. A number of the episodes, particularly "Russia's Killer Apemen," have an annoying tendency to repeat the same footage over and over and over and, well, you get the picture. I understand that this is mainly down to a lack of available footage on the subject being dealt with, but seriously, apes marching through Red Square in full battle gear have invaded my dreams, thanks to the frequency of the same CGI sequence being shown. The "Russia's Killer Apemen" episode also features some fairly distressing footage of a head transplant operation being performed on a monkey. Though the footage is never graphic, I certainly found it hard to watch, particularly the footage of the monkey post-operation. The narrator does give fair warning before the footage is shown, but it should be pointed out that, though the show is great family entertainment, this one scene is perhaps not suitable for the younger viewers. A show the whole family can enjoy together, MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One sets out to entertain and succeeds, but, thanks to the scientific angle put on it, it also has plenty of depth and will engross anyone whose appetite for monsters has been whetted by movies like The Host or Cloverfield. Something appears to be lurking in the bushes...could it be? Yes, it's a not guilty verdict. Review content copyright © 2008 Paul Pritchard; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2015 HipClick Designs LLC Scales of Justice Studio: History Channel * 1.78:1 Non-Anamorphic * Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English) Running Time: 611 Minutes Release Year: 2008 MPAA Rating: Not Rated * Behind the Scenes * Official Site
Posted by: Loren Coleman on November 27th, 2010 Did you know that Superman’s complete Earth name is “Clark Jerome Kent”? A friend and frequent coauthor of mine is a superwriter indeed: Jerome Clark. His birthday is November 27th, and I wish him a happy one! As many of you realize, I have worked closely with Jerry for four decades. The years 1975 and 1978 saw his first two books, The Unidentified and Creatures of the Outer Edge, coauthored with me, appear from Warner Books. The Unidentified and Creatures of the Outer Edge: The Early Works of Jerome Clark and Loren Coleman was then published by Anomalist Books, a few years ago. To read part of the new introduction to Creatures of the Outer Edge and The Unidentified, see here. Also, I coauthored Cryptozoology A to Z (NY: Simon and Schuster) with Jerry Clark in 1999. It remains one of the bestselling cryptozoology books of all time. Click here to see its sales rank, even today, eleven years after it was published. Few people are aware that Jerry is also a famed songwriter, with several of the songs that Clark has written having been recorded or performed by musicians such as Emmylou Harris, Mary Carpenter, and Tom T. Hall. He has often collaborated with Robin and Linda Williams. Read more about Jerry here. The 2008 Tim Dinsdale Award was given to Jerome Clark, “for his prolific publications and editorial work on anomalies, concentrating especially on the UFO phenomenon, which have brought to the general publication comprehensive and trustworthy information presented from a sophisticated perspective.” Tim Dinsdale (above), the adventurer and Loch Ness hunter, lives on in the Tim Dinsdale Memorial Award. The Dinsdale Award was established in 1992 by The Society for Scientific Exploration’s founding member, councilor, and editor of the SSE Journal, (now retired) Professor Henry Bauer, so that the SSE could recognize “significant contributions to the expansion of human understanding through the study of unexplained phenomena.” By a strange coincidence, November 27th is also the date of Toni-Marie’s, my first wife’s, birthday, and I wish her a happy day, too, if she sees this. Of course, having lost track of her, she’s sort of like a cryptid. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
While writing my book on cryptozoology, I was astounded to discover how many people had never even heard the word. I was also amazed to find that many dictionaries and online word origin sources did not include the word. I did find a definition at: http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/cryptozoology?view=uk: “noun the search for animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster.” Most cryptozoologists just say it is “the study of hidden animals.” The term is credited to the “master of cryptozoology, Bernard Heuvelmans, in 1959. Cryptids, the name for the creatures studied in this field, are not only beings whose existence have not yet been proven, but is also given to creatures sighted in areas to which they are not indigenous. Cryptozoology can also include the study of beings sighted that have been considered extinct for thousands of years. There is debate among researchers and cryptozoologists regarding what creatures can be considered cryptids. Many of the experts only investigate hairy humanoids, but some fringe cryptozoologists accept mystical creatures such as unicorns, fairies, and dragons. Traditional beasts such as vampires, werewolves, and zombies are often included in the spectrum as well. Ghostly entities, such as black dogs and shadow people, are sometimes found under the cryptid heading. We also can’t leave out the often sighted aliens, which are often blamed for many cryptid sightings. Many of the more well-known creatures include Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the hairless beast mentioned in the news often lately, the Chupacabra. The information available on Big Foot is amazing! Hundreds and thousands of volumes and online sources to read and research. In addition to Big Foot being sighted in most states, countries, and continents, the creature is also called by just as many different names. Some cryptozoologists even classify other cryptids such as the Ohio Grassman, the Beast of Bray Road, Goatman, and the New Jersey Devil as Big Foot creatures. The gray areas in the field of Cryptozoology are immense at this time, as it is a relatively new area of study. There are thousands of hidden creatures that have been sighted all over our awesome world. Were you aware of the kangaroo sightings all over the Midwest in the 1970s? Have you heard of the giant turtle living in Indiana? Did you know about the little boy playing hide n seek in his backyard one evening in a small town in Illinois, who was picked up and carried forty feet by a giant bird? There are so many incredible cryptids that we don’t hear about, like the shocking Mongolian Death Worm, The Awful, the Goblins of Kentucky, the Loogaroos vampires, the Ahool, and so many more incredible and marvelous beasts. Many other cryptids might be familiar to you as they have been mentioned in the news over the years such as the Boston Lemur, the Chupacabra, Mothman, and the giant rats of New York City. One of the most fascinating creatures sighted in contemporary times, are the Rods or Skyfish. I enjoyed researching this cryptid immensely, and am grateful to expert Jose Escamilla for his time and help on the subject. Thousands of articles, books, and videos have been written and produced by many talented, brave, and persistent researchers and cryptozoologists. Because of their often dangerous treks into the unknown, their sacrifices to travel to the fresh locations of the reported sightings, and their diligence in recording the information, I was able to write my field guide to help the novice cryptid hunter. My book is an introduction to forty different incredible beasts. I have tried to provide the information necessary to know where the creatures come from, where to find them, what traits and characteristics to look for, and how to prepare yourself. I’ve not only included many cryptids from the United States, but also fascinating creatures from all over the world. Some can be found in your yard, or even inside your own home! Many of these creatures are benign, and would be delightful to encounter. There are others, though, that I’ve included more as a warning than as an enticement to find. I implore you to use great caution while searching for these hidden animals. Keep in mind the warnings I include with the more dangerous cryptids. The most important bit of advice I can give to you is to remember not to show your fear, most evil creatures gain their strength from our weaknesses. Appearing brave will actually give you courage. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I would love to discuss cryptozoology or any other paranormal subject with you.
The following information is going to be a bit different than what I usually post. This post concerns something I visualized last night. I experience visions on a fairly consistent basis...most are benign and equal, for the most part, to dreams. Then occasionally, something will be perceived that literally stirs me and I will continue the visualization while awake. These visions I take very serious because some have actually come to pass. This is what occurred last night. A large craft was revealed to me...much more detailed than the diagrams. I'd estimated the size at 400-500 ft wide and grey metallic in color. There were unusual symbols emblazoned in black on the top of the craft that reminded me of early Cyrillic script. The craft maneuvered graciously in and out of the clouds...but there was also a sense of power and dominance. The shape is like no other I can remember seeing...the large round fronts and the larger section at one side of the craft. It was a stunning sight. I'd be interested in any information the readers can come up with. Have you seen this shape previously? Lon Impossible Realities: The Science Behind Energy Healing, Telepathy, Reincarnation, Precognition, and Other Black Swan Phenomena - highly recommend! Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality Everyday Telepathy, Clairvoyance and Precognition Join Eric Altman, Lon Strickler and Sean Forker each Sunday at 8 PM ET as we go Beyond the Edge! Call toll free 1-877-677-2858 during the live broadcast Tune in each week for a new and exciting podcast Announcements, videos, discussion, etc. coming your way! Click ad to order tickets and for directions "The latest news from beyond the mainstream" Join Ben & Aaron for their weekly podcasts! Check out Mysterious Universe Plus+ all access format! Click to submit a sighting report or encounter Free shipping - Bonded dealer - PCI certified 'Phantoms & Monsters: Cryptid Encounters' Don't have a Kindle device? No problem... Free Reading Apps: Your Kindle purchase can be sent automatically to your Android, iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7 device. DOWNLOAD A 'FREE APP' HERE!
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 21st, 2006 One of the routine ways of looking at reports of giant flying creatures from exotic lands is as shown in the new comic, Cryptid, as giant bats (below). But there is another school of thought too. In Africa, they are called Kongomato (see below – William M. Rebsamen art from Cryptozoology A to Z and a mysterious photograph of one that has surfaced on the internet). In New Guinea, they are named Ropen. Some would have us consider if there are pterosaurs among us still today. A new book, Searching for Ropens, proposes they do exist. American cryptozoologist Matt Bille, author of Rumors of Existence and Shadows of Existence, told Cryptomundo, that unless the press release (below) is underselling the new evidence, the one concern Bille has is that Ropen researcher Jonathan Whitcomb "seems to be basing a lot on a few sightings." Cryptomundo will review the book, if received (Loren Coleman, PO Box 360, Portland, ME 04112), but until then, here’s the latest just released on this new book. Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea [Source: Based on a press release from PRWEB] Intermittent expeditions on Umboi Island, Papua New Guinea, from 1994 through 2004, resulted in the compilation of eyewitness testimonies that substantiated a hypothesis that pterosaurs may not be extinct. Long Beach, Calif.: July 21, 2006 — The investigation of reports of a pterosaur-like creature in Papua New Guinea has produced some promising findings. According to standard models of science, all pterosaurs became extinct by about 65-million years ago. But due to research of Jonathan Whitcomb, a forensic videographer who interviewed native islanders in 2004, the cryptid the natives call ropen of Umboi Island is at least similar to a long-tailed pterosaur. He maintains that earlier researchers who explored the island intermittently from 1994 through 2002 were not overly imaginative in believing the creature to be a pterosaur. According to Whitcomb’s new book, Searching for Ropens, there are many similarities between American, Australian, and native eyewitness accounts. Ropens appear featherless with long tails, and reports indicate they eat fish. Click image for full-size version Whitcomb, from Long Beach, California, disputes an old idea that they are misidentifications of Flying Fox fruit bats. Two natives described a Ropen holding itself upright on a tree trunk (fruit bats hang upside down from branches), and his book also describes an apparently bioluminescent glow that may help the nocturnal creatures catch fish. The puzzle for the previous investigators is that they’re unlike Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur fossils in some ways: A few Ropens are too large and have dorsal ridges along the back. In addition, some eyewitnesses report a head crest on the Ropen while few long-tailed pterosaur fossils have such appendages. Although Whitcomb admits having no photograph to disprove textbook declarations that all pterosaurs are extinct, he disputes the idea that the Ropen is an unknown bat. His book, Searching for Ropens, examines an investigation by the explorers Garth Guessman, a Southern California firefighter; and David Woetzel, a New Hampshire businessman. Their 2004 expedition, a few weeks after Whitcomb’s, uncovered a native tradition about the Ropen’s tail: It moves only near the tail’s base. This, says Guessman, relates to Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur anatomy. Before his expedition to Papua New Guinea, Whitcomb questioned Duane Hodgkinson, a flight instructor in Livingston, Montana, who maintains he saw a large “pterodactyl” in 1944, near Finschhafen. The World War II veteran’s description resembles that given by a couple who saw a creature flying over Perth, Australia, in 1997. Whitcomb also noted in Searching for Ropens similarities to native accounts recorded by earlier explorers on Umboi Island between 1994 and 2002. Whitcomb found no indication of any hallucination or hoax with the two Australians and the American veteran. He also noted that the native eyewitnesses he interviewed mentioned no supernatural elements and that their descriptions resemble those given by the Westerners. Click image for full-size version Around Manus Island, the wingspan is three to four feet, according to Jim Blume, a missionary in Wau, on the mainland. Blume’s investigations indicate that wingspans may reach ten to fifteen feet in other areas. Whitcomb’s book mentions a few Ropens that are even larger, including the ones seen by Hodgkinson and the Australian couple. The book acknowledges differences between the Ropen and Rhamphorhynchoid fossils but it emphasizes that the “diamond” on the Ropen’s tail may relate to the fossil tails. Whitcomb, a 57-year-old independent videographer who records evidence for attorney firms, completed his book after one year of compiling and analyzing eyewitness testimonies. He encourages a major expedition to videotape a Ropen before the end of 2007. Thanks to Matt Bille for bringing this release to our attention. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Posted by: John Kirk on March 26th, 2007 A few weeks ago, Craig Woolheater posted an article on a new Bigfoot documentary produced by Fred Bohbot and Evan Beloff of Bunbury films. I am one of those featured investigators in this documentary. When Fred and Evan came to talk to me, they were already hugely impressed by the other interview they had done that day with sasquatch legend John Green. John’s sagacity, intelligent perspectives and rational manner in explaining the sasquatch/bigfoot phenomenon had quite an effect on the terrific young filmmakers. Doubts about the existence of sasquatch had begun to crack in their minds and when they came to visit me, I merely finished what John had begun. Unfortunately, so dismal is the view concerning sasquatch by the media that we tend to be relegated to the bottom rung of the ladder of credibility and sanity. The Bunbury Films crew never realized that many of us in the sasquatch field are actually quite sane and very scientific in our pursuit of this animal. I personally am never drawn into explanations for sasquatch that are not of the flesh and blood variety and also, of greater importance, I stress the biological and zoological nature of this creature and where it may fit in our environment. During my interview with Evan and Fred, I could not but appeal to their sense of scientific inquiry regarding sasquatch and although it was not my intention to be persuasive in my discussions, I was merely trying to be informative, it appears they grasped just how committed to the scientific evaluation of sasquatch and its evidence we sasquatch hunters are. I do not know if this program is going to be available in the United States, but it is going to be aired on Space Channel here in Canada. From what I know of what John Green and Thomas Steenburg have said during their appearances in this production, it looks like it is going to be a good one. I do not want to spoil the viewing for those who are going to see this program, but I do want to say I have a feeling this is going to be a really good one and may go in directions that we have not seen in other productions. Evan and Fred are very interesting guys and if you have ever seen Evan’s quirky documentary The Legend of Memphre the aquatic cryptid of Lac Memphremagog in Quebec, you will know that he thinks outside of the box and is a true genius of a filmmaker. The program will also feature Bill Miller, Thomas Steenburg, Rick Noll, Dr. John Bindernagel, Robert Pyle and Mel Skahan. The producers are thinking of having a theatrical premiere in Vancouver in May, so watch this space for developments. One of the founders of the BCSCC, John Kirk has enjoyed a varied and exciting career path. Both a print and broadcast journalist, John Kirk has in recent years been at the forefront of much of the BCSCC’s expeditions, investigations and publishing. John has been particularly interested in the phenomenon of unknown aquatic cryptids around the world and is the author of In the Domain of the Lake Monsters (Key Porter Books, 1998). In addition to his interest in freshwater cryptids, John has been keenly interested in investigating the possible existence of sasquatch and other bipedal hominids of the world, and in particular, the Yeren of China. John is also chairman of the Crypto Safari organization, which specializes in sending teams of investigators to remote parts of the world to search for animals as yet unidentified by science. John travelled with a Crypto Safari team to Cameroon and northern Republic of Congo to interview witnesses among the Baka pygmies and Bantu bushmen who have sighted a large unknown animal that bears more than a superficial resemblance to a dinosaur. Since 1996, John Kirk has been editor and publisher of the BCSCC Quarterly which is the flagship publication of the BCSCC. In demand at conferences, seminars, lectures and on television and radio programs, John has spoken all over North America and has appeared in programs on NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, TLC, Discovery, CBC, CTV and the BBC. In his personal life John spends much time studying the histories of Scottish Clans and is himself the president of the Clan Kirk Society. John is also an avid soccer enthusiast and player.
Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 16th, 2007 Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. – from Goldfinger by Ian Fleming, who achieved the rank of Commander in British Naval Intelligence. Rumors are sweeping throughout Kashmir of a mystery millionaire who will pay a high bounty on the capture of giant owls. Now we hear that some are saying this is just a cover story for the CIA. That this news is related to the hunt for bin Laden. Does this sound like something from the covert intelligence days of millionaire Tom Slick in that part of the world? Why are two other "giant owl" stories being reported from two other parts of the world at the same time? Is there twilight language being broadcast in these news items? What’s going on here? I have written on how cryptid searching has been used to hide spying (see here, for example). It seems all of that kind of factual crypto-spying is behind a somewhat tongue-in-cheek suggestion at "CIA Disinformation Tracks Bin Laden With Overweight Owl Rumors" to explain what is going on in Kashmir right now. But don’t laugh. Those that joke may be trying to conceal a deeper truth. Is all this about hiding in plain sight? Some details on the Kashmir owl story can be found in the Indo-Asian News Service for January 14, 2007: A bizarre rumour in Jammu and Kashmir that an owl weighing over three kilograms can turn its owner into a millionaire has spread like wild fire in the rest of northern India. The Srinagar office of IANS is receiving scores of telephone calls daily from northern India, with callers desperate to know the contact numbers of the mysterious man who has offered a fortune for such owls. And at least one Hindi newspaper that carried the original story says its phone lines are literally jammed. People are even capturing some owls weighing nearly 7 pounds, hoping to get some money off their efforts from the mystery millionaire. "Sir, I have an owl weighing 3.1 kilo. The bird is in good health and unharmed. Please tell me where is it to be delivered so that I can collect my reward," pleaded Naresh Kumar, who said he was calling from New Delhi. Reporters are having trouble tracking the rumors down. Those making the queries about the dream merchant who floated the rumour about the million-rupee owl are not just the ordinary citizens. Many journalists too are eager to interview either the elusive owl buyer or simply some of the locals who have been braving the winter chill in Kashmir to chase an owl in the state’s northern parts. The Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of horned owl found throughout Europe and Asia. As to the photo at the top of the blog, it is a very real bird. During the last month, headlines have blared the news, "Giant Owl Terrorizing Community In England." Concurrently with the rumors coming out of Kashmir, I have found that over in the United Kingdom a "giant" owl has reportedly been attacking people. But are the reports somewhat more colorful that real? Nevertheless, these news items are getting people’s attention. For example, on January 11th, the UK media noted: "A giant eagle owl is reported to be terrorizing residents in Middlesborough, England. With its 5-ft wingspan, the bird can easily pick up foxes, small dogs and deer." Meanwhile, during all this, skeptic Joe Nickell was floating about his newest "giant owl" explanation theory to debunk yet another unknown entity. This means that Nickell has now used owls to explain: (1) Mothman sightings; (2) the Flatwoods Monster sightings; and, most recently, (3) the Kelly creatures sightings. Even his fellow skeptics must see how worn out that tired old bird is getting! Or maybe Joe Nickell is a spy? Are all of these stories nothing more than coded messages being sent out by MI6, MI5, ONI, or the CIA on the wings of giant owls? Less we forget, the character picked out by Ian Fleming named Bond, James Bond, was inspired by an American ornithologist, the author of Birds of the West Indies. ‘Tis strange ~ but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction: if it could be told, How much would novels gain by the exchange! – Lord Byron. Late in the day, I noticed that the annual CIA World Factbook, which also serves as a tool for the military, intelligence services, and international travelers, has an “owl” coincidence to it. Intriguingly, CIA World Factbook online proudly reports it utilizes XQuery and OWL technology. Boing Boing’s David Pescovitz informs me that “OWL stands for Web Ontology Language. Not quite an acronym, but close enough I guess. It’s basically a programming (mark-up) language to publish information on the Web in such a way that’s it’s easier for computers to process.” The other mark-up language is HTML, which is much more familiar to me and most people, and supposedly makes it easier for “humans” to process data. BTW, the CIA World Factbook remains one of the largest and longest-running public domain publications produced by any intelligence agency in the world. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
Latest New Zealand Stories Tropical Cyclone Lusi has spawned warnings and watches in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Zealand as it moves through the South Pacific Ocean. A report published in the journal PLOS ONE from a pair of researchers at Griffith University in Australia has refined the species status for the New Zealand moa – a large, extinct flightless bird. The International Alcohol Control (IAC) study is a newly developed international collaborative project designed to collect comparative data on alcohol consumption and policy-relevant behaviors in both high- and middle/low-income countries. Streamlined Processes Achieves Record Implementation Time Driving Greater Efficiency for Customers CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- LONDON and CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, February 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Institutional clients now have instant access to an integrated solution to profitably internalise Super Kid Cannon Launches on Google Play in New Zealand for $0.99! MIAMI, Feb. LONDON and CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, February 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Institutional clients now have instant access to an integrated solution to profitably internalise Hails Emphasis on Volumetric Assessment of Breast Density Wellington, New Zealand (PRWEB) February 19, 2014 The changes in the breast density reporting VANCOUVER, Feb. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - New Zealand oil and gas producer TAG Oil Ltd. AMSTERDAM, LONDON, and BURBANK, California, February 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Eyeworks USA to Remain Independent As part of the The Romney sheep, also known as the Romney marsh sheep or the Kent, is a breed of domestic sheep that originated in England and was recognized as an official breed by 1800. The breed at this time was an improved breed that had been developed from medieval longwool breeds and crossbred with Bakewell’s English Leicester. This breed was first exported in 1853, when twenty individuals were sent to New Zealand, and by the 1990’s the breed comprised over half of New Zealand’s sheep... The Coopworth sheep is a breed of domestic sheep that was developed in New Zealand during the twentieth century. A group of researchers working at Lincoln University began studying the Border Leicester crossbreed, and later the Romney -Border Leicester crossbreed, in hopes of developing ewes that would have a higher reproduction rate. Early results showed some promise, with an increase in lambing of up to thirty percent, which caused the researchers to question whether Border Leicester... Archey’s frog (Leiopelma archeyi) is one of three or four living species within the Leiopelma genus, which holds frogs that are native to New Zealand. This species can only be found along the Coromandel Peninsula and because it has not changed much throughout the past two hundred million years, it is considered to be a living fossil. Little is known about the habits of Archey’s frog, but it is known to be terrestrial, inhabiting damp areas at high elevations. It is thought that males... Holarchaea novaeseelandiae is one of only two described species in the genus Holarchaea and is native to New Zealand. This spider is very small at less than 1.5 millimeters long. It is shiny black, brown, olive, or beige in color. The head region is clearly distinguished, features eight eyes, and a few setae. It occurs only in the forests of New Zealand. It lives in humid environments and has been found on moss, ferns, and plant litter. Image Caption: adult Holarchaea sp. from New... The Waitoreke is a cryptid from New Zealand described as being otter-like. Its name derived from “Wai” is a Maori word for water. The rest of the word has different translations, but the common one is “toreke,” which means to disappear. Together the name could translate into “disappears into water” or another translation is a “disappearing water specter.” The usual description is a small otter-like creature about the size of a cat. It has brownish short fur and short... - Growing in low tufty patches.
Reports of the Australian creature called the bunyip come from Aboriginal folklore and from modern sightings, centered especially on Lake George and Lake Bathurst. In traditional folklore, the bunyip is a very aggressive animal with supernatural characteristics, but in modern sightings, the bunyip is generally harmless and seems less supernatural. Beyond the fact that it is hairy and aquatic, the descriptions of exactly what the bunyip looks like vary from one witness to the next. Generally, the bunyip is thought capable of coming out of the water, though it seldom goes very far from a lake, river or stream. The idea that you could meet this creature in the bush means that the bunyip is more than just another lake monster. Sometimes the bunyip is really huge, other times merely the size of a big dog. Sometimes it resembles some undiscovered variety of freshwater seal, and other times it sounds more like a traditional lake monster, with a long body and horse-shaped head. Drawings of the bunyip generally do not agree with other drawings of the bunyip. If the bunyip exists at all, it sounds like more than one cyptid could be lumped under the same label, a sure recipe for disaster when science looks at any problem. Perhaps some bunyip sightings represent lost seals or swimming dogs under bad lighting conditions, while other sightings may represent a true cryptid that could be another lake monster of the usual type, a giant otter, or perhaps an undiscovered aquatic marsupial. Without better categorization of the data, it is really hard to make much sense of any truth that might be hidden in it. Do you believe in the Bunyip? It is one of Australia's most elusive monters or unexplainable phenomenon. Do you have photographs, videos or stories to share - Feel free to do so. Have we missed any information on the Bunyip? Feel free to set the story straight by posting more information here. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
A poltergeist runs wild, a possessed child defies gravity, paranormal forces collide in Gettysburg, a canine has a creepy encounter with the dead and more. A family films proof that fairies exist, a new cryptid enters the world, unearthly howls keep residents up at night and more. A shadow figure stalks a ghost hunter, a hospital poltergeist comes back from the dead, a security guard encounters a ghostly orb, a spooky spirit is spotted in the woods and more. Terrifying triangles take to the skies across the globe, a man encounters dueling UFOs, aliens hover over the Pentagon, strange lights appear in the Arizona desert and more. A solider is spooked by a poltergeist, a family visits a haunted playground, a skeptical cameraman is assaulted by an unseen assailant, a man gets an unwanted ghostly guest and more. Bigfoot makes a bold move, a sea monster breaks the ice, a couple encounters a monster in their backyard and more. A vengeful spirit takes control of a car, happy hour meets the witching hour at a pub, a graveyard ghost attacks a paranormal investigator, a poltergeist works overtime and more. UFOs invade Philadelphia, strange signs are spotted from above, a dead alien is found in Siberia, humanoids take flight across North America and more. A demonic doll torments its new owners, a dead minister returns to his congregation, a paranormal investigator opens up the box from hell and more.
Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo to scare up crowds Saturday MARIETTA – Those people into the unusual and unexplained have a chance to meet like-minded people this Saturday at the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lafayette Hotel ballroom. The price is $12 per person in advance and $15 per person at the door. Megan Keller, co-owner of Hidden Marietta, said this is the second year for the expo and last year went better than expected. They hope for even better this year. “We had more than 300 people last year,” she said. “That was probably double what we were expecting. We’re expecting at least that this year.” The event was a brainstorm between everyone at Hidden Marietta. They wanted to hold the expo as there isn’t another event like this is Marietta, said Keller. “It caters to a variety of people. There’s a market for it as there are not a lot of events like this,” Keller said. “Having it this time of year is perfect, as we can pour ourselves into planning it. This is our off-season.” At least 30 vendors have signed up, along with six speakers, Keller said. Some of the vendors include Meta Rocks, the History & Haunts Investigation Team, Phantom IDC Engineering, Witch House Leather and Grandiose Glitches. Dalen Spratt of the TV show “Ghost Brothers” will be on hand for the Thursday night hotel lock down. The Lights Out Lockdown will be held Friday and Saturday nights. After a haunted history tour of the hotel, participants will have the opportunity to explore the reportedly haunted building on their own to look for spirits. Participants will meet in the Gun Room at 8 p.m. with a ghost tour of the hotel at 9 p.m. Individual or group investigations will begin at 10 p.m. The cost of the lockdown will depend on the price of the room. Included in the room price is the ghost hunt, a pizza dinner and breakfast. Lockdown participants can attend the paranormal expo for 50 percent off. Keller said a little bit of everything will be at the show. “There are unique handmade pieces from crafters. They cater to the paranormal or strange or unique in general,” she said. “There will be different paranormal groups and ghost hunters.” Some of the paranormal investigators from around Ohio and West Virginia will be on hand to tell their stories of paranormal encounters. Cory Seymour, owner of Seymour’s Shop of Horrors in Hilliard, will have a booth at the expo this weekend. This will be the first year he will attend. “I primarily make latex masks based on cryptid, which is a biological entity believed to exist, but science has yet to accept or found enough proof of, such as the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot,” he said. He said he decided to sign up for as many shows as possible this year, and Marietta’s expo is the first one of 10 or 12 he is planning for this year. “I’m excited, but nervous. I’m my only employee, so the better I do, the more work I’ll have to do,” he said. He will be taking one or two copies of each mask to the expo and he can take orders while there. The masks will be of Bigfoot, Yeti, Wendigo, Chupacabra, Mothman and Jersey Devil. Seymour said when he was younger, he watched horror and science fiction movies and wanted to work in special effects for the movies. When he realized having a job like that in Ohio wasn’t an option, he learned how to make masks and loved it. “I did it on the side, but in September I quit my day job and decided to make it my full-time job,” he said. He said he’s always been into the weird and paranormal, and working events like this weekend’s expo was an “awesome opportunity” to meet other people who are like minded. Michele Newbanks can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Howdy and welcome to Kam’s Place, Ernest Solar! For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business? (Ernest) Hi Kameron and thank you so much for this opportunity! A little bit about myself? I’m not sure where to start. On a daily basis I am a Professor of Special Education and Literacy at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. As far as how I got started in the writing business, I think I have always been a writer. Growing up I had a severe speech impediment, which made it difficult for me to talk. So I turned to writing. As a kid I read so many comic books and I would often take stories from the comics I read and re-write the story but with my own characters. I would then share the stories with my mom. From there I think my passion for writing and telling stories just grew. As the years went by I submitted short stories and received many rejection letters. When I started my Master’s program and then my Ph.D. program in special education I put my creative writing on hold. For obvious reasons. During those programs I learned how to become a more efficient and confident writer. I also started to receive acceptance letters for my academic writing in professional journals. Once I completed my Ph.D. and had some free time on my hands I started submitting my creative pieces once again and started to find some success. It wasn’t until recently did I discover that I tell a lot of stories. As an educator, I teach by sharing personal stories and experiences I had in the classroom when I was a special education teacher. I believe this helps my students connect the content of the classroom to real-world experiences. (KAM) Before I became a writer, I too worked in the special education field. It was one of the best jobs I ever had. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it. (Ernest) I think all writers suffer from some form of writer’s block. However, the writing block manifests itself in different ways. For me my writer’s block is time. As a full-time professor, husband, father of five, and helping with the care of my elderly parents I’m surprised I find time to sleep; let alone write. Therefore, when I do sit down and write it is important for me to be efficient in order to get my thoughts and ideas down. I also think when I am away from the keyboard I am always thinking of my stories or manuscripts that I am writing so when I do sit down to write I already know what I want to say or have worked out the scene in my head and have just been impatiently waiting to get it down on paper. I also have journal notes, post-it notes, draft emails with thoughts and ideas that I want to add to my stories. Sometimes I often wonder how much writing I could get done if I actually had six hours of uninterrupted time to write? But honestly, how I write now works for me. (KAM) Wow, you are a busy man! And, your creative process sounds like mine. I have notes everywhere. 😀 Will you please share with the visitors what genre(s) you write? Also, when you’re not writing, how to do you spend your time? (Ernest) What genre I write? That is a really good question. In many ways I am still trying to figure that out myself. I like to tell people I write realistic fiction. Then I get a funny look and they ask me, “You mean you believe in Bigfoot?” Yes, of course I do, that’s why I wrote Spirit of Sasquatch. Maybe a lot of authors don’t admit this (or maybe they do), but we often pull from our own experiences. Most of my stories have some element that happened to me or someone close to me. With that definition I could probably argue my writing is creative nonfiction. However, because my stories contain elements related to the paranormal or cryptid animals most people would have a hard time accepting my stories as creative nonfiction. If you want a technical boring answer, I suppose I write science fiction and paranormal fiction. When I am not writing, how do I spend my time? I spend a lot of time with my family. My wife and I love to go hiking and camping. We spend a lot of time in the woods. My time in the woods also includes searching for Bigfoot or any other cryptid creature or mystery. I also study mindfulness meditation. Through mindfulness my connection to nature and the world around me has grown deeper over the years. Lastly, I love to read. I’ll read anything. And I love to research ideas and thoughts and learn new things. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts? (Ernest) Oh I’m an open book! Everyone I know, knows I write. Knows I search for Bigfoot. Knows that I am believe in aliens and that a ghost, named Julie, lives in our house, and that I meditate daily. Even my students know that I write, meditate, and search for the unknown. It’s just who I am. I have nothing to hide. Granted it took me a few years to get to this point. When I first got into the paranormal and searching for Bigfoot only my close friends and family knew. I never really shared my writing with anyone, except for my wife, Christine. And then one day it all switched. This is who I am. Why hide it? In many ways I think my mindfulness (and Christine) helped me with this switch. To be authentic. To be genuine. To be open. It is honestly a liberating feeling. (KAM) That’s fantastic news. A good support team is always appreciated in whatever path we choose for ourselves. Will you share with us your all time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten. (Ernest) Great question! And it is honestly, an unfair question. However, my list, in no particular order: If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love see casted in the parts? (Ernest) I believe it is every author’s dream to have their book or books optioned to be a movie. As much as I would love to pick one of my own books I am actually going to pick an obscure book. The book is titled, Voices in the Wilderness by Ron Morehead. This is the true story of how Ron Morehead and some of his friends “captured” the sound of Bigfoot in the Sierra Nevada mountain range back in the 1970’s. The story is captivating and the evidence is intriguing. However, I would want the movie made with a serious intention. Not a half-hearted, half-joke mentality. As far as an actor goes, not sure. I’m not up to speed on current actors and Hollywood stars. It’s been a few years since I watched TV or the movies. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further. (Ernest) Nothing is top secret. However, I won’t tell you the story because I would then lose the motivation behind writing the story. I am working on a novel that takes place in the world of Spirit of Sasquatch. I always liked how Robert Heinlein and Stephen King have their novels set in the same world and sometimes characters and places bleed over to other stories. In Spirit of Sasquatch there were a couple characters I wanted to develop further. In truth, they were knocking around in my head and wanted me to expand their stories further after I finished Spirit of Sasquatch. So with this new writing project I am doing just that. They will be stand-alone stories, but could be read in sequence. Where can we find your stories and is there a particular reading order? (Ernest) There is no particular reading order for any of the stories I currently have out on the market. Spirit of Sasquatch is available as an ebook for Kindle and print. The ebook can be found on Amazon.com and the print book can be located with any of the booksellers. Readers can also contact me through my Spirit of Sasquatch Facebook page if they want to purchase a signed copy. The Well House is a different kind of ghost story and is currently only available as an ebook for Kindle. A print version will be released later this year at the annual Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Lucy is a young girl who loves her Pa, their cow, and the little farmhouse she calls home. She also loves the red bicycle that Harvey gave her as a present. But not all is idyllic, and she struggles to steer clear of the local transient, Joe-Michael. Gannon and Farrah move to Lucy’s family farm many years after Joe-Michael became Lucy’s father’s farmhand. Together, Gannon and Farrah hear Lucy’s voice for the first time on an audio recorder hidden in the woods near the old family homestead. Even though their lives are separated by decades, they intersect at the pond where the secrets have been submerged by Joe-Michael. Blurring the lines between time and space, Lucy shares her tale with Gannon and Farrah in an unconventional turn of events. Inspired by true events. Some voices are never silenced. And sadly, Two Moons Rising is currently out of print. However, I do have limited copies. I’m hoping to bring Two Moons Rising back on the market by September of 2019. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you? (Ernest) Ha ha! Fans. That makes me smile. I’m just thrilled when someone reads my stuff. Honestly, I love chatting with my fans about writing and books in general. To talk about my own work is still unbelievable to me. I can be reached through my Spirit of Sasquatch Facebook page or on Goodreads.com. But let’s be honest, my name is pretty unique and a Google search will probably lead them to my teaching position at the Mount. Either way works for me. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours. (Ernest) Thank you Kameron for taking the time to ask these wonderful questions and giving me a stage to share a small part of my story. I am truly grateful for your love of books and wanting to help authors gain a wider audience. (KAM) Now that you’ve read Ernest Solar’s interview, we ask that you stick around to read my review of Spirit of Sasquatch and to learn details on how you can WIN A SIGNED PAPERBACK. ~~ PRIZE ~~ Trevor Blackwood lost his wife to the mythical creature known as Bigfoot and never came to terms with her disappearance. It’s been over a decade since she vanished, but time hasn’t stopped Trevor and his sons Darius and Brock from searching for her and the creatures responsible for her disappearance. In fact, their adamant hunting has given the Blackwood trio a reputation – one that’s caught the attention of government forces with ulterior motives. After the youngest Blackwood goes missing, like his mother, the line between myth and reality is quickly blurred. Brock soon discovers the secrets that shroud the feared beast. Hunted by the government and sought by his father, the young boy discovers the truth behind his mother’s disappearance at the hands of a menacing Sasquatch. The true nature of the Blackwood family legacy is revealed when the threads of Brock’s life crashes together in a devastating confrontation with the government and the legendary creature known as Bigfoot. (review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) There are a multitude of individuals who believe Sasquatch is real. Teams hunt for the elusive creature. People share captured images of the mysterious beast. However, there’s no solid proof it exists……yet. Whether you believe in the legend of Bigfoot or not, I think you’ll enjoy reading Spirit of Sasquatch. There were some interesting theories regarding their classification and abilities. We also learned how the “hairy giants” were feared and respected by all Native American tribes. Despite the fact I found the story drab at times, one thing I did appreciate regarding Spirit of Sasquatch was some of the humans were the real beasts of the story and the Sasquatch were the loving protectors of the forest. Now, time for a few of my favorite moments. - Sookum (Bigfoot) skipping rocks with Brock (human). Sookum tossed a boulder though. 😀 - Numyc versus the bear. - “Next time be a damn tree!” You’ll understand #3 once you’ve read the book. With that said… Don’t be a tree, leave and go get this book. Heart Rating System: 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) Ernest will be gifting ONE SIGNED COPY to a lucky person who comments on his interview. Say HI, tell us if you believe in Bigfoot or not, or tell us if you have every encountered the mysterious creature. One entry per person. Due to shipping costs, this contest is only available to those living in the continental United States. Contest ends: May 23rd, midnight (central time) Winner selected: May 24th via a comment from me on this the comment thread. If you are not comfortable giving out your mailing address, you can always choose a kindle copy instead. Now, whatcha waiting for…. LEAVE US A COMMENT. Tell your family and friends to enter. And, GOOD LUCK to you all!
\|"What I need to do is to finish this!\| And then... then I need to fix the detector." This article is currently under construction. You can help Anomaly Research Centre by expanding it. A list of unnamed characters in Primeval and Primeval: New World with minor roles and appearances. This page does not display any unnamed Anomaly Research Centre personnel, minor Special Forces personnel, minor Project Magnet personnel or any minor characters from the Primeval novels. This man was a cleaner at an Asda shop in the Forest of Dean in the late 1990s. One night, while the cleaner was cleaning the floors on a nightshift, Helen Cutter arrived outside and yelled at the cleaner to let her in. However, the cleaner assumed Helen was a crazy shopper and brushed her yells off, oblivious to the Gorgonopsid pursuing her through the shop's car park outside. Man in bar When Claudia Brown was staying at the Eddington Hotel, this man attempted to chat up an uninterested Claudia in the bar, until Claudia pretended Nick Cutter was her boyfriend to get rid of the other man. Home Office scientists During the Home Office's investigation into the Anomaly in the Forest of Dean, these scientists scanned Rex in a sealed lab to prove Nick Cutter's theory that Rex was from the distant Past. However, Rex used his flights to escape from the scientists and from the lab. Female train passenger When this young woman was travelling by the London Underground, while the train was stopped due to a delay, the woman moved to and opened the train carriage's window to get cooler air. When a Carboniferous Arachnid tried to come in through the window, the woman slammed the window on the Arachnid in horror, severing one of its legs. This detective inspector was in charge of investigating the death of Anthony Barton at the Crystal Palace Diving Institute, and came to the hasty conclusion that Anthony's traumatised girlfriend Diane Johnson had murdered him. He discussed this with Nick Cutter and Claudia Brown, and Cutter told the detective the truth about how Anthony was in actuality killed by a prehistoric marine predator that had temporarily crossed into the present; the detective inspector did not seem to believe Cutter and demanded in vain to know who he and Claudia were. Diane was subsequently wrongly charged and arrested for Anthony Barton's death. These two young children were the son and daughter of Jane Dexter, who, on the day that an underwater Anomaly opened in and flooded their home's basement, were given ten minutes free time playing in the house's yard before going to school. This plumber was called to the household by Jane Dexter after the residence's cellar mysteriously flooded. While the plumber was alone in the cellar searching for the cause of the flood, he came across and was attacked by a Hesperornis, which dragged him down under the water until he briefly escaped it. However, before the plumber could get out of the flooded basement, the Hesperornis dragged him back in and attacked again. A later reference to the number of corpses in the basement by Tom Ryan would indicate that the plumber was killed by the Hesperornis attack. Mrs. Davis' child This little boy son of Mrs. Davis, and lived with her at a block of flats in Central London. One day, while the boy was alone having a bath, an escaped python emerged from the toilet as he watched, and Mrs. Davis subsequently reported it as a pest problem. Flat block children These children were a group of young friends that hang out and played football together at the bottom of a block of flats in Central London, to the irritation of flat resident Mrs. Davis. When the Special Forces and the Home Office Anomaly research team arrived at the flats, the kids all comically froze as the soldiers passed by them, apparently under the false impression that the Special Forces were there to arrest them. This doctor worked at a hospital in London. He was responsible for carrying out an MRI scan on Tom, and immediately discovered the Parasite inside Tom from the scan. The doctor explained this news to Tom and that they had to take Tom into emergency surgery, but when he tried to perform an eye test on Tom, the Parasite's symptoms caused Tom to bite the shocked doctor on the arm before fleeing in horror. The doctor subsequently reported the incident with Tom as a tropical disease, and Claudia Brown, Nick Cutter and Stephen Hart came to ask the doctor about Tom. The concerned and frightened doctor demanded to know what was going on with the Parasite and what Tom had done to him by biting him, and Cutter simply instructed the doctor to have his Parasite surgically removed before it matured. Three missing victims A fter the Forest of Dean - Permian hills Anomaly reopened, these three people all disappeared one by one within forty-eight hours when a Future Predator killed them and took their bodies leaving no traces. After tracking the Predator's lair to some animal crate storage sheds near the Wellington Zoo in the Forest of Dean, the Home Office Anomaly team and the Special Forces found the three victims' corpses, having apparently been stored by the adult Predators as food for their young. Security guard 1 This security guard worked the night shift at the Castle Cross Shopping Mall. One night, he went to investigate when something behind the bowling alley began sending balls and broken skittles hurtling out. When he went round the back to locate the intruder, the guard found that it was a Raptor, before the creature promptly attacked and devoured him. - The non-canon novelisation of Episode 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 called Fight For Survival named this security guard as Barry Somerville. Security guard 2 This security guard worked the night shift at the Castle Cross Shopping Mall. One night, he was reviewing the security cameras one night when a bowling ball was spotted travelling up a bowling alley gutter the wrong way. His collegue went to investigate. After hearing the sound of his collegue being jumped by a Raptor, the security guard ran for his life, but was quickly caught and clawed to death. - The non-canon novelisation of Episode 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 called Fight For Survival named this security guard as Graham. This man was the duty manager at the Castle Cross Shopping Mall. He didn't appear to be very intelligent. After losing contact with one of the Mall's operatives during the night shift (actually due to a Raptor attack), the duty manager was faced with the ARC team at the shutter to the mall's indoor car park. Nick Cutter instructed the man to leave the mall and to seal the building behind the team until he was told it was safe again, and it wasn't until the team was inside the building and the shutter was closing behind them that the duty manager thought to ask who they were. These two youths were at the Castle Cross Shopping Mall car park at night, when several Raptors came through an Anomaly. Nick and Stephen arrived at the car park and took the youth's dirt bikes so they could pursue the Raptors. This janitor worked at an office block in London. When the janitor arrived on the building's fifteenth floor, he found it filled with Precambrian mist coming through an Anomaly in the server room, before he was attackedby a Precambrian Worm in the mist and dragged off to his death. Mr. Nagata's assistant This woman was the assistant of Mr Nagata, the CEO of Nagata Beer. She was standing next to him when he had a meeting with businessman Terry, before the latter was attacked by Precambrian Worms and killed. This fire chief was in charge of tackling the fog problem in an inner-London office block when the fire department became involved under the misconception that there was a fire. He approached Nick Cutter and Jenny Lewis as they attempted to enter the building, forbidding them to do so, but Jenny took sudden charge and told him to back the crowd away a couple of miles. The fire chief afterwards updated Nick on the current situation inside the building. These female Paintballers played paintball with Warren, at Blue Sky Park. He howled at them to put them offguard and showering them with paintballs before they even put their helmets on. They scolded him and left him. When Warren heard the roars of the Smilodon he thought it was them trying to get him back. Mother and three children One day, the mother took her three children to Blue Sky Park and they were having a picnic in the forest. When the two older kids were fighting, the mother was distracted and she did not notice that her tolder had wondered off. The tolder walked into the bushes and was frightened by a Smilodon, however he escaped and ran crying back to his mother as the big cat left. Valerie Irwin told the mechanic that her car's clutch needed fixing so he drove the car to test it but the ARC team thought he was Valerie and chased after him in their car. When they caught the shocked mechanic, they realised they had been tricked by Valerie. Leek's first mercenary This unnamed mercenary was one of three including the Cleaner who were hired by Oliver Leek and sent through the Hackney Anomaly to the Silurian to bring back creatures. On the other side of the Anomaly, when they spotted Taylor Craig, a little girl, stranded and alone in the desert, this mercenary conscientiously balked at the Cleaner's orders to leave her where she was and resume their mission. Moments later, they discovered and tried to capture what they though to be a giant sand snake (actually a Silurian Scorpion's tail), and this mercenary was apparently killed, leaving only his gear behind. Leek's second mercenary This unnamed mercenary was one of three including the Cleaner who were hired by Oliver Leek and sent through the Hackney Anomaly to the Silurian to bring back creatures. He was apparently devoured and killed when the mercenaries attempted to capture what they thought was a giant sand snake (actually a Silurian Scorpion's tail), leaving only their gear behind. This actor worked at the Lost World Adventure Park, acting in the role of a Paleolithic caveman. After Nick Cutter, Stephen Hart and Taylor Craig came into the park's woodland through an Anomaly, they stumbled across the fake camp and the actor. Unaware that they were back in the present and believing the actor to be a real early human hunter, Cutter swiftly knocked him out with a well-placed punch, only to then notice the man's modern underwear and realise he'd just punched an actor. The caveman actor was afterwards talked to by James Lester to avoid any lawsuits. Father on the beach This father was buried in sand, for fun, by his two young children. When the beach was attacked by a Silurian Scorpion, the father's kids ran, forgetting their dad, who was eaten by the Scorpion in the aftermath of the attack. Man playing music on the beach This man was sunbathing on a beach. Since he was playing loud music some boys asked him to turn the volume down to which he turned it up. This proved fatal for him, as a Silurian Scorpion was lured to him by the loud music echoing underground. As one of the boys asked him if he was going to turn down the music, the scorpion burst up out of the sand and immediately ate the unfortunate sunbather alive, causing mass panic. Youth on the beach This youth was a young man who was on holiday at an unnamed resort with some of his friends. He told the man playing music, to lower the volume because he thought it was too loud. The music-goer ignored him, and the youth then witnessed that a Silurian Scorpion ambush and devour the man, then promptly ran for his life. This traffic warden based in Central London was giving a parking ticket onto a car, when he was attacked and killed by a Pristichampsus. Nick Cutter and Abby Maitland arrived to find his corpse minutes later. These soldiers were a military squad under Captain Ross, sent by Christine Johnson through an Anomaly to recover the Artifact from the future city. Just after finding the Artifact in a derelict building, the soldiers were attacked by a nest of Future Predators when one of the men killed a Predator infant. The soldiers were all overwhelmed. The one carrying the Artifact almost getting away alive with Ross, but was followed out by a Predator which pinned him down and dragged him back in to his death. This cameraman was an employee of Evening News, who assisted Mick Harper and Katherine Kavanagh in documenting an Anomaly in an airport hangar. He filmed a baby Velociraptor coming through the Anomaly and being identified by Nigel Marven. Moments later, when a Giganotosaurus came through the Anomaly and attacked, the cameraman tried to run while Katherine yelled at him to keep filming, but the Giganotosaurus caught and devoured him. Airplane Captain and Co-pilot This soldier travelled with Captain Ross to investigate an Anomaly during Christine Johnson's brief reign over the ARC. They captured the rogue ARC field team at the site, but before they could take them into custody, this soldier was attacked from behind and devoured to death by a Terror Bird. This priest lived in London town during Sir William de Mornay's time in the Medieval ages. When the town was terrorised by a Dracorex, the priest gave the majority of the villagers refuge in his church. He blessed Sir William before the latter set out to try and kill the creature. This quadbiker was among the tourists at the campsite. While he was quadbiking alone out in the surrounding countryside, he found a startled Embolotherium calf. The creature's parent promptly came to defend it, smashing the quadbiker's bike aside and killing him. Connor Temple later found the quadbiker's body in the field where he was killed. This unknown soldier worked with Christine Johnson's military, and was among the staff who remained behind at Johnson's former-HQ after her operation was closed down with her death. The soldier was killed when Johnson's Anomaly reopened and a group of Megopterans came through, massacring the remaining soldiers. His slime-covered corpse was later found in the Anomaly room by Sarah Page and Captain Becker after the Anomaly had closed again. These youths saw a Spinosaurus running down a street in Liverpool and one of them recorded it on his smart phone. Captain Becker drove past and took away the phone from one boy and told the boy to get a haircut. These garbage collectors were working one day when Matt Anderson "borrowed" their truck to help contain a Spinosaurus. As Matt left, all the workers were left confused. This builder was among the men working at the abandoned warehouse at the docks. He inadvertently discovered a Kaprosuchus's nest in the building's former homeless camp, but when he called for someone to come and see, his shouts caused the Kaprosuchus to attack and kill him. Connor Temple and Duncan later found the builder's mangled and partially-dismembered body near the Kaprosuchus den. This young man was obsessed with the Witchfield Worm. While he was out camping on the seaside cliffs near Witchfield Cove overnight in hopes of getting footage of the cryptid, the Worm, actually a Labyrinthodont, attacked his tent and horribly dragged him off to his death. Matt Anderson found the boy's severed arm by a river not far from the camp the next day. The barman worked the Cock Tavern in Witchfield Cove. When Abby Maitland and Connor Temple entered the bar while investigating a local Anomaly signal, the barman worldlessly poured two pitchers of beer and handed them to Connor and Abby. After Connor asked if a white wine spritzer was available, he gave Abby's glass to Connor, and vice versa. At this time, Matt Anderson arrived, and noticing a framed newspaper article on the wall, asked about the local Witchfield Worm. The barman coldly told the trio that only children and drunk patrons believed in the creature's existence. This fisherman was fishing alone at a river near Witchfield Cove, when a Labyrinthodot in the water attacked him, but he was saved by Matt. The Labyrinthodont then returned to the river. This wedding planner was hired to organise Michael Miller and Jenny Lewis's wedding. While in the wine cellar of the stately home where the wedding would take place, she stumbled across a makeshift nest of Hyaenodon pups. When the wedding planner got too close to the pups, the mother Hyaenodon hiding in the dark near her pups attacked the woman in defense of her young, dragging her under and killing her. Boy at wedding This boy attended the wedding of Jenny Lewis and Michael Miller. When a baby Hyaenodon entered the ceremony all the guests thought it very funny and cute; that is, until it's parents arrived and caused havoc. This boy was cornered by one along with several other guests but the ARC team distracted it long enough for them to escape. Prison tour guide This man gave tours of an old prison, where satellite Anomalies occurred due to two Anomalies opening on the exact same spot, allowing a Terror Bird to come through and kill one of the tourists who'd strayed from his tour. Boy at barbeque This young boy attended a barbecue with his parents. As the food was being prepared, a Giant Burrowing Insect attacked from underground, and the boy fled in terror. This soldier working for Prospero Industries' New Dawn project was left by Philip Burton to monitor the First Man-made Anomaly at the ARC shortly after the Anomaly's creation. While the guard was alone with the Anomaly, a single Future Beetle came through, and the guard, unaware of what he was dealing with, caught it in a coffee mug and threw it back through. A swarm of thousands more Beetles then came through the Anomaly seconds later, swarming over the guard's body and devouring him alive. Within moments of being fatally swarmed by the carnivorous Beetles, no trace of the guard's body was left. SkyTrain service tunnel tramp This man was homeless and living in a small den in a SkyTrain service tunnel in Vancouver. When a Utahraptor on the loose in Vancouver went into the service tunnel, it attacked and killed the homeless man, disembowelling him and seemingly gouging his eyes out. Male Merison Oil employee This man worked for the Merison Oil company, and was responsible for surveying the waters of a British Columbia bay that Merison Oil hoped to mine for oil. One day, while he and another employee were surveying the waters, the motor from the male employee's boat drew the attention of a Titanoboa; the creature attacked and dragged the male worker's boat under the water and destroyed it, presumably eating and killing the worker. British Columbia bay kayaker This man was out in a kayak on a bay in rural British Columbia, unaware of a Titanoboa in the bay and of the Special Projects Group's attempts to call out to and warn him from a cliff by the bay. However, the Titanoboa passed by under and did not attack the kayaker due to the lack of infrasound from the kayak. Spring River Airport mechanic One day, the mechanic noticed a giant Anomaly that had opened up on the airport's runway, and shortly afterwards, the mechanic was attacked by a Jurassic Beetle queen, which dragged him into a nearby warehouse, rendered him unconscious and laid a sac of eggs down the mechanic's throat. After Mac Rendell and Samantha Sedaris captured the Beetle, as the mechanic awoke, Sam pulled the Jurassic Beetle eggs out from down the mechanic's throat, and the mechanic then afterwards recovered and ran off in shock and horror. Mac decided to have Toby Nance track the mechanic down later for a stomach pump in case there were any more Beetle eggs still in him. This motorcyclist worked as a drug courier between Skeezer and Blake and their mysterious 'boss,' for transporting the cannabis produce to 'the boss.' While the courier was transporting a batch of marijuana buds for the boss, he was chased and run off the country road by a Terror Bird and devoured.
Admittedly, I’m a crypto nut. My father bought me a hardcover book on monsters when I was a kid and I’ve been hooked ever since. I remember it had some green, muppet-y looking creature on the cover. I wonder where it went. For folks my age (I was born around the time the Jets won the Super Bowl), there is a pivotal movie that hooked our fascination with Bigfoot. That film, a drive-in flick that took the country by storm, was The Legend of Boggy Creek. The movie was shot like a documentary and recalls the tale of the Fouke Monster and how it terrorized a town in Arkansas in 1971. Production was cheap, actual townies were used to re-enact events and the pacing was, well, ponderous at times. With everything going against it, The Legend of Boggy Creek succeeded in terrifying audiences, first in theaters, then on home video, for years. Something about it felt so real, so plausible, that you can’t help being sucked in to the story. Like most, I thought this was a brief Bigfoot flap that came and went. I was wrong. There is so much more to the story. Here’s everything you need to know about the Bigfoot sightings in and around the now legendary Fouke, Arkansas. The sightings of a large, bipedal creature did’t begin in 1971. In fact, there are records of brushes with the hairy cryptid, both written and verbal, going back 100 years and continuing right up to the present day, Individuals, families, hunters and even police have all had strange encounters, especially around Highway 71 and the Sulphur River Bottoms. What makes the Fouke Bigfoot different than other squatches in other locations? From all accounts, the Fouke Bigfoot is aggressive. In quite a few cases, it’s been very threatening towards humans. The Ford family house was attacked by a large, angry creature that tore off doors, broke through windows and grabbed people with intent to harm. This is very uncommon for Bigfoot sightings. The Fouke Bigfoot is not a happy camper and people have gone into shock after coming across it. It’s been known to charge at and even grab people with talon-tipped fingers. As the town of Fouke has seen a decrease in forested land that makes a perfect hideout for the beasts, it’s been seen less there, but more so in neighboring towns less than 10 miles away that are still dense with trees and winding rivers. Are they migrating? It seems likely. The creature is generally described as being between 6 and 8 feet tall, with glowing red eyes. On some night encounters, people have seen the eyes first, then the massive body emerging from the dark. Its face is tanned and very human-like. I don’t think any Bigfoot has been shot at more times than the creatures living in Fouke. The odd thing is that many experienced hunters have had the creature in their sights and appear to have missed every time. Unless there’s a Bigfoot hospital somewhere that tends to their wounds, they’ve all escaped unscathed. Now, I’m not saying everything that’s been reported is true. I’m just stating the facts. You can visit the town for yourself and see. Before you go, you may want to bone up on the story and enjoy some of the fiction that’s grown up around it. I highly suggest the following: And of course, grab a copy of the movie. I have Fouke on my list of places to visit. I’m sure local Bigfoot researchers go into the woods from time to time, searching for the elusive legend. Which begs the question, if you know that the Fouke Bigfoot is aggressive, would you bring extra precautions on a hunt? Would knowing its temperment make you think twice before going out there? The legend continues…
Vince Ynzunza (Host of Pacific NorthWEIRD) & John Roe (local UFO eyewitness) Vince Ynzunza is the director and writer of Pacific NorthWEIRD, a video series which chronicles the strange, paranormal, and unusual happenings of the Pacific Northwest – covering everything from the region’s rich UFO history to its unofficial cryptid mascot, Sasquatch – as well as a number of topics in between such as eccentric local celebrities, strange landmarks, and paranormal activity. Vince spoke about the strange UFO and flying saucer history of Chehalis and Lewis County and introduced local private pilot and UFO eyewitness, John Roe, who discussed some of his experiences in the area. John was born September 15, 1945 in Chehalis, Washington. He grew up in Vader, Washington and graduated from Toledo High School in 1963. He started flight training at Chehalis Airport in 1965 and received his pilot’s license a few years later. While UFO reports were almost a daily occurrence during his teen years, John was not a supporter of the “little green men” theories that were wafting about at the time. A true skeptic by all measures, he was a firm believer in the results of the U.S. Air Force Project Blue Book, that nearly all UFO cases could be explained away by natural circumstances surrounding the numerous reports of the day. It wasn’t until a few personal UFO sightings that John experienced in the Pacific Northwest that he began to question these beliefs. As an aviator, it became very difficult for John to reconcile the science of aviation with the strange sighting that had become a part of his life. Nothing in the natural world could fully explain what he had seen, twice, during his lifetime. Maybe some things are best left “unexplained”! Howard Batie (Alien abduction hypnotherapist) Howard Batie is a Chehalis resident with many years of research and knowledge in the field of Ufology. He is an internationally-published award-winning author (Awakening the Healer Within, 2000; Healing Body, Mind & Spirit: A Guide to Energy-Based Healing, 2003; Spiritual Journeys: A Practical Methodology for Accelerated Spiritual Development and Experiential Exploration, 2015; The ETs Speak: Who We Are & Why We’re Here, 2016; Trans-Scalar Healing: A Holistic Healing Technique For Self, Others And Gaia, 2017; and The Art Of Metaphysical Communication: Conversations With The Other Side, 2018.). Howard delivered his lecture “The ETs Speak: Who We Are & Why We’re Here”. David Schneider is a writer/novelist. He has also been a producer/director of television and radio in the advertising industry. In 1968 his father brought home a book titled Chariots of the Gods. Having witnessed a UFO when age 10, it directed his inquisitive nature to the subject of ETs and UFOs. In the ’90s he became an avid researcher on books about the Roswell Crash, including The Roswell Incident, The Truth about the UFO Crash at Roswell, and The Day after Roswell. David combined his love of research with his love of writing. He read excerpts from his recently released novel, Hoaxes Roswell (the first in a series), and shared why he wrote it, for whom, and its importance to carrying on the efforts of the UFO community to a whole new generation. David lives in Gresham, Oregon and has a website at Schneiderwriter.com. Scott Schaefer (Director of The Maury Island Incident) Scott Schaefer is a three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (Bill Nye the Science Guy, PBS/Disney) with over 33 years’ experience in media, including over 20 as a Director and Producer, six of which were spent in the trenches of Hollywood. His directing credits includes for the TV shows Penn & Teller:Bullsh*t!(Showtime) where he was nominated for a Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directing in a Reality Show (2005), Sightings (a UFO show for Paramount Pictures), The Arsenio Hall Show (Paramount), Totally Hidden Video(Fox), The Late Show (Fox), Fox On-Air Promotions, Almost Live! (KING-TV, where he won 6 Local Emmy Awards) and many others in-between. Scott Schaefer screened his UFO short film ‘The Maury Island Incident’ and told the story of one of the strangest flying saucer encounters to happen in the state of Washington. Shanelle Schanz (Grandaughter of Kenneth Arnold) Shanelle Schanz is the granddaughter of famed UFO eyewitness, Kenneth Arnold. She has spent most of her life residing in Boise, Idaho where her grandfather lived and loved. She studied at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington in 2002. She also was Gallery Attendant for Archer Art Gallery on the Clark College campus. She currently is working on an Associate degree in Philosophy and the College of Western Idaho. Shanelle has been a guest on many shows like “Third Phase of the Moon” with Denice Marcel (granddaughter of Jesse Marcel), Tim Beckley’s podcast “Exploring the Bizarre”, Mack Maloney’s podcast, as well as appearing with Bruce Maccabee on a podcast about his book about her grandfather’s sighting, “Three Seconds in June.” She has also been a guest on “Coast to Coast AM with George Noory”. Shanelle spoke about Arnold and showed never-before-seen documents belonging to her grandfather. James Clarkson (UFO investigator and author) James Clarkson is an Investigator who has stood in two worlds for many years – a career criminal investigator and a lifelong researcher of the UFO Mystery. He has been a plainclothes military police investigator, a 20-year career city police officer who has had many titles: patrol supervisor, detective sergeant, fatal accident team manager and training officer. After retiring with 20 years regular police service, he became a child abuse detective and then completed another decade of service as a fraud investigator for a Washington state agency. Meanwhile, for over 30 years he has studied the mystery of UFOs with the same attention to detail that he applied to criminal investigations. In 1986 he joined the Mutual UFO Network. Applying the same passion for solving mysteries to the world of High Strangeness, James Clarkson serves as the Washington State Director of MUFON and the Special Assignments Team for MUFON. He has lectured at many UFO events across the country and in Paris as well as appearances on radio and TV. He is the author of TELL MY STORY- June Crain, the Air Force & UFOs as well as the Westport UFO Crash Retrieval Event. James presented “THEY CAME HERE FIRST – The Strange History of UFOs in the Pacific Northwest”. Speaker panel (Moderated, Audience Questions) Q&A with the speakers in a panel discussion MC’d by Vince Ynzunza.
Tomb Of Finland got the first shovel full of soil into it's mouth in the fall of 2009. The first album ”Below the green” was written from thousands of nights filled with torment and mourning. Jasse contacted his previous band member A.Karihtala (CHARON,WOLFHEART, later also KYPCK). For the vocals Antti suggested to ask Ville (SEITH, DAWN OF RELIC, CRYPTID) to join our woe. First three coffins were now full and ready to rot. New period of shovels, soil and darkness started. It was important period of seeking more rotten flesh to be gathered together as a full band. Mikko Hannuksela (CARTILAGE,VOMITURITION,ENOCHIAN CRESCENT,GHOSTGUARD) found from neighbour cemetary. After dark and cold period of slow rotting. Hungry worms growled angry in frozen soil. We felt some movements in our rotten flesh. That was a good start of more active and noisy season of our decaying. Couple of tombs were opened, corpses exhumed and some open tombs got flesh inside to feed the worms in the soil. -H- joined as bass player and Olli (KAUNIS KUOLEMATON) as new singer. New line-up was built in our silent tombs for future earthly liveperformances. Frozen soil was digged and the cemetery gate was opened again. One special corpse A.Karihtala exhumed and returned to living. He left the band physically, but will stay with us spiritually in future. New life was written also into -H-'s in memoriam. He returned to living too. Fresh and agressive corpse Janne Manninen (AND OCEANS,MYGRAIN,MAGENTA HARVEST) was joined our casket ride and replaced A.Karihtala on drums. In the fall of 2014 debut album "Below the green" was mastered in Unisound studios by Dan Swanö. In the heart of winter 2015 Tomb of Finland signed a deal with Mighty Music. After decaying in silence, Janne M. urged to return to living. His memory is well reserved in the ranks of darkness. He was replaced by more sinister fellow from nearby cascets Janne Lukki, and Ville Kangasharju took over to strangle the living with lower strings of daemonic forces and present line-up was formed as: Jasse Von Hast - Guitars Mikko Hannuksela - Guitars Olli Suvanto - Vocals Janne Lukki - Drums Ville Kangasharju - Bass After newly decaying corpses was laid to rest, the northern darkness fell upon cascets that was open and rotting from new material. The second album ”Frozen beneath” was born with a birthmark of the five caskets. In the fall of 2017 first studio sessions started. Album got it’s final appearance by Finnish producer Hiili Hiilesmaa in the end of year 2017. In the year 2018 fall, the foul darkness is set upon the world by Tomb of Finland and Mighty Music again.
- West Gippsland West Gippsland, a region of Gippslandin Victoria, Australia, extends from the southeastern limits of metropolitan Melbourneand Western Port Bay in the west to the Latrobe Valleyin the east, and is bounded by the Strzelecki Rangesto the south and the Mount Baw Baw Plateau in the Great Dividing Rangeto the north. The western part of the region around Western Port Bay and the Bunyip Riveris mostly flat (much of it having been reclaimed from the drained Koo Wee Rup Swamp), while the eastern part consists of low rolling hills. To the north these hills become steeper as they merge into the Great Dividing Range. Relatively fertile, the lowland areas are mainly given over to dairy farming, but are also noted for their outstanding niche agricultural produce (giving rise to the term "Gippsland Gourmet Country").Fact\|date=May 2008 In the mountainous north around Noojee logging remains an important industry, while a small winter resort is located to the northeast at Mount Baw Baw. Nature reserves in the region include Bunyip State Park, Mount Worth State Parkand Baw Baw National Park. Principal towns of West Gippsland include (from west to east along the Princes Highway) Pakenham, Drouin, Warragul and Trafalgar. Due to its proximity to the Melbourne metropolitan area, the westernmost region around Pakenham has experienced significant residential growth in recent years. Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Look at other dictionaries: West Gippsland Latrobe Football League — The West Gippsland Latrobe Football League is the major Australian rules football League in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.HistoryThe WGLFL was formed through the merger of the West Gippsland Football League with the Gippsland… … Wikipedia Gippsland — is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south. The region is… … Wikipedia Gippsland — Buschfeuer in Gippsland, 1898, von John Longstaff … Deutsch Wikipedia Gippsland Falcons — Full name Gippsland Falcons Soccer Club Nickname(s) Falcons Founded 1963 … Wikipedia Gippsland Falcons — Voller Name Gippsland Falcons Soccer Club Gegründet 1961 Aufgelöst 2001 Stadion Falcons Park … Deutsch Wikipedia West Wimmera Shire — Lage West Wimmera Shire in Victoria Gliederung … Deutsch Wikipedia Gippsland-Massaker — Die Gippsland Massaker an den Gunai oder Kurnai genannten Aborigines fand in den Jahren von 1840 bis 1847 in mehreren großen Auseinandersetzungen mit zahlreichen Getöteten und weiteren kleineren mit zahlenmäßig weniger Opfern statt. Sie… … Deutsch Wikipedia Gippsland phantom cat — The Gippsland Big Cat is a cryptid.Although feral cats are present in Victoria as in the rest of Australia and there have been hundreds of reported sightings, yet no proof of the existence of big cats has even been established [… … Wikipedia Shire of West Wimmera — West Wimmera Shire Lage West Wimmera Shire in Victoria Basisdaten Bundesstaat: Victoria Hauptort: Edenhope Fläche … Deutsch Wikipedia East Gippsland Rail Trail — MelbourneBikePath DESCRIPTION=East Gippsland Rail Trail Signage NAME=East Gippsland Rail Trail LENGTH=96 km DIFFICULTY=Easy to medium HILLS=Extended shallow gradients, short hills to and from original track height, undulating hills… … Wikipedia
Draw Back the Curtain and Marvel at the Amazing Collection of Mysterious Beasts Within Join cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard on an enigmatic journey through the world of mysterious beasts, exploring eyewitness encounters with creatures thought to exist only in myths and legends. This compelling compendium presents a wide variety of astounding and bizarre creatures, from the Minnesota Iceman to the White Bluff Screamer to the Texas T. rex. Discover the fascinating history and modern case studies of ape-men roaming the Americas. Experience captivating, first-hand accounts of dragon, werewolf, and mermaid sightings from Europe to Australia. Featuring sea monsters, colossal insects, enormous eagles, oversized amphibians, and more, A Menagerie of Mysterious Beasts is the ultimate resource for cryptid creature enthusiasts. "In his new book, Ken Gerhardthe Indiana Jones of monster-huntingprovides us with an absolute smorgasbord of unknown animals."Nick Redfern, author of Chupacabra Road Trip "Ken Gerhard's writings are always replete with original research and hitherto-unpublished reports. A Menagerie of Mysterious Beasts is no exceptiona monstrously good, thoroughly entertaining, and highly informative read for cryptozoology fans everywhere!"Dr. Karl P.N. Shuker, author of A Manifestation of Monsters "Ken Gerhard deftly blends authentic historical accounts with piles of new eyewitness reports to create a heady, global cocktail of cryptid mysteries."Linda S. Godfrey, author of American Monsters "After reading this menagerie of the damned you will be in no doubt that monsters are real."Richard Freeman, author of Dragons "Ken brings us an excellent read, a combination of his own personal investigations and direct eyewitness testimony. Importantly, the book flows very well as it deals with a variety of cryptids, including more controversial subjects which he is to be credited for not shying away from."Adam Davies, cryptozoologist and explorer \|Publisher:\|\|Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.\| \|Product dimensions:\|\|5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)\| \|Age Range:\|\|8 - 12 Years\| About the Author Ken Gerhard (San Antonio, TX) is a widely recognized cryptozoologist. He has traveled around the world searching for evidence of mysterious animals including Bigfoot, The Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, Flying Creatures and even Werewolves. Ken has authored three books on the unexplained and his research has been featured on the History Channel, Travel Channel, Syfy, National Geographic, A&E, truTV, Nat Geo Wild, Science Channel and Destination America. He is a regular guest on Coast to Coast AM. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Strange Saga of the Minnesota Iceman Chapter 2: Ape Men in the Americas Chapter 3: Werewolves and other Cryptid Carnivores Chapter 4: Sea Monsters Chapter 5: Enormous Eagles Chapter 6: Dragons in Modern Times’ Chapter 7: Massive Amphibians Chapter 8: Creepy Crawlies Chapter 9: Phantoms, Fairies and Mermaids
I received an email this week in which I was asked, “How did you get interested in all this cryptozoological stuff?” It got me to thinking, always a dangerous thing, and I realized that I have really not discussed that here on the blog. I figure now is as good a time as any to do so. I split my time growing up between the Piney Woods of what I consider true East Texas and the Golden Triangle areas of Southeast Texas. I clearly remember seeing the Patterson-Gimlin footage in a movie theater in San Augustine as a young boy. This would have been around 1972-73. I was absolutely mesmerized by what I saw on that big screen. I turned to my grandmother, who had brought my brothers and me to the show, and asked, “Maw Maw, is that real?” She simply replied, “Well, that’s what they are saying.” From that point on, the idea of giant hair-covered bipedal apes roaming the woods was never too far from my mind. I read every bigfoot book in the school library and then branched out to books about other ‘monsters’ like the yeti and Nessie. I wore those books out. It was not unusual to see my name three, four, five or more times in a row on the card of the books before any other name appeared. I remember my 3rd grade teacher making me check out books on something different from time to time so I would be “a well rounded young man.” My formative years really were something of a golden age for the “big three” of cryptozoology. Despite only being able to receive the three major television networks (no Fox, no cable, not even the local PBS affiliate) there was no shortage of monster related programming. There were specials at least twice a year that documented the search for bigfoot, the yeti and Nessie such as ‘The Mysterious Monsters,’ narrated by Peter Graves. Weekly programs like Leonard Nimoy’s ‘In Search of…’ and fictional dramas like ‘Kolchak: The Nightstalker’ only fed the fire of interest I had in the subject. One of the big moments of my childhood came when Colonel Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man himself, battled a sasquatch in primetime. Saturday morning serials also got in on the act. ‘The Secrets of Isis,’ starring Andrea Thomas had an episode called ‘Bigfoot.’ The kings of Saturday mornings in the 1970’s, Sid and Marty Krofft, produced a serial called ‘Bigfoot and Wildboy’ that was shown weekly on ‘The Krofft Super Show’ and later became its own weekly series. Whether it was the more serious documentary type of program or the campy Saturday morning fare made little difference to me. I ate it all up in equal measure. As I got older, I began to hear more and more of what most would consider campfire stories. I heard tales of the rougarou from an old Cajun man who, along with a bunch of his friends, had coffee every morning at a local drug store. When I was in the fourth grade, my family moved to Silsbee, Texas. Tales of Ol’ Mossyback, the Wildman of the Big Thicket and Village Creek were regularly discussed in a most serious fashion while eating lunch outside under a large pine tree. I could go on but you get the idea. My interests in the topic never went away but other things, mainly athletics, cars and girls, replaced cryptids atop my priority list. I was a decent basketball player and had the opportunity to play for a small Central Texas university. I still live in the area and this is the region where I first heard the tales of the Converse Werewolf, the Beast of Bear Creek, the Hairy Man of Round Rock and the Wildwoman of the Navidad among others. I found it fascinating that tales of these bipedal creatures were not limited only to East Texas. Soon I was engulfed by the daily grind and family responsibilities that marriage, kids and a full time job bring. There was little time to pursue my interests in this particular area other than watching a bad cable special from time to time. Then one night I attended a Legacy Outfitters meeting. Legacy Outfitters is a Christian outdoors group made up of hunting, fishing, hiking and camping enthusiasts. Most chapters have a monthly meeting where the members get together, share a meal and hear a speaker who talks on some outdoor related topic. On this night, Daryl Colyer, then a member of the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy, was the speaker. He told us some amazing stories, showed us a few plaster castings of footprints and even played some pretty impressive audio. He presented the topic in a professional and scientific manner. To say my interest was rekindled would be an understatement. Following the meeting, a friend and I decided to go out and look around for this creature. We picked our search area by looking at the Texas Counties that had the most sightings. We chose a spot on the Montgomery/Walker County line in the Sam Houston National Forest. We made several trips and then caught lightning in a bottle. I won’t recount the entire story at this time (you can read the official report here) but, to summarize, we saw a very large, upright, hirsute, bipedal creature on a forest service road at approximately 3:15 a.m. in May of 2005. We were in the middle of nowhere and, in our minds anyway, felt the chances of what we saw having been a hoaxer in some sort of ape suit at that time and in that location were extremely low. I felt then, and still feel to this day, that what we encountered that night was the real deal. The experience, though brief, changed the course of my life. I joined the TBRC soon after (now a member of the North American Wood Ape Conservancy or NAWAC). Daryl Colyer, the man I heard speak at the Legacy Outfitters meeting has become one of my closest friends and someone with whom I have shared many an adventure. I have seen and heard some very interesting things over these last eight or nine years. About six years ago, I decided to start writing the Texas Cryptid Hunter blog. There was, and still is, so much garbage out on the internet regarding topics of a cryptozoological nature that I felt a voice of reason was badly needed. I do not pretend to be an expert on any of this but do feel I have brought a measured, level-headed and logical point of view to the topics of wood apes, black panthers, chupacabras and such. I wasn’t sure about the name for the blog initially. I couldn’t decide if it was silly or not but, for better or worse, it stuck and here we are today. Well, that’s the story of how I got into all of this and began writing the blog. It may be more information than you ever wanted to know but that is ok. I decided to make this post not only because I was asked the question, but to show that I was a normal person going about the business of life when I had my encounter. I was an unextraordinary person who had an extraordinary experience. My story really isn’t much different than that of a lot of folks out there. I’ve come to realize that a lot of folks, more than most realize, have some kind of story that relates to my interest in this topic. I’ve heard countless statements like, “Well, I’ve never seen anything but my grandfather once saw…” or “I’ve never seen anything weird but there was this one time while I was hunting when…” Most people don’t talk a lot about such things but the stories are out there. Mine is just one of them.
Regular competition is over, and we have our three finalists for the 2019 Miss Cryptid Contest! In this special roundup episode, we find out who won week 3 of the Miss Cryptid Contest, and review each of the finalists. You’ll hear the segment for each winner once again as a refresher. Then you can go to the polls one more time to decide who will emerge victorious as the 2019 Champion! Head over to the Home Page to cast your vote and don’t forget to enter to win a prize pack! This year’s pack will include lots of Blurry Photos swag and fun stuff, including a Golden Goatman Trophy (replica). It also has a Cryptid Crate from our friend Derek Hayes over at Monsters Among Us! One lucky runner-up will also receive a T Shirt, and a Miss Congealniality will receive some stickers and buttons. You’ll only have a week to cast your vote, so hop to it! Good luck to the contestants, and may the worst cryptid win!
January’s feature cryptid is the Yeti. Abominable Snowman is the old term. It was the first westernized name used for these Bigfoot-type creatures that are said to live throughout the Nepal and Tibet region of the Himalayan Mountains. The more precise term is Yeti. Lieutenant Colonel S. K. Howard-Bury was the first Westerner who claimed to have seen the Yeti in 1921. According to him, the Sherpas said the nearby footprints belonged to metoh-kangmi. Kang-mi means snow creature. Metoh is not a correct translation. It should have been met-teh, which translates “man-sized.” A newspaper reporter then changed metoh to metch, which means “abominable” and the new nickname—metch-kangmi or abominable snowman—was born. Yeti means: “That There Thing.” There are three different sizes and types of Yeti. - Dzu-teh Yeti or “Big Thing” is animal-like. Quadruped and biped, it’s shoulders slope down to a powerful chest. Three times the size of a barefooted man, the animal now identified as the Himalayan Brown bear, has clawed footprints that double on top of one another, giving the illusion of a large single print. - Meh-teh Yeti or “Man-sized Thing” is stocky and ape-like in shape with arms like anthropoid apes which reach down to their knees. The shape of the head is conical with a pointed crown. It has no tail. - Teh-lma Yeti or “Little Thing.” This is the smallest of all the Yeti’s, they have hunched shoulders and a pointy head that slopes back from the forehead, and it’s facial features are more human-like than the other two. The-lma has been found in the tropical valleys of Nepal and Sikkim in the Himalayas. There is so much more to say about the Yeti. This is only a fraction of the information out there. Check out Mysterious Universe if you’d like to read more. They have several great articles by some well-researched cryptozoologists.
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Exploring the Darker Side of America… Strange Highways: A guidebook to American mysteries & The Unexplained font type is bad – too small & there was something squirrely about it comprehension level is moderate to confusing has quite a few black & white photos scattered through it This book was a real disappointment to me. There was something about the manner and style of the content that didn’t set right with me. I will concede that I’m probably not the best person to make a review on this book. I’m not particularly interested in the cryptid field of phantoms and beasties, I only bought the book because the stories are mostly based in the southern USA and I thought it was supposed to tell of wee nature folk encounters. Mr. Coleman told of one momentary gnome sighting that he & his sister had when they were children. I managed to read a good portion of this book. If there was more wee nature folk tales I totally missed them. I had a hard time reading that awful font style and I mainly lost interest in trying to wade through the big foot, phantom and strange beast encounters and his odd narratives and commentaries… well, I thought some of them were odd… I have to wonder, if monstrous beasties and phantoms are sooo prevalent in our woodlands then why in the world doesn’t he set himself up a camp site and stay out there until he brings one of them bad-boys home… Not doing extensive research for longer than a day or a week is one of the parts about ‘most all’ of the so-called experts in the preternatural fields that drives-me-nuts… Anyway… to be fair… Strange Highways by Jerry D. Coleman is probably a really a good book to anyone who’s interested in the cryptid/phantom field. For better more thorough reviews here’s a link to the book listed on Amazon.com. It has a many reviews by folks who go in depth with their comments about the aspects and stories. Almost all the reviewers thought it was a really good book: Strange Highways by Jerry D. Coleman
WELCOME to 1st – 15th February 2020’s edition of Howlin’ at the Moon. Updated every day, if possible. (Chronologically, the posts begin at the bottom of the page): Time is of the essence so let’s get as many people as possible sending messages to the party leaders. Please help spread the word by sending this link to your friends and sharing now on Twitter and Facebook. Personally I think this shiny-trousered wet dream should be cancelled altogether and everyone who has had anything to do with promoting it be made to move from wherever they are and made to cough up what this insane and murderous scheme has cost so far and use the money for causes that are genuinely beneficial to these Isles. Phoenix Probe International The Longest Running Paranormal Conference In The UK The Specials – Ghost Town (Official Music Video)….. Mark Windows – The Global Agenda Behind the Stop5G Hijack….. Breaking Your Will….. The Perils of Fairy Passion- sex & power….. What forced Meghan and Harry to do a royal runner?….. A fractured Royal family: Germaine Greer’s prediction comes true….. Prince Harry’s official biographer reveals impact of Diana’s tragic death….. Brief Comment On The Chinese Coronavirus….. Game of drones: the aviation revolution….. Jonathan Pie’s HARD BREXIT….. ‘Fairy Friends’ Oppose Scottish Fish Farm….. Mystery deepens over 42 oddly buried skeletons found on UK farm….. When Iceland Defeated Britain: The Cod Wars (Short Animated Documentary)….. Has the Royal Navy enough ships….. Earth Grids and Ley Lines \| The Invisible Super-Science of the Megalith Builders….. A conference dedicated purely to the mysterious British Cryptids, Bigfoot, Lake monsters, Werewolves, Fairies, Owl Man, Alien Big Cats, Dragons, Wodewose, Kelpie and more. Four of Britiains top Cryptid researchers and authors lecture on different subjects. Uffington White Horse DRONE 2018 4K….. True Fairy Stories? Nineteenth-century Irish fairylore….. Do you dare enter a fairy ring? The mythical mushroom portals of the supernatural….. Couple Convert Van For Full Time Living And Travel in Australia….. Pokin’ ’round Cliveden….. The numbers guiding DAVID ICKE….. In Search of Holy Wells & Healing Springs….. Secret Sources: Friends Or Foes?….. So, Prince Harry has got himself engaged to a woman who was born on his great-grandmother‘s 81st birthday. 4th August is a precession-related date – the 216th day of the year for both of them, and St. Perpetua’s Day, you might remember. 2160 years being the length of an Astrological Age. …and the double Ms come into play again. Meghan Markle is also a distant cousin of both Harry and the Queen Mother…and Diana. Is this a big move on the part of the Priory of Sion? Anyway, I wish the couple well, and let’s hope they can do a whole lot better for the planet and all of its inhabitants than their forebears ever did. Why the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot Film Should Concern Scholars of Human Origins….. The Comet that Sparked a Worldwide Flood ‘Myth’….. The Giants of Ancient Albion & the Legendary Founding of Prehistoric Britain….. Awakening the Sacred Artist Within….. Mairi Mac Innes – Ysbryd Y Gael (This Feeling Inside)….. Dragon sites 2….. Human-animal hybrid cave paintings from lost civilization discovered (PHOTOS)….. British Cryptids conference…..
Fun Fact: Hunter says, “I’m actually a big Real Housewives fan!” SR: What’s your new book about? HS: Creature revolves around a couple, Kate and Andrew, struggling with Kate’s debilitating illnesses. Her quality of life is rapidly deteriorating. Andrew as a caregiver is doing the best he can, but he’s running out of hope. After Kate receives a powerful new treatment, Andrew takes the summer off from work and rents their dream cabin by a lake in Maine. It’s a perfect place to heal and relax, but nothing goes as planned. Strange sounds in the woods and rocks being thrown at the cottage are the harbingers of worse things to come. SR: Was there a specific issue or incident that really motivated you to write this particular story? What was the prompt? HS: This is a very autobiographical book for me. My wife suffers from a host of autoimmune diseases that had made our lives, at times, a living hell. When Flame Tree Press approached me about writing a book for their premier horror line, I wanted to draw on our experiences, weaving real life with palpable horror. Readers seem to really feel Kate’s real terror and are equally scared of what’s circling the cottage. SR: What’s the scariest experience you’ve ever had? HS: The scariest and worst night of my life was back in the mid-1990s. My wife had been in the hospital for a few months and wasn’t getting better. One night, the doctor came in and told me she would most likely not make it through the night. They asked if we’d like a priest to come in and administer last rites. I was literally numb, along with sad, mad, confused and terrified. It was the longest night of my life. The good news is, she DID NOT die that night and is still by my side twenty years later. SR: Your protagonist has to flee the country. Where are they headed to and why that location? HS: I think Kate would look for someplace that is filled with life. I’m thinking the streets of Barcelona. She’s been sick and shut in for so long, she craves for the beauty and fun of life. She would love to walk down Las Ramblas, tour the architecture and revel in the nightlife. SR: Is your protagonist more likely to go insane or end up in prison? HS: Kate could certainly go insane. Dealing with chronic pain and illness takes as much a toll on the mind as it does the body. Not to mention, some of the medications to treat these things can also play tricks with your mind. For Andrew, I’m thinking prison. He’s filled with so much rage at what’s happening to his wife, if he stopped his punishing running routines, he would eventually lash out at the wrong person and find himself in some serious trouble. SR: What’s your protagonist’s greatest fear? Why? HS: Andrew’s is quite simple – Kate dying. She’s the center of his universe and he can’t imagine life without her. For Kate, the exact same thing, namely because she doesn’t want to hurt her husband by not being around for him. SR: Is there something you hope the reader carries away with them after they’re done reading? An insight or philosophy that you wanted to come through in your work? HS: I wanted to give readers a glimpse into real life with autoimmune diseases. It’s a very real horror that is largely misinterpreted and misunderstood. The constant swirling of emotions is as real as the brute pain and fatigue. But I also wanted to show that people with these diseases deeply love and live everyday. Oh, and dream cottages in the woods are not always what they seem. ☺ SR: If hell was watching one movie over and over and over again, or listening to one song over and over again, what would the movie or song be for you? For your protagonist? HS: I have seen so many bad movies, it’s so hard to pick just one that would be my vision of hell. I think Tom Cruise’s horrendous version of The Mummy might do my soul in. I hated that one so much, it made me furious. How dare they destroy my beloved Universal monsters? Music wise, definitely Call Me Maybe. That’s an ear worm of a song that needs to be exterminated. SR: What’s the first book you remember reading that had a huge impact on you? How did that story affect you? How do you think it shaped your desire to be a writer? HS: The first ‘big people’ book I read as a kid was, not shockingly, Stephen King’s Night Shift. I absorbed those stories like a sponge. I was already a huge horror movie fan, but that book solidified me as a lifelong horror reader. As a horror writer, I don’t think you could have a better inspiration than King. An entire generation of horror creators owe their careers to that man. SR: What’s the best thing about writing? HS: Just being able to settle into your made up world and do literally anything you want with it. I love tucking myself away and hearing the sound of my fingers tapping on the keys of my computer. In a world where we are constantly bombarded by sounds and images and a million distractions, writing is forced quiet and reflection time. It’s very meditative and quite relaxing…at least until you have to write action sequences and it can be an adrenaline rush. SR: What’s the worst thing about writing? Is there a worst thing? HS: There’s always a moment when you think to yourself, “This book is crap. I can’t believe I just spent all this time writing utter garbage!” Working past that feeling is both the worst and best. I enjoy the whole process of writing, from the first draft to editing round number ten. SR: What detail in your writing do you obsess over the most? Character names? Locations? Description? Dialogue? Research? HS: It’s all about the characters. If you can’t make compelling, relatable characters, its game over. You can craft the perfect location, the scariest monster of all time, the most terrifying plot twists. But if you don’t have characters that readers cheer or jeer, all is lost. SR: What movie or TV world do you wish you could live in? Why? HS: Oh, I would desperately want to be the third wheel to Mulder and Scully in the X-Files. Give me a gun, cell phone and access to a monster a week and I’d be in heaven, even though said monsters would try to kill me. I’d be happy to be Scully’s sounding board and shoulder to cry on. 😉 SR: Everyone needs an outlet to help them recharge. What hobbies do you have outside of writing? HS: If I’m not writing, I’m reading. My TBR and current read pile next to me is a dozen books, with so many more locked and loaded on my Kindle. I also love going to the movies. The Alamo Drafthouse theater by my house is a godsend. Beer and movies is the perfect combo. SR: You strike it rich. What charity are you going to create or support? HS: I’m going to buy a huge motor home and travel the country distributing books and teaching people the importance of literacy. If you look at people in history that have made a lasting impact, they were all voracious readers. Their love of the written word and curiosity fueled them to change the world. In a day and age where attention spans are dwindling, we need to reconnect with books and deep learning. SR: Do you have any special events coming up? Where can people catch up with you in person or on a podcast? HS: I’ll be bopping all over the place on blogs and podcasts and live events in support of Creature. Stay tuned by visiting me at www.huntershea.com to follow everything. Hunter Shea talks about his trust author assistants, Iris and Salem, here. Hunter Shea is the author of over 20 books, with a specialization in cryptozoological horror that includes The Jersey Devil, The Dover Demon, Loch Ness Revenge and many others. His novel, The Montauk Monster, was named one of the best reads of the summer by Publishers Weekly. A trip to the International Cryptozoology Museum will find several of his cryptid books among the fascinating displays.
Should we concerned that his memory has perhaps been affected by the “trauma” of that night? Former Obama national security staffer Ben Rhodes took a shot at the US policy of supporting Saudi Arabia in the ongoing civil war in Yemen: Important point. There is literally no reason for the US to support a policy that has failed to achieve any objective and is risking millions with famine – no one is even mounting a credible argument for this inhumane approach so there is no reason for congress to take a pass https://t.co/IFk4gBjwUQ — Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) December 13, 2018 You created this problem. YOU! — Ryan B. Leslie (@RyanBLeslie) December 13, 2018 This is pretty damning. Let’s help Saudi Arabia destroy Yemen so they aren’t pissed we’re negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran. You think Chris Hayes will tell the story how we got here or just that Trump/Saudi destroyed Yemen. pic.twitter.com/g2Ozv484Ac — Drew Hawk (@WeGotOneBich) December 13, 2018 Come on, man. You really think so little of everyone they don't know or remember the admin you worked for started us involvement? — the cryptid (@thecryptode) December 13, 2018
(Toggle Theme) (Size Up) (Size Down) Chapter 5: The Ninth Comet "Seems clear she wasn't getting on well with her classmates." The Aya I met that day was a totally different person from the Aya I'd met before. Before, she was always sleepy and bedheaded, so I saw all of her bad side. But in proper makeup and an ironed white shirt, she was no less charming than her sister. She probably knew full well that she was capable of presenting herself in a charming way, I supposed. No doubt, that excellent ability was fostered by the sense of inferiority her sister instilled in her. "But I dunno anything beyond that," Aya shrugged. "Yui suddenly took to skipping class in the summer, her third year of middle school. But she hasn't offered me any explanation for it. Not to friends, or to teachers, or to family. When our parents ask what happened at school, it's always "Nothing." Maybe decently smart kids just have a habit of taking all their problems on themselves, and not being able to rely on others." "Yes, she never was the type who itched to tell others about her troubles." "Right. So sorry, Yocchan, but I don't think you can be much help. I doubt our parents know any more than me, either." Aya had a much friendlier attitude than previous meetings. One reason was probably that she was sleep-deprived then, but maybe her personality also depended on whether she'd put on makeup or not. When you have confidence in yourself, you can afford to be nice to others. I had a reason for coming to visit Aya again. While tailing Hajikano every night, I noticed many little actions and behaviors which overlapped with the Hajikano of the past. While she seemed so different on the surface, I could see how fundamental aspects of her hadn't changed so much since back then. And as my conviction of that grew, a doubt also grew in my mind. Was Hajikano's despair something caused by the birthmark alone? No matter what, I couldn't see her as a person who would go as far as suicide over a single blemish. Because this was the same Hajikano who had been the only one to accept my birthmark back in elementary school. Can someone's nature change that much in a year and a half? Or maybe it was as simple as being able to accept it on someone else's face, but not on her own? Perhaps her despair had some deeper reason behind it. We might have been so fixated on the visible as to overlook what was really important. Maybe, in that half-year gap between the birthmark appearing and her starting to skip school, some significant event happened to her? If my theory, that her despair was rooted in something other than the birthmark, were correct, the first step to knowing the truth would be getting closer to Hajikano's heart. So I first came to talk to Aya, the person closest to her. "If you really want to know, you'll probably just have to ask her classmates directly," Aya suddenly spoke after a long silence. "There's probably at least one girl at your school who came from Mitsuba Middle School, right? Maybe she'd know why Yui got like that." "I was considering that, too. But it's summer break, so everyone is all scattered." "Then patrol someplace where you'd expect there to be people." "I suppose... Just as you say, Miss Aya. I'll go around places where people gather. And I'll visit the school too, just to be sure. Maybe I can ask students doing club activities." "I'd love to help and all, but..." She folded her arms and bit her lip. "I've got plans to meet some friends from high school today..." Aya stopped there and looked over my shoulder. I looked back and saw a blue car stopped in the street with a surfboard on the roof carrier and the hazard lights on. The car was a horribly old make, the hood was mostly sunburnt white, and the engine made a strange rattling noise. The driver's door opened, and out came a man about the same age as Aya. He was only a little taller than me, but he was lightly tanned and muscular, emphasized by his tight shirt. Wearing a cheap necklace and sunglasses like the compound eyes of an insect, he walked over to Aya, sandals clopping against the ground. "Hey," he waved. Then, acting as if he only just noticed, he looked toward me and asked, "Who's this guy?" "Friend of my sister's," Aya answered. "So what are you here for?" "Didn't I say I'd come pick you up, Aya?" The man took off his sunglasses and made a shocked face. "Promised to come by at 1 today." "And didn't I later say I'd gotten other plans?" "Is that right? Well, I do in fact have plans to meet some friends from high school today. I can't spare the time for you." While the man stood there at a loss, his mouth half-open, Aya said "Oh yes," as if she'd thought of a brilliant plan. "See, this guy needs to go around town to get information. Masafumi, you help him out. You've got all day, don't you?" "Me?", Masafumi balked, his voice cracking. "If you don't want to, that's fine." His shoulders drooped. "Okay, I'll do it," he weakly replied. The man's name was Masafumi Totsuka. A 23-year-old college graduate who was in the same class with Aya. He seemed to have a thing for her, but she denied his every approach. He'd only just taken up surfing and still had trouble getting on the waves. "Hey, how do ya think I could get Aya to get friendly?", Masafumi asked, my circumstances clearly the furthest thing from his mind right now. "You're in good with her, right?" "No. We've only just met." "But she seemed real fond of you. Ain't she?" "You just happened to see it that way. When we first met, she thought I was her sister's stalker." "But you're something like that, right?" "I won't deny it." "Then we've got something in common," Masafumi remarked with deep feeling. "Both getting tossed around by a Hajikano." The car radio was tuned to a local station, playing pop songs. Afterward, there was a very brief news report. It said this summer would be the biggest scorcher in twenty years. Apparently, by July 13th, the rainy season had come to a close all across the country. In contrast to that report, the AC in the car was keeping us awfully cold, and I kept rubbing my arms to warm up. When I got out at my first destination, the high school, my body which had forgotten it was summer was assaulted by the heat, and within minutes, I was sweating like mad. I went around the school, and whenever I found students who looked like first-years, I haphazardly asked them about it. The school was surprisingly full of students even on summer break, and their activities were highly varied. Tennis players in a sweaty room, getting really into board games. Baseball players in the courtyard, dealing with the swarms of bugs. Couples in the library paying no mind to those around them, touching and getting looks. Art students who spent so long sketching outdoors, they were more tanned than the sports players. Girls in an empty classroom with the curtains shut, talking amongst each other. A guy in the music club who passed out from a lack of oxygen being put on a stretcher. I asked about twenty students in total, but not one of them was from Mitsuba Middle School. "That fancy girls' school, right?", a boy said. "Nobody would ever willingly come from a place like that to here. You're looking in the wrong place." It was just as he said. I left the school and returned to the car. Masafumi was reclining in his seat and reading a film magazine. When I told him I'd had no results, he snorted indifferently, tossed the magazine to the back seat, and started the engine. Masafumi said he was hungry and stopped in front of a ramen place. I didn't feel especially hungry, but I reluctantly went with him. Many flies flew about the shop, and the ramen they served tasted like instant noodles, just with more oil. Masafumi ordered ramen for two and cleaned it up in no time. After eating, he requested that I explain the situation to him again. I abridged the details, telling him I was looking into the reason why my former good friend Hajikano had stopped attending class. "Why're you going around investigating what you could ask her yourself?", he puzzled. "Is there a point in being all roundabout?" "It's an iffy issue," I answered. "Some roads might look like the fastest and most straightforward on the map, but they turn out to be the most roundabout." "I dunno what the problem is, but I'd just ask her directly." "I'd agree," interjected the shop owner over the counter. "Girls love to talk, right? If they see you wanna listen, they'll tell you more than you even asked." "I wonder about that," the owner's wife refuted. "I'd say everyone has a thing or two they can't let anyone know, wouldn't you?" "Not me," the owner mumbled. "Oh, really?", she asked doubtfully. "I'd thought you had plenty." After leaving the shop, we visited places like the desolate shopping district and the plaza by the shore one after another. After questioning some students stuffing their cheeks with cup ramen in the parking lot on the roof of the supermarket, my vitality finally ran out. Let's call it a day, I thought. Ultimately, I'd gotten no useful information at all. I'd anticipated this, but much less than a student from Mitsuba Middle School, I didn't even find anyone who knew one. How many students from that prestigious school could there possibly be in Minagisa, anyway? After all, I didn't know a single person from there except Hajikano. "Guess that was a waste of time," Masafumi said from the driver's seat. "I'm sorry. Thanks for helping today." "Sure. You better let Aya know I was helpful, yeah?" Just as I thought we were going back the way we'd come, the car slowed down in the bar district. I looked at Masafumi suspiciously. "Let's take a detour. You've walked around all day, a little stop won't hurt." And with that, he brought me into a bar. Poking at mackerel while Masafumi drank sake next to me, I slurped soba noodles with entirely-too-thick broth. It was my first time in a bar, and I worried about my high school self being there, but they seemed to have no qualms as long as I didn't drink any alcohol. But also, how did Masafumi intend to get home after this? Would he leave the car here, or spend the night in the car, or sure enough, try to drive drunk? Whatever his intention, as his passenger, it was naturally on my mind. After some time, Masafumi left me and walked around the restaurant to chat with some people who looked like regular customers. I half-watched the TV in the corner of the bar. It was some special on ghosts. Hearing voices at night in the abandoned school building, the kind of story you hear everywhere. I put my elbow on the counter and started to nod off when Masafumi came back to me with somebody. He was an intellectual-looking man with glasses holding a highball glass in his hand. "Hey, you, you better thank me," said Masafumi, clearly drunk and red down to the neck. "This guy's little sister's from Mitsuba Middle School." "Hello," said the bespectacled man with a smirk. "Was there something you wanted to ask a graduate of Mitsuba?" "Yes, that's right," I replied. "But specifically, I'm looking for anyone who graduated Mitsuba last year..." The man's lips raised into a grin. "That's my sister exactly." I parted with Masafumi there. He collapsed in the driver's seat, said "I'm just gonna rest here," and waved at me haphazardly. I went walking for about 20 minutes with the man in glasses, Yadomura, and arrived at his house. He went to call for his sister, then came back a few minutes later alone. "It seems she hasn't come home yet," he told me apologetically. "I'll bet she's gone to the woods." "Woods?", I repeated. "You mean the ones by the coast?" "Right. I think she's there looking for ghosts." I definitely hadn't misheard that; Yadomura said "ghosts." But touching on the subject of ghosts no further, he gave me very simple instructions on how to get to where he believed his sister was. I resolutely asked, "Um, what's that about ghosts?", and Yadomura answered with an ambiguous smile, "If you're curious, you can ask her yourself." After walking down the path between the rice fields, I found the entrance to the woods. The woods at night were something you never got used to with any number of visits. Especially if it was summer. Naturally, without any artificial light sources, only a tiny bit of moonlight came through the thick branches and leaves, and unending mysterious noises from all directions made you uneasy. It was honestly hard to believe that a student from a prestigious girls' school had gone in here. Following the path, I found an open area that served as a crossroads. According to Yadomura, his sister should have been there. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw a small girl sitting on a bench formed from a stump. She wasn't moving a muscle, so momentarily I thought she was part of the stump. "Good evening," I said to her, unable to see her face. "Your brother told me about this place. I've been looking for a student from Mitsuba to ask them something." After some time, a reply came from the darkness. "Then your journey is over. Good job." "Do you know a girl named Yui Hajikano?" "Yui Hajikano...", she repeated, as if to get a handle on the sound of it. "Yes, I know her. The girl with the birthmark on her face?" "Right, there's a big birthmark on the left side," I confirmed, resisting the urge to jump with joy. "I'd like to ask some things about her -" She interrupted me. "That's all I know. We didn't particularly mingle, and we were in different classes, so I know nothing about Miss Hajikano. From seeing her in photos and my yearbook, I remembered her name for her distinctive birthmark, but I've never once spoken with her." I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice as much as I could, but Yadomura's sister picked up on it easily. "I'm sorry. I would love to introduce you to an acquaintance, but I'm poor at socializing, so I don't have any such person to send you to." "No, it's fine," I said as cheerfully as I could muster. "Actually, I'm more interested in hearing about this ghost thing." After a pause, she spoke bitterly. "Did my brother mention that?" "Yeah. You're searching for ghosts here, aren't you?" "...I don't honestly believe in them, necessarily," she said as if pouting. "And it doesn't have to be ghosts, either. A UFO, some ESP, a cryptid, anything would do. Essentially, I'm waiting to find a fissure in the world." I pondered her words. I reasoned that those could be reworded as "things which go beyond human understanding." "Say, mister," she said to me - I wonder if she misunderstood me to be her elder. "I do understand, you know, that the things people call ghosts are just illusions their brain shows them. But even if it's an illusion or a hallucination, I don't even care. If I can witness just one thing that exists outside the laws of reality, I think it would serve to give just a little bit of meaning to my life." Then she went silent as if to think for a moment. My eyes finally adjusting to the light, I could see her now. She was a doll-like girl, whose long hair going down to her waist gave an impression of being somewhat heavy. "...In other words. If even just once, you saw the toys in the toybox get up at night and start talking, wouldn't that change the meaning of every toy you ever saw afterward? That's the kind of revolution I'm awaiting." She went on explaining her reason for looking for ghosts using various such examples for nearly twenty minutes. And once she reached what seemed like her conclusion, she suddenly fell silent like running out of battery, and muttered something. "I've talked too much." She sounded like she wanted to fade away. If it weren't so dark, I'm sure I would've clearly seen her blushing. "It was very interesting," I told her, not actually being sarcastic at all. Her voice grew even weaker. "I usually have no one to talk to, so when I have the chance, I talk too much. When I get home, I'll have a serious reflection session." "I know how you feel." "Lies. Surely you couldn't understand. You seem like you have many friends." I smiled bitterly, mentally muttering to myself "definitely not." In elementary school, I had made that kind of mistake again and again with Hajikano. After spending long breaks on my own and then going back to school, once I was able to talk to Hajikano there, I would keep talking about things she never asked about, and always felt depressed afterward. What an embarrassing loser I am, I chided, and every time I vowed to be a more quiet person. "Hey, mister," the girl asked as I left. "Do you think I'll meet a ghost?" "You'll be fine," I turned back and answered. "The world is overflowing with more intriguing phenomena than you think. I can guarantee that. In the process of looking for ghosts, you might encounter something even more bizarre." "...Thank you. If you say so, I'll keep at it a little longer." She smiled, or so I think. "It's getting late, so be careful," I told her, and left the woods. As I walked the road back, I saw a number of green lights shimmering near an agricultural irrigation channel. If there was any blinking light smoother than a firefly's, I didn't know it. No ornamental light could turn on and turn off so naturally. I stood there and gazed at the dreamlike spectacle of faint green, never tiring of it. I'd failed to mention it to Yadomura's sister, but to tell the truth, I also had experience passing by the coast in search of something, though it wasn't ghosts. It began with a strange occurrence at the beach. It was in the summer, and I was seven. I'd come with a friend to the beach and was walking along the waves barefoot as usual. At the time, I liked stepping on the flattened sand after the waves retreated, so I spent as long as I could doing it as long as nobody stopped me. My friend, meanwhile, got tired of this simple game quickly and began to seek new excitement. He rolled his pants up to his knees and began walking toward the open sea. Not thinking deeply about it, I followed behind him. "Want to see how far you can go?", he said. "Even if we get wet, we'll dry off before we get home in this weather." "Sounds fun," I agreed. We threw the sandals in our hands onto the shore, and took careful steps into the ocean. The weather was mind-numbingly clear. The sand was all dried up, the ocean gleamed white, and far in the horizon were clouds shaped just like the wave in The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. Once the water got up to my chest, my feet became unsteady. Even if I could get my soles flat on the ground, every push and pull of the waves seemed like it might pry them away. We should have turned back right there, but not yet having learned to fear the sea, we optimistically thought that if things got really bad, we could retrace our steps. The moment came suddenly. The seafloor took a steep downturn, and my legs were swept up. By the time I realized the danger, it was too late; my body was being dragged into the open sea. I tried to hold on with my tiptoes and return toward shore, but my body was only carried in the opposite direction of what I wanted. By the time the water rose to my mouth, my mind was blank with fear. I tried to swim back, but whenever I stopped to catch my breath, I took in water, and became increasingly panicked. I was aware that when you were going to drown at sea, you should float face-up and wait for help, but that knowledge went off who knows where when I was actually drowning. Unable to find my way whatsoever, I struggled in the water, only worsening the situation. It came up to the point of thinking that I didn't have enough breath left to survive. When all of a sudden, a hand grabbed my wrist. And it pulled me with incredible force. Of course, I'm sure I was only imagining it in my fear, and had really only been caught in some seaweed or something. But personally, I couldn't make a calm judgement like that at the time. Certain that someone was trying to drag me out toward the open sea, I shuddered. But I didn't even have the strength left to pry away that hand. For the first time in my life, I was cognizant of death. Strangely, as soon as I started to become aware of it, my feelings of fear and regret weakened. Only a deep resignation remained. I felt I now had a true understanding of the word "unrecoverable." I wanted to know who was grabbing my wrist, and tried to grab theirs in return. But there was nothing there. Without me realizing it, the hand grabbing my wrist had gone. Just then, my fingers touched ground. I slowly stood up, and found myself in the shallows where the water didn't even reach my waist. I could hear seagulls. My friend was calling my name in the distance. My fear earlier seemed like it had never been; there was only a tranquil summer day. I stood there a while, staring at the wrist which something had been holding earlier. A delayed fear welled up in me. My pulse throbbed, my body shook. I rushed up to the shore, fell on the dry sand, and waited for the chills to recede. The next day, I came to this conclusion about the miraculous event that happened at the beach. On that day, I was saved by a mermaid. Ever since then, I came to watch the sea every day. I probably thought that if I did, I would someday meet the mermaid who had saved me. Or else, maybe I couldn't forget the intense thrill of having such a close brush with death and coming back alive. I'd completely forgotten what seven-year-old me was thinking about. Day after day I went to the beach, but naturally, no mermaid ever showed up. Gradually, my initial objective dwindled in importance, I forgot about the mermaid, and I was left with only the habit of going to the beach. Yes, I'd completely forgotten - but the reason I went to the beach whenever I could spare the time had its origin in a search for a mermaid. The next day, I met Chigusa in the plaza outside the station. I'd promised to accompany her for her rehearsal for the Minagisa summer festival. When Chigusa appeared at the meeting place, despite it being the middle of summer break, she was diligently obeying the school's stupid rule of wearing your uniform when you go outside during the break. Minagisa was limited in terms of shops and facilities where you could sit and relax, and more than half of them were packed with students on vacation, so we reluctantly set up camp in the supermarket. In one corner, some high school boys were arm wrestling each other with juice on the line, and in the other, two high school girls were eating ice cream and complaining about their spineless boyfriends. While I listened closely to Chigusa's melodic voice, I pondered what would be an appropriate place to get information next. A place where there were lots of graduates of Mitsuba Middle School. The first and most obvious candidate was Mitsuba High School. Mitsuba was basically a middle school and high school in one, and the vast majority of graduates went on to Mitsuba High. If I went there, I was sure to meet someone who knew Hajikano. If you're wondering why I didn't ask there in the first place, you'd be right to wonder, but it was just so far away. The reason Hajikano went to Mitsuba Middle School was because she'd moved to the house of her grandmother on her mother's side. It was over an hour away from Minagisa by train. As such, I would've wanted to settle things here if I could, but it wasn't looking likely. Seems like I'll be going tomorrow morning to ask around Mitsuba High, I thought. The problem was, it might seem a tad suspicious if I were to go down to that high-class girls' school by myself. Since so many people came to see the Mitsuba girl "brand," Mitsuba High was particularly harsh on outsiders, with guards always watching the front gate. A boy from another school would be the number one target to watch out for. "...Ever since then, the girl broke all contact with both human and mermaid, quietly staying on the seafloor, occasionally recalling the past and weeping." Chigusa looked up from the script. "...The end. Fukamachi, were you listening?" "Yeah, of course," I insisted, and applauded her to cover up my inattention. "I got really sucked into it. I'm amazed. You could just go up on stage right now without a problem." "Thank you very much," Chigusa laughed, shaking her shoulders. "But compliment me more, please." "It's not flattery when I say you have a prettier voice than anyone in the radio club." "I suppose I feel rather elated." "That's good." I smiled wryly. "By the way, don't you need to practice the song too?" "I am practicing. And though I am, I will not let people hear it yet. And I have no intention of letting them hear until the performance." Chigusa lowered her head. "Because it's embarrassing," she quietly murmured. After reading through the script three times, we decided to take a break. I bought juice from a vending machine, and on returning to the table, four men with bright hair and gaudy outfits were laughing next to us. "Let's switch locations," I said, and Chigusa nodded. I snuck a glance at her face. The look she was giving the men was terrifyingly cold. I felt uneasy wondering what she would think if she knew I used to be one of those people. Surely she would give the same cold glance to me, wouldn't she? We finished up practice and took a stroll down a path by a river. I casually looked over to the other shore of the sparkling river. There, I saw children walking on a hill made silhouettes by the backlight of the sunset, and wires connecting steel pylons painted a distorted musical score in the sky. Suddenly, a plan came to mind. I came to a stop and ceremoniously said, "Hey, Ogiue." "Yes?" Chigusa turned around forcefully, showing me a broad smile. "What is it?" "Is it okay if I ask you something sort of weird?" "Ask me something?" Chigusa awkwardly averted her eyes from me, staring at the ends of the hair draped over her chest. "Yes, of course." "To tell the truth, I have an earnest request of you." "Huh...?" Chigusa's back straightened and her face stiffened. "A request?" "Only if you have the time, I mean." "I do," she replied before asking anything about the time. "Thanks. See, tomorrow, I'm planning to go to Mitsuba High. I want you to come with me." "Mitsuba High?" Chigusa looked to find this totally unexpected. "Err, of course, I can accompany you... but what kind of business do you have there?" I summarized the situation for her. My classmate Yui Hajikano being my friend in grade school. How she seemed to be mentally taxed right now (of course, I didn't mention the suicide attempt). The cause of that not being certain. And how a middle school classmate of Hajikano's might possibly know something about it. "I understand," Chigusa nodded. "Not a deplorable objective, then." "I went looking around Minagisa yesterday, but only found a single graduate from Mitsuba Middle School. Probably no choice but to go to Mitsuba High then, right?" "However, you're wrong about that," Chigusa said with a serious look. "What do you mean?", I asked. "I mean that there's no need for you to go all the way out to Mitsuba High, Fukamachi," she answered. "For you see, the girl standing before you now was indeed a graduate of Mitsuba Middle School. What's more, she was in the same class as Hajikano in her third year." Now that she was telling me this, I realized it wasn't that strange. In fact, I should have tried asking her first thing. If there was anyone I knew at Minagisa High that struck me as being Mitsuba-esque, it would be none other than Chigusa Ogiue. "Well, Ogiue, do you know why Hajikano ended up -" "I may know that," she interrupted, speaking like it wasn't of interest. "However, whether I will tell you is a different story." Ignoring my response, Chigusa firmly made her position clear. "After all, Hajikano wouldn't even say it in front of her own parents, would she? I simply can't go blabbering about a secret she wanted to conceal to that extent." "You're absolutely right, Ogiue," I said after a few beats. "But given that, this is what I'm thinking. Maybe that secret in itself is a heavy burden for Hajikano. What if the pain of having to bear it herself and tell no one is the very thing putting pressure on her? Because in that case, I have to know." "...This may be a slightly rude way of asking it, but." The tone of Chigusa's voice dropped. "Why do you feel you must go that far for her, Fukamachi?" "She helped me, a long time ago. I want to repay the favor." Chigusa hung her head and thought for a while. "Understood," she raised her head to say. "However, you absolutely must not tell anyone else. If possible, act like you don't know even in front of her." "I understand. Thanks." "And also..." Chigusa's tenseness eased up into a grin. "In exchange, I will ask a request of you, too." "I haven't decided what it is yet. I will think about it," she said with a good mood. Tall sunflowers planted in a field cast thick shadows on the road from the western sun. The blackened heads of the sunflowers all facing west looked like countless giant eyeballs. Sunflowers chase after the sun in the process of growth. By the time the flowers open, they stop moving; by the time they produce seeds, they bend down as if bowing. After running around without principle seeking light, in the end they just stare at their feet and wilt. Feels like an allegory - so I think every time I see sunflowers. Chigusa began to speak slowly, choosing her words. "I may have spoken somewhat arrogantly, but in truth, the information I have is rather meager. All our classmates would say the same if you asked them. I believe they all know only as much as I do." I nodded and urged her to go on. "You may be aware already, but that birthmark of Hajikano's appeared suddenly in the winter of her second year of middle school. At first, it was as small as a speck. However, it grew by the day, enlarging to its current size in less than a month. Hajikano herself acted as if the birthmark did not bother her, but the change had an impact on the people around her in many ways. For those who felt pity for Hajikano, there were also those who laughed and said it served her right, and some simply lamented the loss of one of her beauties. But on the whole, I believe people were mostly sympathetic." Here, Chigusa took a break. "Fukamachi, perhaps you're wondering if the appearance of that birthmark resulted in bullying at an all-girls school?" "...Did it not?" She shook her head. "At least until July of next year, Hajikano got on more or less the same as she did beforehand. Until then, Hajikano had such a perfect appearance - though this was no fault of her own - that she had a certain unapproachable nature. But perhaps mitigated by the birthmark, she was liked more by her classmates than before. To my knowledge, Hajikano was never bullied." From the way Chigusa was speaking, I could tell her effort to not sound authoritarian. It was like she was trying to tell me objective facts about Hajikano from as much of an "official standpoint" as possible. She probably felt a bit guilty talking about her when she wasn't around. "Now then," she said to introduce the main topic. I braced myself for what awfulness might be coming. "I do not remember the exact dates, but it was definitely just before summer break, so I believe it was probably the middle of July of last year. Hajikano did not come to school for four days straight. When she did attend school again, I realized that this Hajikano was not the Hajikano from before." "Thus ends the story, " said Chigusa. "No one knows what happened in the span of those four days. In any event, what did happen in that short period changed everything about her. She didn't speak with her friends, she didn't make eye contact, and once summer break ended and the new term began, she had a habit of not coming to class. Soon various rumors and theories began to circulate, but ultimately, no conclusive facts that sound conclusive came to light." After finishing, Chigusa gave a little sigh and sent a sympathetic glance at me, no doubt looking at a loss. "My apologies, it seems I only confused you further. ...However, I believe that if you did go to Mitsuba High and asked around, this is still all you would come up with." "No, this is plenty. Thanks." I looked up to the sky. Not only had I not found a lead toward resolution, the mysteries had only deepened. For a long while afterward, we walked together in silence. I had my things to think about, and Chigusa seemed like she had Chigusa things to think about. When my thoughts finally found a place to land, Chigusa opened her mouth. "My house is around here, so..." Before I knew it, the smell of the tide was on the air. We'd come pretty close to the sea. "This is far enough. Thank you very much for today." Chigusa bowed her head deeply. "Come to think of it, we sure walked a long way," I said, reflecting on the way we came. "Aren't you tired, Ogiue?" "I am fine. I like to walk, you see." "I do, too. Thanks for today. I'll see you later." "Yes, sometime soon." Chigusa turned her back to me and walked away. But then, she soon stopped, turned, and called "Fukamachi." "Today, you did a very cruel thing to me. Did you realize?" "A cruel thing?", I repeated. Chigusa grinned wide. "It was a joke. Goodbye." At the time, I didn't think very deeply about what "cruel thing" I'd done to her. I decided it was a meaningless joke and forgot about it right away. If I were in a position to be more calm and objective, I probably could have easily figured out the meaning of it. But my head was filled with Hajikano, so I couldn't even afford to consider the possibility of someone showing me good will. Cruelty is less often something done consciously, and much more often done by unmindful people. I visited Masukawa Hotel again that night. For the past few days, I'd been taking an approach of not tailing Hajikano from her house, but lying in wait at the ruins. Even if there was a light rain, or it was windless and sweltering, her feet never carried her anywhere besides those ruins. Knowing that, there was no need to risk tailing her. I'd long since achieved my original objective of learning why she left the house night after night, to deepen my understanding of her. In essence, she liked watching the stars at the ruined hotel. It was futile to try and extract any more information out of her actions. And yet I'd continued tailing her, night after night. My first priority now should have been to learn what events took place in the "blank four days" Chigusa told me about. And indirect means such as asking around and tailing were insufficient. For it remained an incomprehensible mystery even to Chigusa, who was as close to Hajikano as anyone at the time. I couldn't think of any option but to ask her directly... Though conscious of that fact, most likely I was unable to take that plunge because I wanted to watch Hajikano look at the stars from the shadows forever. The next morning... I'd like to say, but in actuality, it was past noon. Because of my visits to the ruins, I'd picked up a nocturnal schedule of waking up at noon and sleeping in the early morning. I was woken up by the phone. The ringing sound in the silent house had a hollow feeling like the bell ringing at an elementary school on a day off. Leisurely making my way downstairs, not caring if I made it in time, I answered the call. It wasn't the voice of the woman I heard. "Hey, is this Fukamachi?" It was my teacher, Kasai. To put it nicely, it wasn't a comforting voice to hear just as I was waking up. I regretted not just ignoring it and continuing to sleep snugly. "Sorry to ask suddenly, but can you come to school right now?" Kasai's attitude was different from usual today. There was a sense of distance, like he'd taken a step back. Maybe it wasn't Kasai who had business with me, but someone else. "Understood," I replied drowsily. I wanted to ask why I was being called in, but Kasai's tone gave me the impression that he wouldn't take any questions from me. "I'll head there as soon as I'm ready." "Right. Bye then." The call ended. I took a shower, put on my uniform, had a breakfast of salmon slices and wakame miso soup while listening to the radio, and left the house with minimum luggage. The forecast seemed to call for another midsummer day, and piercing sunlight burned my skin. The faculty room at Minagisa High seemed to be conserving energy even in this heat, so the non-air-conditioned room was just as hot as outside. The staff faced their desks with emaciated looks, and the plants by the windowsill were the only lively things in sight. Kasai was waiting for me outside the room. Sure enough, he took me to see another faculty member. The one who called for me was Endou, the guidance counselor. He had a striking appearance - a giant body tanned black and a shaven head - that earned him many nicknames among the students, but nobody would say them in front of the man himself. Not only would Endou get irritated by the most minor of things, he was dreadfully threatening; once every few days, he would berate students who came late and make them get on their knees to apologize, or shout at girls whose skirts were a little too short and make them cry. You probably need one such person at a school, I feel, but he was someone you'd definitely want to avoid if you could help it. Kasai went back to his desk, and Endou looked at me like looking at an inanimate object. Though the conversation took its time starting, asking any questions was strictly off-limits. Teachers like this hated students speaking up independently more than anything. "Yosuke Fukamachi," Endou mechanically read, glancing at the papers on his desk. Then he turned his chair around, re-faced me, and spoke threateningly. "What were you doing out late last night?" This wasn't my first time being questioned by an oppressive teacher. I was called to the faculty room dozens of times in middle school, so Endou's attitude could feel nostalgic to me, even. I could tell he was preparing to shout at me. Maybe he even had definite proof ready for it. Endou must have called me in to condemn me breaking into the ruins, I supposed. Was it getting around that a high school student was sneaking in there every night? "I was taking a walk outside," I first replied. Lying wasn't a good plan, but it wasn't wise to reveal myself before knowing how much information he had. "You're aware that by law, young boys aren't allowed to go out past 11 without supervision, aren't you?" "Then why did you think to take a walk?" I wanted to say "could there any answer to that besides "I wanted to take a walk"?", but I swallowed it in my throat. I had no choice but to hang my head and stay silent. Endou broke the silence earlier than expected. "But let's put that issue aside for now. Here's the real question. Do you know of the ruined hotel at the foot of the mountain?" "Do you mean Masukawa Hotel?" "Right. Last night, there was a fire there." A cold sensation ran down my spine for an instant. Yet thinking back on everything I'd witnessed last night, from Hajikano visiting the ruins to me leaving, I sighed with relief. Most likely, whatever Endou was talking about happened after we left the ruins. "By fire, I don't mean a very big one," he continued. "But it was one step away from escalating into a mountain fire." "So in short," I interjected, wanting to move this along. "You're suspecting that I might be the culprit?" Endou glared at me with annoyance. "There was a report this morning. At the time of the fire, a student saw a young man walking from the window of their house. By chance, they also knew that person to be Yosuke Fukamachi. And that's why you've been called here. ...So I'll ask you again. What were you doing last night?" I hesitated to reply. First off, I wanted to avoid bringing up Hajikano at all costs. Any suspicious slip-ups, I would take responsibility for; I didn't want to get Hajikano involved in it too. But if I said "I went to the ruins to see the stars," would Endou believe me? No doubt about it, it would only deepen his suspicion. Endou tapped the desk with his fist to hurry me up as I wondered if I had any decent escape routes. "What's wrong? Why can't you explain yourself? Something you can't tell me?" At times like this, you had to restrict yourself to one lie. From experience, telling two or more lies just made it that much easier to dig a hole for yourself. And if I could use only one lie, I would want to use it to hide the fact that Hajikano was on the scene. Just as I started to say "Yes, last night, I...", someone interrupted from out of the blue. "He went with me to see the stars." Endou and I looked toward the source of the voice simultaneously. The first thing to leap out to me was a dark blue birthmark covering half her face. Come to think of it, it was my first time seeing her birthmark in clear daylight. "I believe the arson occurred after we left," Hajikano said calmly. "You should be able to know if you look a little further into the witness report and the time of the fire." The question of why Hajikano was here was answered by a B4-size manila envelope under her arm. She was probably called here by Kasai to pick up assignments and handouts from the days she was absent. Hajikano in uniform was probably a familiar sight for Kasai, but totally new to my eyes. It should have been just a common, unremarkable sailor outfit, but when she wore it, it escalated her to something otherworldly. Like the way a skilled player can totally change the meaning of an instrument. Endou glared at the location of her birthmark, then all around her body, then brought his attention back to the birthmark. I snuck a glance at the side of her face without the birthmark. That crying mole was still there. It was too small to determine if it was a real mole or not. "Your name?" As if asserting that he was in charge here, Endou picked up a pen and opened a wrinkled notebook. "First-year, I see. Class?" "Yui Hajikano. Class 1-3, the same as him." Endou paused and pondered with the pen for a while, but not seeming to know the kanji for "Hajikano," settled for writing it in katakana. "Another law-breaker, then," he snorted and closed the notebook. "So what were you there for?" "I went to see the stars," Hajikano answered without timidity. "There's little light interference there, so it's ideal for viewing them." "You like stars?" "More than other things." "Was there any interesting movement last night?", he asked as if testing her. She thought briefly. "From about 1 to 2 AM, I saw a meteor shower. I believe about thirty meteors went by in an hour." "Oho. Anything else?" "It seems that maybe there wasn't only one meteor shower. As there were two or three radiant points." "There's no maybe about it. It was Aquarius's Delta and Iota showers and Capricorn's Alpha shower," said Endou nonchalantly. "To get more specific, Delta and Iota are split up into north and south showers. So NDA, SDA, NIA, SIA. Their radiant points are close together, so it's hard to distinguish, but they're separate alright. The majority's SDA, though," he rattled off like it was nothing. "If you like stars, you oughta learn this stuff." I unconsciously looked at the two's faces. Neither had any expression, but I felt the hostility between them had settled. "Guess it's not likely you're lying about going to see the stars." With that, he turned back to his desk as if losing interest in us and waved to shoo us away. It looked like he wasn't going to chastise us for being out late, either. I left the faculty room with Hajikano in bewilderment. From behind, we heard Endou say "Perseid is coming soon, so don't miss it!" Meteor showers. So that's the reason Hajikano had been lying face-up last night. But I didn't notice a single shooting star. Since there was something more worth looking at than the night sky. Once we left the room, before anything else, I thanked Hajikano. "You saved me." Without looking at me, Hajikano began to walk. Normally, I would have gotten nervous at this point, but her having just saved me from a predicament gave me a push. "So you noticed I was tailing you. Why didn't you say anything?" Hajikano stopped and opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately thought better of it and resumed walking. "I feel bad about following you in secret. It's not unreasonable that you'd be upset. But I've been worried since the incident in the park. Wondering if you'll try anything funny again." If I was giving her such blatant excuses, it probably would've been better to be honest and say something like "I like your singing, so I kept following you wanting to hear it again." But I was focused only on clearing up misunderstandings and showing my good intentions, postponing the things I really wanted to say. If it were possible, I wanted to explain to her the reason my birthmark had disappeared. Since fourth grade, I was strongly drawn to you. I always thought that if I just didn't have this birthmark, you would turn to face me. And one day, a mysterious woman called me and proposed as The Little Mermaid-style bet. I could have my birthmark removed, but if I couldn't form a mutual relationship with you, I would turn to foam... Sigh. Is there anyone who would believe such a preposterous story? Even if she did believe it, depending on how she interpreted it, she might get the impression I made myself a hostage to force her to like me. From her point of view, it was "You have to love me or I'll die." I didn't want to do something that equated to pointing a knife at my throat and demanding her love. So I said nothing more, and just kept walking alongside Hajikano. Hajikano looked toward me and let out a deep sigh. And as if running out of patience, she finally opened her mouth. "...I know you're thinking of my sake deep down, Yosuke." She went quiet after that, and took time choosing her next words. I kept my mouth shut, patiently waiting for them. "So I want to tell you my feelings as honestly as I can." She looked at me head-on and spoke. "Don't care about me anymore. It's an annoyance." Hajikano turned her back to me and ran. I quickly grabbed her hand and asked the last question I had in store. "I heard from a graduate of Mitsuba Middle School about your middle school days." Our faces were so close, I saw Hajikano's pupils dilate. "What happened to you in those blank four days last summer?" It was a risky gamble. Generally, I would have wanted to ask this question carefully, after slowly easing up her heart and removing all the obstacles I could. Getting right to the heart of the matter at this point might not only not get me an answer, but make her even more wary. But it seemed I was running out of options. In any event, the question seemed to shake her. There was probably no other time I could talk about it. Ultimately, that question resulted in her showing me her first emotion-like emotion. In the worst way, however. "...Why won't you just leave me alone?" After two or three blinks trying to keep it in, a spilling teardrop fell down her cheek. Right afterward, the dam burst and tear after tear fell. She turned away to hide her face from me, wiping her cheeks with her palm repeatedly. She herself seemed bewildered by the tears. I was filled with guilt at the sight of it. I felt like I'd become an unbelievable villain. As much as I struggled, maybe all I could do was hurt her. So I thought. Hajikano left like she was escaping, and I didn't go after her. Hajikano realized that I was thinking of her deep down. She lied to keep me from being falsely accused. I'd clearly determined that the Yui Hajikano I'd loved still lived on in her now. She looked me head-on and did her best to be honest. And then she rejected me. What more could I do? Had I been a little more calm, maybe I wouldn't have missed the sight of Hajikano's crying mole blurring from her tears. Maybe I would have noticed that the mole drawn in erasable marker had vanished after she wiped her face. But it wasn't to be. I couldn't look directly at her as she cried. If I looked at her face for more than five seconds, I feel like I would've gone crazy. I was so thrown off, the mole was pushed completely out of mind. Kasai called to me as I stood there in the hallway. He came out of the faculty room, saw me, and beckoned back inside with a quiet "Fukamachi." As I stood in front of his desk with a hollow expression, Kasai spoke. "First, I need to apologize for something. I checked up on you and Hajikano's relationship in grade school." He bowed his head to me. "Seems you were good friends after all, just like you said. Sorry for doubting you." I shook my head apathetically. "In your shoes, I think I would've been just as suspicious of me." He took a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe the sweat on his brow, then put it back. He pursed his lips, took a breath, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair. "I've been cautiously watching you these past three weeks. Without any real basis, I was waiting for you to slip up and show your true colors sometime. And I came to this conclusion - at least these days, you're not the kind of guy people would have a strong grudge against. ...So then, now I'm getting less and less sure. Why did Hajikano say she didn't want to be in the same school as you? Plus, say she did hate you more than she could bear. Then why did she step in with Endou and send you a lifeboat? Why did Hajikano come from Mitsuba to this school in the first place? There's too much that doesn't add up." He didn't seem to be seeking the answers to these questions from me. I could only nod back. "Of course, even if we solve those mysteries, it's too late. Fukamachi, I don't think for a second you're accountable, not anymore. In any event, this is a decided fact. I'll be telling everyone after summer break, but I'll tell you in advance." "What are you talking about?" "Hajikano's withdrawing from Minagisa First High," Kasai sighed. According to Kasai, Hajikano had been in the faculty room today to fill out the forms so she could withdraw. Her mother had been there too until just before I arrived. After the last discussion and as they were about to say goodbye is when I arrived. Kasai left his seat to take me to Endou, and Hajikano sat there waiting for him to return. After he did and they had their talk, she was about to leave when she noticed me being questioned by Endou, and after some hesitation, came to my aid. I thanked Kasai and left, then spent a long time wandering the school without an aim, then left. Under the deep blue post-sunset sky, everything looked pale. In my mind, Hajikano's crying face surfaced and vanished. Each time, I felt my spirit slowly but surely being grinded down. The more I tried to go after her, the further away she seemed to get. And as a matter of fact, she had chosen to go far away. Though her destination wasn't clear, it was somewhere out of my reach. How does it feel to vanish into foam? I pictured it. It probably doesn't hurt. Your existence just becomes something thin and uncertain, gradually dissolving in the waves. I felt like there could be no more suitable way to die for a person in the depths of despair over lost love. At this point, of course, it wasn't as if I could realistically visualize my death. That wouldn't be until half a month later, when I personally witnessed a person vanishing into foam. I didn't feel like going straight home, so I passed by my house. My feet naturally brought me someplace lively. Past the shuttered street, on a long quiet hill lined with bars and snacks, my aimless wandering brought me to a most unexpected reunion. While gazing at paper lanterns illuminating the stores red and gaudy signs, I thought I heard someone call my name. But I looked all around and saw no one, much less the source of the voice. Just as I determined it to be a misheard remark from inside one of the stores, I heard my name shouted more clearly. I looked up and met eyes with someone looking down from the second-floor veranda of a bar. Hinohara said "Wait there" and went back inside. A few seconds later, the upstairs light went out. I sat on the curb and waited for him to come down. Yuuya Hinohara was a friend of mine in middle school. On the night of our graduation, when the job-getters and high-school-goers had a four-on-three fight, he was one of them. Like me, he was proceeding to high school. Hinohara went to Minagisa South High School, a somewhat less reputable school than Minagisa First High, but he seemingly applied there simply because he had no real preference for where he went. Though far too intelligent to even begin comparing him to me, he didn't aim for Minagisa First High because he only cared to attend a high school that was within walking distance. Maybe I'm not really one to talk, but Hinohara was a strange guy. Though his test scores were generally below average, he shocked everyone around him by ending up with around 90% in all his classes. It goes without saying that he was suspected of foul play, but by the latter half of his second year, the teachers had recognized the sheer strength of his dormant abilities. Such a waste, they said in unison. If he took his studies seriously, he could be at the top of the class. Hinohara, a man with no interest in improving his grades and showing his academic prowess, told me only once about his reason for only rarely taking things seriously. "I want everyone to get a taste of the irrational," he said in a low, echoing voice. "I want them to know full well that there's someone who can learn in three days what they spent a month on." "Is that meant to be an enlightenment of sorts?", I asked. "You could say that. Basically... Once upon a time, there was a woman who thought herself to be beautiful, with average intelligence. One day, she met a woman so perfectly beautiful she couldn't even compare herself to her, and was so shocked she wanted to go around smashing all the world's mirrors. What do you think the woman did then?" "Had the beauty eat a poison apple." "Dumbass," he snorted. "Obviously she'd start to work on more than just looks, right? Because she'd been shown there was a competitor she could never beat fair and square. So that's the kind of enlightenment I try to give to students." He was a man who could say that with a straight face. By process of elimination, Hinohara would probably be the person I was closest to in middle school. Both he and I had no interest in hanging out with healthy sorts, but that certainly didn't mean we felt at home with delinquents either. Wherever we were, we felt the discomfort of being in the wrong place. Just naturally, it made us get together often. The tacit agreement between us was "I won't seek anything from you, so you don't seek anything from me." We formed a bond to make it through middle school days full of tedium and irrationality, and were in fact glad that we could think of each other as merely "convenient friends." "Sorry to keep you." I heard Hinohara, then saw him descend down old steel steps along the wall of the building. He was dressed light - faded T-shirt, cut-off jeans, black beach sandals. He came up to me and playfully tapped my chest with his fist. "Been a long time. You been doing well?" "Averagely." I grabbed his fist and pushed it back. "What's with your face? Where'd the birthmark go? Got surgery or what?" "It went away naturally. Seems like Mongolian spots go away as you grow." He folded his arms and twisted his neck. "What a shame. I think I liked it better before. There was something amazing about that birthmark, let's say." "Thanks. But I'm living a normal high school life now, so I don't need "amazingness."" "A normal life? You?", Hinohara asked with suspecting eyes. "Yeah, normal. Since April, I haven't punched a single person, and nobody's punched me. Haven't even been drinking in the gym storeroom or smoking on the emergency stairs. It's a peaceful high school life, nothing awry." Of course, it was only "normal" if you omitted the many circumstances surrounding the bet. But there was no point giving a thorough explanation of all that to Hinohara. All it'd come to is him thinking it was an intricate joke. "Our Yosuke Fukamachi, enjoying high school like a normal person..." Hinohara seemed deeply impressed. "What about you, Hinohara? Same as ever?" "How should I explain it?", he said, scrunching up his face. "Well, I'd like you to know the significance of me explaining it, too. Seeing as you're wandering around here at this hour, I assume you've got the time?" Hinohara started walking without waiting for a reply. Without thinking much about it, I followed. Hinohara led me to a parking lot for a public housing district surrounded by a tall fence. He didn't say this was our destination and seemed to be using it as a shortcut, so I had my guard down. I heard low voices from the corner of the lot, but students being out here at night wasn't uncommon at all in this town, so I paid it no mind. By the time I realized who they were, it was too late. Hinohara pushed me from behind in front of them. The four squatting and talking all looked at me at once, and smiled maliciously. "These guys were pretty insistent about bringing you here," Hinohara laughed dryly. "Didn't think you'd show up for me. Saved me the effort." I scratched the back of my neck, and tried to remember the names of those faces I hadn't seen in some time... From left to to right, it was Inui, Nogiyama, Mitake, and Harue. They were the four getting jobs in the big fight on graduation day. I was aware they had a grudge because of that day. In spring, it seemed they would occasionally call me or lie in wait outside my house, but I was hospitalized the whole time, so I ended up not seeing them. Four months had passed by now, so I figured their anger had settled. But I guess I'd underestimated their deep-seated grudge. It would've made sense if Hinohara was also their target, but this time he seemed to be on their side. I wondered if he was told that he'd be spared if he turned me in. Hinohara was the kind of person to readily sell a friend to save his own hide. He was selfish - or just that cold, maybe. "Haven't seen you since graduation, huh?", spoke the tallest man, Nogiyama. "Sounds like you were in the hospital 'til recently." "Yep, I had an accident the night of graduation, after I left. So I had a pretty long spring break." Nogiyama laughed, and the other three followed. Seems like the power dynamic between these four hasn't changed, I thought. Just like in middle school, Nogiyama assumed clear superiority over the other three. "You know what's gonna happen next?", Nogiyama asked. "Couldn't say. Maybe the six of us can go drinking to let bygones be bygones?" Again, Nogiyama laughed, and the three imitated. Hinohara looked on emotionlessly, but I doubted he had even the slightest intention of coming to my aid. He was that kind of guy. I was on my own to handle this problem. Nogiyama took a metal bat from one of his henchmen, and after a few test swings, he drew near me and pushed it to my jaw. "Must've been glad to have that long break, huh? I was glad to hear you were in the hospital myself. 'Cause if my friends are happy, I'm happy. ...So here's what I'm thinking. How 'bout we extend your summer break, too?" Nogiyama gave a self-satisfied grin, and the three cackled. I re-evaluated the situation. One against four. Depending on Hinohara's mood, one against five. One of them has a metal bat. I couldn't imagine any chance of victory. It was probably best to swallow my pride and run, but they were already closing the distance, driving me into the corner of the parking lot. I'd just have to prepare for the worst, I thought. Resist as much as I could manage, and leave it up to luck - Just then, it happened. I couldn't see her because of the men standing in my way, but I didn't need any further confirmation of who had spoken. Nogiyama slowly turned around. I felt a chill run down my spine. Chigusa, dressed in uniform, was looking at me anxiously. Why was Chigusa out at this hour? I ran through my thoughts. And I remembered Chigusa saying we had an appointment today for the Minagisa summer festival. Talk about poor timing. "I see," Nogiyama said as if having a realization. He was sharp enough to immediately tell the relationship between us. Nogiyama turned back to me and smiled, a completely face-contorting smile. Like he was just so pleased about what was going to happen. The situation had changed. There was no time to hesitate. Any action would have to be as quick as possible. While Chigusa's appearance has them distracted and unprepared - this was the only chance I had. Just as Nogiyama instructed to the other three "Hey, get her over here," I went on the attack. Aiming for the moment he turned back to me, I landed a blow square on his nose. Stepping on his wrist after he fell backward, I pried away the bat, flipped it around, and thrust it right into his solar plexus. Already holding his nose with both hands and writhing, this kept him from moving any further. Hearing Nogiyama wail, the three headed for Chigusa finally noticed the commotion behind them. They rushed over and tried to jump me, but I kept them at bay with the bat, then making another forceful blow with it on Nogiyama's shin. He let out a yell of anguish. I felt bad for him, but the theory for a one-against-many fight like this called for an overwhelming beatdown of the group's leader. By creating a situational difference between the head and the followers, you could set them up as onlookers. So I could show no discretion. Suddenly looking up, I saw Chigusa standing there expressionless. "What are you doing? Get away from there!", I told her, and she nodded, but didn't move from that spot. Maybe she wanted to move, but couldn't. As a last performance, I kicked Nogiyama in the side, then threw the bat down in front of the three rendered immobile from panic. It made a loud sound as it hit the asphalt. After seeing no one go to pick it up, I squatted down, took a deep breath, and looked up. "Would you let me call it here for today?" I put on a smile that looked flattering, but had a hint of cockiness. Of course, it was just a bluff. If the three attacked me all at once, there was nothing I could do. "If you're just not satisfied, beat me with that bat until you feel better. Then we can call it a draw." The three looked at each other. Then they looked at curled-up Nogiyama writhing in pain. Two of them picked him up, and with a glare at me, they left in silence. In the end, only Hinohara remained. "So, what about you?", I asked him, scratching the back of my neck. "Nothing, really," he shrugged. "I was just told to bring you here. Man, though, that was quite a show. Always liked that resoluteness of yours." Then Hinohara glanced at Chigusa. She was still frozen in the same stance as when I called to her. He walked up to her, said "Sorry you got involved in something weird," and walked off in a different direction from Nogiyama's crew. Maybe the reason those three backed off so easily could be owed to the lingering chance of Hinohara coming to my aid, I realized. Once he was out of sight, I sat down on the spot with relief and closed my eyes. Such luck. That everything went so smoothly could be nothing but a miracle. If there were a next time, it certainly wouldn't play out this way again. When I opened my eyes, Chigusa was looking down at me. Her eyes didn't have any emotion in them. Like she wasn't looking at me, but through me, at the design of the fence behind me "Who were those people?", she asked. "Friends from middle school," I replied, not untruthfully. "Middle school, you say. ...Come to think of it, I never did ask what school you came from, Fukamachi." "You can probably guess now." Strangely, I laughed. It was a dry laugh. The sensation of hitting Nogiyama still lingered in my fingers. I closed and opened my hand to get it away, but the impure exhilaration in my hands wouldn't fade easily. "Minagisa South Middle School. Just like the rumors say, it was a place full of good-for-nothings. Like me, and like those guys." Chigusa thought for a moment. "Occasionally, I heard of students from there assembling in ruins on the outskirts of town. Were those acquaintances of yours?" "Not just acquaintances. I was one of them." "Is that a fact," Chigusa said with no real surprise. "So you were a bad person, Fukamachi." "Yeah, that's it." I lifted the corners of my mouth. "No more questions?" "Correct," she nodded. Now Chigusa hates me too, I thought. I can't get my way out of this. Even if I did it to protect her, there was no mistaking it was a brazen act of violence. But in a sense, this was an outcome I wanted. I had a natural liking toward Chigusa Ogiue. It seemed to me that Chigusa had a similar kind of appreciation for me. Thus, I thought there was a need for her to start hating me. August 31st - which, come to think of it, was the last day of summer vacation. If I couldn't move Hajikano's heart by then, I would vanish into foam. If I, as a friend, were to suddenly be lost, Chigusa at least would be made sad. The deeper our relationship got, the more severe the pain promised to her would be. So before the time came to part, it was good to make myself hated. If by August 31st I could essentially exhaust Chigusa's good graces for me, then even when I turned to foam, she wouldn't be too torn up about it. Maybe she'd think something like "I should have been a little nicer to him," but it would sidestep any devastating wounds. I had been wondering how I could go about disappointing her. So depending on how you thought about it, you could say Nogiyama and his lackeys saved me effort. There was no clearer way to show my disgraces to Chigusa. I proved Yosuke Fukamachi to be a person who was involved with dubious sorts, who wouldn't be above violence if it came to it. Chigusa would no doubt scorn me for it. Thank goodness. I took a cigarette out of my pocket and lit it. I kept a puff in my lungs for a long time, then slowly exhaled. Chigusa watched the whole thing without moving an eyebrow. Once about two centimeters of the cigarette had been turned to ash, she broke the silence. "Come to think of it, I've yet to decide my "request."" I blinked. "Oh yeah, I did promise that." I misjudged you. Please, never talk to me again. Surely that was what she'd say, I thought. Chigusa suddenly smiled. "Please, make me a bad person." It was the night of July 31st. The cigarette fell out of my mouth to the asphalt, launching miniature fireworks. Chapter 6: The Place I Called From August 1st was a designated all-school attendance day at Minagisa First High. Arrive by 9 AM, get a long list of tasks from your teacher, then take a thirty-minute break. Then starting at 10, a talk from the principal in the gym. Once that was over and you got back to the classroom, then began the students' favorite: discussions for the culture festival. The class attractions, the assignment of duties, the time of your next meeting (if necessary) - it all had to be decided within the day. Depending on the class, talks could go right up to 7 PM, the school's ultimate closing time. Surprisingly enough, the principal's talk wrapped up in less than ten minutes. Retreating from the sweltering gym stuffy with every single student's warmth back to the classroom, as the room was filling with excitement to let the festival prep begin, I leaned over and talked to Chigusa in the seat beside me. "This could get long, so let's sneak away." Chigusa blinked a few times, then grinned. "Ten minutes, next to the gate," I whispered. Chigusa quickly prepared to leave, and altogether casually slipped out of the classroom. A few eyes gathered on her bold escape, but since she was so natural about it, the witnesses all seemed to rationalize it with various interpretations. One person harbored doubts: Nagahora in the seat in front. "Is she feeling sick? Ogiue never leaves early." "Maybe," I said ignorantly. "Or maybe it's simple sabotage." "No way." Nagahora laughed with a raised eyebrow. "That word couldn't fit anyone in this class less than Ogiue." "I guess that's true," I agreed, then grabbed my bag and stood up. "Whoa, don't tell me you're leaving early too?" "I'm feeling sick." Evading Nagahora's pursuit, I escaped the classroom. To avoid running into any staff, I went down the stairs to the hallway leading to the gym, put my indoor shoes in my shoebox, held my outdoor shoes in one hand, and took a detour to leave the school without passing in front of the faculty room. Though Chigusa left the classroom first, she arrived at the school gate after I did. The sight of her spotting me and jogging over gave me a feeling of wrongness I have no good way of describing. I couldn't tell what exactly it was. "I'm sorry I'm late," Chigusa said short of breath. We walked along together. We heard faint chatter and laughter from the open windows of the buildings. "This is the first time in my life I've left school in the middle of the day." "You come to class too many days to count anyway. Those who skip win." "You truly are bad, Fukamachi," Chigusa remarked, finding it too funny to bear. "So, where might we be headed to now?" "Who knows. I'm still thinking about it." "Then let us sit down somewhere and think it over together." We went into a nearby bus stop. It had a roof, so it was the perfect place to do some thinking while protected from the sunlight. A bus only came once every hour or two, so we wouldn't even be mistaken for passengers and cause drivers any trouble. The sheet iron walls had holes in places, and posters and tin signs for used car places and consumer loans were plastered all over them like a mosaic. Seeing Chigusa sit and stretch her legs, I finally realized what was amiss earlier. Her skirt was shorter than usual. That said, it was at most 15 centimeters above the knee, and plenty of girls at Minagisa First High wore skirts that length. But for Chigusa who essentially never deviated from the uniform, it was something unheard of. Until then, I had never thought deeply about the beauty of knees, and only classified them as thick or skinny. But when I saw Chigusa's knees, I had to recollect my thoughts. Knees, just like the eyes, the nose, and the mouth, could be a strongly defining body part. Just a few millimeters difference had such a massive change in impression, a delicate yet eloquent feature. And Chigusa's knees were more ideal than any I'd ever seen. Painting an elegant curve with no wrinkles, her knees brought to mind a carefully-cooked white porcelain vase. "Is that another way of "letting your parents down"?", I asked, looking at her knees. "Ah, so you noticed." Chigusa lifted her bag onto her lap to block my gaze. "That's right. I made it shorter. I feel somewhat restless." "It feels really fresh to see you dressed like that." "My apologies, they're so unsightly..." Still holding her bag, she bowed repeatedly like a pecking bird. "Have some confidence. You have such pretty legs, after all." "Do you think so...? Thank you very much." With her head still bowed, she thanked me ticklishly, but didn't budge the bag on her lap. "One day in my third year of middle school, I realized something. I was a mediocre person who could easily be replaced, like an extra in a picture." The night I was attacked by Nogiyama, after Hinohara left, Chigusa told me: "Please, make me a bad person." Convinced I would hear a rejection at that moment, it was completely unexpected. Stomping out the cigarette that fell from my gaping mouth, her words echoed in my mind. Make me a bad person? "Sorry, perhaps putting it that way is unclear." Chigusa averted her eyes and scratched her cheek. "I'll explain in the proper order. Though it may not come across very well..." Then she began to speak, bit by bit. In her third year of middle school, while taking a course on interviewing, she was astonished to realize she couldn't think of a single thing to describe herself as a person. She became aware for the first time that she'd just lived as her parents told her to, not making a single decision worth calling a decision. "In other words, I was an empty person," Chigusa said as if reading a sentence she'd already read. "I had no failures, but I had no successes either. I could serve in many people's place, but many people could take my place. I could be liked by anyone, but I could not be anyone's favorite. That was Chigusa Ogiue." She averted her eyes and smiled self-derisively. "Of course, that could apply to many people on some level. However, my mediocrity stood a head above the rest. When my friends spoke about their past experiences, I always felt uncomfortable, as if someone was sneering at me. On occasion, I even felt like I was being blamed. "You're lacking in experience in every sense, you don't have any way to describe yourself - such an empty person."" Perhaps remembering her pain, her words were slightly hoarse. "There were many people with nothing inside them all around me. Mitsuba Middle School, where I once attended, felt like a collection of samples of girls living tedious lives. People traveling down pre-laid rails without a single doubt, only deciding which car and which seat to sit in, convinced they were making crucial life decisions. That said, somehow they seemed to think of themselves as fairly individualistic people. To my eyes, it seemed as if they had made an agreement to forcibly characterize each other and put on an act of being rich with personality." Worried I would be bored by her long story, Chigusa kept glancing at my expression. I kept nodding to show interest and encourage her to continue. "I felt a faint coldness from such a relationship, and quickly changed my choice of high school. Perhaps something would change if I went there, I thought. Of course, my parents resisted, but I managed to coax them with assorted logic. That was my first time clearly defying my parents' will. My heart danced to have finally been able to take the first step in my own life. ...Yet, ultimately, even at Minagisa First High, the fundamental parts of me did not change. A commonplace cheery girl had simply changed into a commonplace mature girl." At this point, Chigusa looked up into my eyes. "So, Fukamachi. I want to stick outside the box. I don't believe there's any aspect in which I excel over others. So I at least want to do things to make people furrow their brows, to have teachers scold me, to disappoint my parents - to escape a pre-established harmony. Whatever filthy color it may be, I want to be a more genuine me. Will you assist me with that?" There was plenty of room for a rebuttal. For one, I'd never thought of Chigusa as a mediocre, commonplace person, and could offer up several ways she excelled over others. Most importantly, only a handful of truly unique individuals existed in the world, and she was making a mistake asking the far-more-mediocre me for assistance. But I gulped down the words as they came up my throat. This was the conclusion Chigusa herself had come to after plenty of thought. It wasn't an issue for me to speak on, having known her for less than a month. If Chigusa wanted to stick outside the box, then that was the right thing to do. Even if it was a mistake, a mistake done after careful consideration is worth about as much as the right thing. "Got it. I'll help," I agreed. "But what exactly should I do to make you a bad person?" Chigusa spoke after a decent pause. "I don't mind if it's only for the day. Tomorrow, could you treat me as if I were one of your middle school friends? I'd like to experience the unhealthy lifestyle you once lived with your friends." That would be fine, I thought. To tell the truth, I didn't want Chigusa to be a delinquent, and spending more time together would make it harder to part. But if it was just a day, that was nothing. I had plenty of time to make a recovery afterward. If that made her feel better, then why not? Just maybe, when we first met and she said "Wish for my freedom," this was what she meant. "Have you thought of something?", Chigusa asked, moving the bag on her lap to the side. I shook my head. "Delinquent things are hard to think up on the spot." "Then let's enforce some limits," she said, sticking up her index finger. "Did you ever slip away without permission with your friends in middle school?" "Do any such days stick out in your memory?" I searched my thoughts. "Come to think of it... Second year, in summer, I faked sick in fifth period to get out early. We got out at different times, and met up outside of school like today." Chigusa jumped on it. "Tell me more about that day, please." "We sneakily bought cigarettes from a vending machine, then had a party in Hinohara's room. Oh, Hinohara's the one guy who apologized to you last night, Ogiue. His house was a bar, so he had plenty of alcohol. We didn't really know how to drink at the time, so we just kept drinking without stopping. I remember both of us getting drunk in no time, and throwing up in the toilet together." "Wonderful. That sounds fun," she said with a smile, then seeming to have an idea. "Let us do that." "What do you mean?" "I mean, we should party at my house." "Are you being serious?" "Yes. It's all right. There should be alcohol at my house." Chigusa got up and leapt into the sun outside the bus stop. Then she turned and beckoned to me. "Let's go, Fukamachi." After going down a long, winding hill, the lake smell grew stronger. Chigusa's house was in an intricate residential district. I'd already had the thought when escorting her home yesterday, but it was a model semi-rich family's house. Made of brick, with a mowed lawn, a shined-up expensive car, a garage full of tools, and a porch lined with decorations in good taste. It was all above average, yet you could clearly see where the family was making compromises. That kind of house. Of course, there was no doubt it looked pretty wealthy compared to my place. Chigusa led me into the house through the back door. Built on an incline, the house had entrances on both the first and second floor. The second-floor entrance, facing a wide path, seemed to be used as the front door, whereas the first-floor, facing a thin path, was the uncommonly-used back door. It was the ideal design for Chigusa to sneak in without her family noticing. Not turning on the hallway lights, we proceeded down the hall with extreme care not to make any noise, my eyes on Chigusa's back. The reversed roles of first and second floors wasn't limited to the entrances; the living room and kitchen were on the second floor, with the bedrooms and nursery on the first. Though a relatively minor difference, I felt extremely restless, like I was driving backwards down a one-way road. After we entered Chigusa's room and she locked the door, I let out a deep sigh. The room was air-conditioned and comfortable. "Take a seat," she told me, so I sat in a chair in front of a coffee table. Starting with the chair and table, I noticed the room furniture had a matching dark brown color scheme. Maybe it was a little too calming for a sixteen-year-old girl's living space. Or maybe girls' rooms were just like this nowadays? "I've secretly brought a boy into the house," Chigusa said. "It would be dreadful if my parents found out." "I'll pray that won't happen." "Since what's more, it's former bad boy Fukamachi." "Just so I know, what would happen if we were found?" "Nothing, really. It would just be terribly awkward. Surely my father and mother would be unsure how to treat me, I suppose. Such a development wouldn't be so bad." "Well, maybe an excessively orderly family needs a little chaos." "Indeed. So you need not worry, Fukamachi." Chigusa opened a cabinet and took out two white cups, then three marine blue bottles from a lower drawer. The labels had a mermaid drawn on them, and "Mermaid Tears" written in pale white letters. A local drink that any citizen of Minagisa would know. "For some reason, my family frequently receives alcohol. But since no one drinks it, it only piles up. There are six more of the same in the kitchen. If you want them, go ahead." "Thanks, but I'll pass." We filled each other's cups, sat in front of the coffee table, and quietly gave a toast. After quickly downing her cup in one swig, Chigusa furrowed her brow and said "Strange flavor," but poured a second cup from the bottle. "Looking as pretty as it does, I had expected a cleaner flavor." "Yeah, it's surprisingly dry." I finished my cup too and poured a second. "So, how does it feel indulging in underage drinking?" The cup headed for Chigusa's mouth stopped at her chest, and she faintly smiled. "It's very thrilling." "...Ah, yes. Hold on a moment." Chigusa then opened the cabinet again and put a small glass bottle on the coffee table. "Use it as an ashtray. You smoke, do you not?" "Thanks. But it's not like I smoke that frequently. And your room would stink if I smoked in here..." "Please, smoke. I wish to try it, too." I took a pack from my bag, pulled out two cigarettes, and handed one to Chigusa. "Wakaba," Chigusa read from the packaging. "It's third-rate. Gross, but cheap." I held my lighter up in front of Chigusa, and she timidly held the filter and held it near the flame. "Suck in," I instructed, and the paper faintly lit red. After taking in the smoke, sure enough, Chigusa coughed. After hacking up a storm with tearful eyes, she glared scornfully at the cigarette in her fingers. Then she tried a second time, and this time slowly let out the smoke without coughing. I lit my own and we quietly smoked together. "I think I finally understand," said Chigusa as she imitated me in tapping the cigarette on the edge of the bottle to knock off ash. "What do you understand?" "This is the smell you sometimes have, Fukamachi." "Do I have that much of a nicotine smell?" I sniffed my shirt. Chigusa snickered. "No, it's really only a faint smell. Normally, one wouldn't notice it." After finishing our cigarettes, we again filled our cups. "You don't have to push yourself to drink a lot, okay?", I advised after seeing her down a third cup. "Right. But if I'm drinking, should I not try to get drunk at least once?" Then she poured a fourth cup. Brown cicadas buzzed outside the screen door. Due to the brightness outside, it felt dark and gloomy in the room. It was an August-esque, languid summer afternoon. Having aimless conversation, we leisurely continued to drink. Chigusa seemed to be a heavier drinker than appearances might have indicated. I tried to keep up with her pace, and soon felt my senses growing hazy. "What's the matter? Fukamachi, are you sleepy?", Chigusa asked in an oddly good mood, maybe because of the alcohol. Last time I checked, she was in front of me, but now she was beside me. Maybe I was the one who moved? The order of events in my memory was hazy. "Seems I'm a little drunk," I replied. "I may be as well. I'm oddly enjoying myself," Chigusa remarked without any slurring. "Fukamachi, Fukamachi. What typically happens when people get drunk?" "Depends on the person. Some people change completely, and some don't change at all. Some are merry drinkers, and some are sobbing drinkers. It's just different habits. Some start suddenly preaching, and some get nice beyond recognition. Some fall asleep comfortably, some get quick to fight, some get all touchy-feely..." "Well, that's me." Before I could respond, Chigusa collapsed on my shoulder like a puppet with cut strings. "What's this?", I asked, hiding my bewilderment. "My drinking habit," she replied, unable to fully conceal her embarrassment. "I'm feeling clingy." "Uh, Ogiue. You don't decide what kind of drunk you are for yourself." "It's all right. I'll apologize later." Being coaxed with incomprehensible logic, I lit up another cigarette to conceal my increasing temperature. "Fukamachi, are you the type that doesn't change when drunk?", she asked. "I dunno. I've drank too much and thrown up, but I've never gotten properly drunk before." "It's all right if you cry and shout. And I won't mind if you're touchy. ...Oh, but I would slightly dislike being preached to." "Seems like you're a talkative drunk, Ogiue," I joked. She rubbed her face on my shoulder with displeasure. Soon, my eyelids got heavy. Seems I'm a sleepy drunk, I thought distantly, and was swallowed by afternoon drowsiness. When I opened my eyes, the sun was going down, and the room had gotten pretty dark. The cups were dried up and let off a sharp smell. I had a rough feeling on my cheek. That quickly reminded me that I had fallen asleep in Chigusa's room. I quickly shot up, and heard a yelp at my ear. "G-Good morning," Chigusa awkwardly smiled. After four or five full thoughts, I realized what kind of situation I'd been in. Apparently, I had been sleeping using Chigusa's thighs as pillows. "Was I asleep?", I said rubbing my eyes, concealing how flustered I was. "You should have woken me up." Chigusa coughed quietly. "...I should just mention, you fell over into my lap." "I did?" I tried to recall falling asleep, but my memory seemed to cut off somewhere. "Sorry. Are your legs numb?" "It's all right. You're a lightweight, Fukamachi," Chigusa remarked with faint smile as I fumbled. "You're just too heavy a drinker, Ogiue." I looked up at the clock. It was 7:30 PM. Chigusa spoke with her gaze fixed on the glass bottle on the table. "Um, Fukamachi, I'm sorry about earlier." "No, I should be sorry." We bowed our heads to each other, then an unspeakable silence persisted. I tried to light a cigarette to fill it, but I reconsidered and put it in my pocket. "We should get some fresh air." "Yes, good. Let's do that," Chigusa agreed with a look that said "thank goodness." The residential district was brimming with assorted smells at night. Smells of dinner on the wind - fish, miso soup, meat and potato stew - and the smell of soap from a bathroom window stimulated my nose. Chigusa's walking beside me seemed unstable. Hardly tottering or anything, but she swung from side to side. "Were you perhaps drinking while I was asleep?", I asked. "I mean, you wouldn't wake up, Fukamachi." "I'm not blaming you. I'm impressed." "Is that right? Tell me if you get sleepy, lightweight Fukamachi," Chigusa said cockily. "Now, it's finally night. The ideal time for ne'er-do-wells. What badness do you wish to do?" "Don't get your hopes so high. I'm just a hoodlum." Walking without thinking about the destination, my legs seemed to carry me where they knew how. Without even realizing, I was headed down the road to the usual shopping district. Somehow, it felt like there were oddly many people headed in the same direction. Every time people passed us by, there were wafting smells of deodorant and bug repellent. "I wonder if there's a festival or some such?", Chigusa pondered. "Might be one at the shopping district. Yeah, I want to say they do one around this time every year." "While we're near, would you like to go see it?" "Sure. Can't think of anything else to do right now." We went with the crowds to the festival grounds. Though the shopping district was typically just deserted and vaguely creepy at nighttime, today it was brilliantly colored by tens or hundreds of paper lanterns. Stands lined both sides of the street, and many young people filled the area. "So there are more summer festivals in Minagisa than just the one," Chigusa remarked with wonder, gazing at the stands. "Yeah. Tons of people." I stood up tall and looked toward the back of the street. "But I'm sure the Minagisa summer festival gets many times more visitors than this." Chigusa sighed. "Now I'm getting nervous." Forgetting about doing badness for now, we went by all the stands from end to end. Yakisoba, sumiyaki, honeycomb toffee, sculpted candy, cotton candy, shaved ice, a string lottery, yo-yo fishing, a mask shop, superball fishing. Chigusa stopped at a goldfish scooping stand, and her eyes sparkled at the goldfish swimming around the white tank. A small child was squatting in front of the fish tank, glaring seriously at the goldfish. When he stuck the poi scooper into the tank, it made a ripple that scattered the koaka fish. The sight of the red shapes dispersing reminded me of exploding fireworks. "Fukamachi, Fukamachi. There's one strange one." I looked into the tank alongside Chigusa, and sure enough, mixed among the koaka was a single fat ryukin goldfish. "What do you know... How unusual." I gave a look at Chigusa, trying to share her surprise. But she was absorbed in the goldfish in the tank and didn't notice. I found myself looking at Chigusa in profile. Gazing at her smiling face lit by the soft light of a light bulb, all of a sudden it occurred to me what an incredibly unfitting happiness had been bestowed upon me. And that thought was nothing less than the truth. Instantly, rather late, the core of my body heated up, and I came to see each passing second as precious. But at the same time, I had to think: If it were Hajikano I was sharing these seconds with, how good would that be? If I just had her smiling beside me, how fulfilled would that make me feel? I felt guilty for ignoring the girl before me and imagining one who wasn't here in her place, so I averted my eyes from Chigusa. Instead, I watched the boy scooping goldfish. He was handling the paper poi skillfully. He prepared to catch one goldfish, then at the last second changed the angle of the poi to aim for another. The goldfish that he avoided had white specks, like it was covered with flour. Maybe it was sick. I supposed he avoided that specked goldfish not because he reasoned it might die an early death from sickness, but just because it felt somehow creepy. It wasn't like it was something he did out of clear prejudice. It was the same for those who avoided me when I had my birthmark. I wasn't avoided because people thought I had genetic issues, or because I had some malignant disease, but because people felt somehow too creeped out to want to approach. Why can people know logically that it's not that significant, but be led astray by such slight differences in appearance? When really, everyone's not so different if you just look more than skin-deep. Yet the day when people's foolishness to judge solely by appearance is bettered, the beauty of these hundreds of goldfish swimming around a white tank, the vivacious feeling welling up in me from seeing Chigusa's face - all of that I was feeling now would be lost. So I couldn't speak out against that hasty judgement. If people's true natures became the basis of judgement, the world would surely become a terrifyingly insipid place. Chigusa stood up. "Sorry, I became rather entranced. Let's move on." "Won't you try the goldfish scooping?" "No, I'm not one for keeping living creatures." After going through all the stands, we bought two piles of shaved ice and looked for a place we could sit down and eat it. Just then, something briefly crossed my vision and alerted my subconscious. I had a bad omen. I quickly grabbed Chigusa's hand to stop her, and my gaze darted around. My prediction was correct, and a few meters away, I saw several familiar faces. Inui, Mitake, Harue. The three who had tried to attack me with Nogiyama last night. They sat in a row on the curb, their backs turned to us, talking about something. Nogiyama probably wasn't there because of the damage I'd inflicted. As far as I could tell from their conversation, they weren't looking for me for payback, but were simply here to enjoy the festival. I breathed a sigh of relief. That said, if they saw me, it could probably be trouble. "Er, what is the matter?" Chigusa asked with some nervousness, looking between her hand and her face. "It's the guys from last night," I said quietly, letting go of her hand. "I don't think they're looking for me, but it'd be bad if they saw us. Let's retreat while we can." Chigusa stood tall and followed my gaze. "I see. The three sitting there?" "Right. They haven't noticed us yet." "Fukamachi." She looked toward my hand. "Do you mind if I take that shaved ice?" "Shaved ice? That's not really the..." Before I could finish, Chigusa took the cups of shaved ice and quickly walked over to the three. I had no time to stop her, and the next moment, Chigusa was dumping the shaved ice on their backs. An emerald green mix of solid and liquid drew a parabola as it fell upon them. Making voices which were either screams or shouts, the three turned around, but Chigusa didn't falter, and poured the shaved ice with lemon drops in her other hand on their front sides. Then she turned on her heel, ran back, and took my hand as I stared in shock. "Now, let us run." It sure seemed like that was the only thing to do. I think we ran around for about twenty minutes. Eventually, we ended up back at the shopping street where we started. The festival had long since ended, the lanterns were gone without a trace, and most of the stands were cleaning up, so people were sparse. Looking back one last time to check for them chasing us, we sat down on a low wall and caught our breath. My heart flailed like a fish just reeled in, and sweat poured out my body. My stiff, sweat-soaked uniform felt unpleasant. I didn't feel like condemning Chigusa for doing something so rash. In fact, I had respect for her actions. Seeing them flustered after having shaved ice poured on them was thrilling, and I hadn't felt the excitement of running away from something chasing me in a long while. "Next time you do something crazy, tell me first." "Sorry," Chigusa said out of breath. "But that was good. Very relieving. Very delinquent." "Was it? That's good." Chigusa smiled with her eyes, her head still lowered. I was really parched. I put my hands on my knees and stood up. "I'll go buy something to drink. You rest there." Chigusa looked up and nodded silently. I ran over to a brightly-shining vending machine a few dozen meters away, and came back with two sports drinks with blue labels. Chigusa tried to offer her wallet. I refused, but she insisted. "Since I did ruin the shaved ice." I took the 500-yen coin she offered me. "Okay, let's use this money to buy something for delinquency." After downing the sports drinks and throwing away the empty bottles, we entered a supermarket just before closing time and bought fireworks. And we spent a while walking around in search of the least appropriate place to use them. "Perhaps we might as well sneak back into the school we deserted at noon, and launch them on the field somewhere?", Chigusa suggested. "Don't you think that's sufficiently mischevious?" "Not bad," I agreed. Breaking into Minagisa First High was easy. We waltzed right in after climbing over the gate, and there wasn't any real security system. Surely the buildings were probably locked, but it didn't seem anyone would find fault with us wandering around campus. Maybe I was just accustomed to the school being full of staff and teachers, but at night, Minagisa First High was wrapped up in an extreme silence, like any peep was sucked up into the walls. The green lamp of the emergency exit cast an eerie light from the other side of the window. While walking on the gravel behind the gym, I suddenly recalled a conversation with Nagahora on the day of the closing ceremony. "The guys from the swim club sometimes practice at night without permission," Nagahora said. "Since the fence is so short, it's not hard to break in. There's no patrols at all, so if you're not unlucky, you won't get caught. Hey, Fukamachi, want to sneak in with me once on summer break? Swimming as much as you like in a pool at night isn't a chance you'll get anywhere else." "That does sound fun," I nodded. "But you should be careful, pools are horribly cold at night. If you jump in without a care, it might be pretty miserable." Nagahora thought for a second. "You sound like you've got experience." "I just happen to know. I had a friend who did the same thing in middle school." That was a lie, of course. Once, I was invited by some friends to sneak into the pool at night. There were clouds covering the sky all day, and the pool that night was colder than anything. It helped a little that we jumped in with our clothes on, but ten minutes later, our lips were purple and we were running home dripping wet. "I didn't think about the temperature," Nagahora said with admiration. "Bet you'd want to pick a day that's especially hot. Around the start of August would be perfect..." Then Kasai opened the door into the classroom, so the conversation was cut short. That was ultimately the only time we discussed sneaking into the pool. Since then, I'd completely forgotten Nagahora ever mentioned it. I didn't really feel the urge to swim. Sure, this was miraculously the hottest day of the year, and thus the perfect day for night swimming. The water should have been clean for the swim club's practice. However, it wasn't Nagahora with me, but Chigusa. I couldn't make her join me in something so ridiculous as this. Still, I figured just walking around the poolside would be fun, so I told Chigusa what I'd heard from Nagahora. And she showed incomparable interest in this stupid idea. "We simply must to do that, let's do that right now," she urged. Climbing over the fence less than two meters tall, we touched down by the pool. Obviously, it was pitch black, and the pool was a deep blue, the bottom not visible. The wind made small waves on the surface, breaking against the edge and making quiet splashes. Occasionally, the smell of chalk unique to school pools struck my nose. I took off my shoes and felt the rough poolside, neither warm nor cold. I rolled up my pants and put my toes in the water glittering in the moonlight. It was just the right coldness to feel good. "That's good," said Chigusa, who took off her loafers and socks and drew an ellipse in the water with her right toe. I resolutely sat on the pool edge and soaked my legs below the knees in the water. My legs hot from running around were thoroughly cooled, and felt revived. The energy left my body, and I fell back onto the poolside like a deflating life preserver. Listening to the sound of the water, I looked up at the night sky. The sole light sources from the parking lot didn't reach the distant pool, so while not a match for the roof of the hotel, it wasn't a bad place to view the stars. Once I thought about stars, my chest clouded as I was unable to avoid remembering a certain person, but I forcibly put her out of mind. I couldn't worry over what had already come and gone. I heard a sound from the end of the pool. Before I could process that it was Chigusa taking off her uniform, I heard a loud splash. Drips of water hit my cheek, and I sat up in a hurry. At first, I thought Chigusa had fallen into the pool by mistake. But seeing her discarded blouse and skirt, I realized she jumped in intentionally. And if her clothes were there, that meant Chigusa, sticking her head out of the water, was wearing nothing but underwear - if that. I was so surprised, I had no words. What in the world was she thinking? "Don't scare me," I finally uttered. "I thought you slipped and fell." "Apologies. But it's nice and cool," Chigusa said, wiping her forelocks. Her white shoulders poked out of the water, and I worried for where to look. Not brave enough to swim with her, I stayed sitting at the rim of the pool. Then Chigusa walked up to the water's edge and held out her hands to me. "Lift me up, please." I gulped, and grabbed her hands while trying not to make eye contact. But the moment I was about to pull, she forcefully pulled me. I tried to stand my ground, but my feet didn't make it, so I lost balance and fell into the pool. It was pitch dark in the water, so I had no idea where anything was. After struggling a while, my feet found the bottom. I stuck my head out of the water and wiped my face, then looked around for Chigusa. I heard laughter behind me. "Hey, remember what I said about telling me...", I said as I turned, and found Chigusa's face right in front of my nose. We met eyes at a close distance. The expression she had was a kind I hadn't seen before, neither happy nor joking. If I had to find the closest description, it was a look of surprise. Like the kind when you're cleaning a room and find a precious childhood photo you thought you lost. There was a long short silence. Or maybe a short long silence. I slowly averted my gaze and put my hands on the edge of the pool. "Let's look in the storage room. Might find something interesting." "Indeed. A beach ball would be nice, for instance." Even Chigusa's reply was extremely natural. I'd discovered during class in July that the storage room's lock was broken. Mixed in among items like kickboards, flotation devices, lane markers, and scrubbing brushes, there was a single blue beach ball. I took it to the sink, washed it with water, and blew it full of air. After filling and capping it, I took a few deep breaths to calm myself, then left the storage room. I hesitated greatly, but Chigusa being in underwear and me being fully clothed felt somehow unfair, so I also stripped down and jumped in the pool. A splash went up and fell onto the sides. I hit the beach ball up high, and Chigusa happily went after it. My head spun again seeing her white back, but as we hit the ball back and forth and swam around, I gradually stopped worrying about it. Chigusa swimming nude in a pool at night was just too beautiful to be an object of my desire. When beauty crosses a certain line, it somehow detaches itself from impure feelings. While playing in the pool, Chigusa called out "Yosuke" numerous times. Oddly, it didn't feel strange being called that. Judging from how I felt when she first said it, maybe it was calling me by my surname that felt more unnatural. Similarly, I tried calling her Chigusa in return. My voice found it familiar, like I'd already spoken it many times. "Once more," Chigusa said. "Call me again." So I did as she said. Lastly, we played with toy fireworks in the corner of the parking lot. Water still dripped from our clothes and hair, making dark stains on the dry asphalt. My wet shirt and underwear took my body heat, making me a little chilly. We had no candle to light the firework, so I used my lighter to scorch the ends of two Long Peonies. Once both were lit, I handed one to Chigusa. The flame transferred to the main part of the firework, and one after another, shots fired off like plant roots into the darkness. After proceeding through the stages of peony, pine needle, willow, and chrysanthemum, the ball's purpose was complete and it dropped off, making a low splash in the water that dripped from our bodies. We silently went on lighting fireworks. We were exhausted after leaving the pool and didn't say much to each other, but it wasn't the awkward kind of silence. As the last two fireworks began firing off, Chigusa spoke. "Fukamachi." She'd gone back to using my last name. "You were thinking about Hajikano just now, weren't you?" I didn't deny it, but asked her back. "Why do you think so?" Chigusa giggled. "Why, indeed? Well, my bad premonitions are often correct." I dutifully answered honestly. "Your hunch is right, Ogiue." "See, what did I tell you?", she said jokingly. "Furthermore, I suppose not only now, but several times while we've been together, Hajikano has come to mind." "Yeah, you're not wrong there." "Were you thinking, "What if it wasn't Chigusa Ogiue in front of me, but Yui Hajikano"?" The ball on Chigusa's firework dropped before it fully burned, meeting a sudden end. "Thank you for joining in my selfish whims today," she said without waiting for a reply. "I had a great deal of fun spending the day with you." My firework still went on burning. "But, Fukamachi. If there's really something that strikes your interest, if there's really a person that you're wondering about, please don't concern yourself with me, and settle that issue first. You still have a lingering affection for Hajikano, don't you? Isn't that why you occasionally forgot about the girl standing in front of you to think about her?" She picked up the used-up fireworks and put them in a bag, tied a knot, and gradually stood up. We walked to the school gate in silence. I couldn't find any words to say. Everything Chigusa said was an accurate truth, and anything I said would just sound like an excuse. "...You haven't yet exhausted everything you can do for her, have you?", Chigusa suddenly spoke. "Then you should see that through to the end." After passing the gate, she came to a stop. She bowed her head to me to say "this is far enough." "Today really was a pleasure. Thank you for the wonderful day." "I enjoyed it, too. It was a good day." It took me ages just to say that. "Thanks." Chigusa smiled with deep joy to hear it. "Say, Fukamachi. You made me promise to tell you in advance before doing anything crazy, did you not?" "Yeah," I nodded, though not getting why she was asking. "I'm about to do something rather strange." Before I could reply, Chigusa shortened the distance between us looking as if she was going to fall, stood up a little taller, and softly put her lips on my neck. Even I could feel the blood rushing to my head and turning me red. "If there's anything I can assist with, let me know," she whispered in my ear. "Even if entails showing kindness to an enemy, I'll do it if it's of use to you. And after you've done everything to completion, if you still have a slight bit of interest in me... then feel free to call for me anytime. I'll wait patiently." With that, Chigusa fled the scene. I watched her go while standing like a scarecrow, and even after she was out of sight, I couldn't move a muscle. At this point, I finally understood the meaning of that "cruel thing" Chigusa had mentioned one day. It wasn't a joke at all. I was unconsciously doing something terrible to her. I was bewildered by this new truth coming from an unexpected angle. I could intuit she at least had good will toward me, but I didn't imagine it was such a distinct and romantic attraction. Chigusa's words played on repeat in my head for the duration of about five cigarettes. But at least at present, I couldn't easily answer to her feelings. Still, there was one thing she said that was definitely on-point. I still hadn't exhausted everything I could do. A small possibility remained somewhere in my heart. Subconsciously, I had kept thinking about it. But I hesitated to let it surface. Fearing the risk of being hurt in going through with it, I intentionally removed it from my options. Now, at least once, I had to face that possibility. To dig up that thing hidden in my consciousness, shine light on it, and face it head-on. That's what Chigusa was telling me. That night, I headed for the shrine park near Minagisa High. I went up the long steps one by one, and sat on the swing Hajikano was once on. The rusted chain made a screeching noise. Someone had removed the rope Hajikano tied on the bar. Maybe she retrieved it herself. I thought there all night. What could I do? What was Hajikano seeking? By the time the sky turned a faint violet, I came to a conclusion. The buzzing of cicadas even reached into the closed-off room. Mixed in with familiar sounds was the sound of tsukutsuku-boushi cicadas, which I hadn't heard until yesterday. I sat cross-legged on the floor of my room and gazed at jet streams outside the window. The two straight white lines in the sky perfectly divided the view of the sky through the window frame into two halves. As the noon cicadas' voices died out and the chorus of higurashi began, I finally lifted my heavy body. There was a heavy old-style steam iron on the desk. I connected the plug coming out of the charging stand to the outlet, gave the dial a full turn, and waited for the iron to heat up. After about ten minutes, I grabbed the iron handle and held it with the flat side facing me. The openings to let out the steam reminded me of seeds in a fruit. Come to think of it, I'd never had the chance to look at the bottom of an iron in such detail. Staring at the strange shape like a cut-open watermelon, sweat from my forehead dropped off my hair, and evaporated into a little puff of smoke with a satisfying sound. The room was illuminated with the light of the western sun. Once, because of the inferiority that came from the birthmark covering half my face, I thought I had no right to love Hajikano. And if you inverted that, it meant that if only I didn't have my birthmark, I would have the qualifications for her to love me. But maybe that was just a one-sided impression of mine. While it could have possibly been accurate four years ago, at least in the present, the disappearance of my birthmark had never once aided in coming closer to Hajikano. In fact, more than that. It was preventing any progress. The day I visited Hajikano's house to determine the truth of what Kasai told me, in a dark room with curtains closed, she touched my cheek and rubbed it again and again. As if in search of the birthmark that should have been there. Maybe what Hajikano really needed now wasn't a person to kindly console her, but a companion with the same injury - that suddenly occurred to me, looking back on that day. And once I came to have that mindset, this scenario the woman on the phone had put together started to seem coherent. She claimed to have made this bet as fair as she could. I thought my odds of success were far too low for that to be true. But maybe she was telling the truth, and the bet was being carried out fairly. In other words, she had prepared a path toward victory for me, too. Removing my birthmark took away an obstacle between me and Hajikano. That was my thought at first. But was the truth the exact opposite? Had removing my birthmark taken away a red thread of destiny connecting us? Maybe the true nature of this bet wasn't asking, "Can a normally-impossible love happen with the removal of an obstacle?", but that woman saying, "Can I add an obstacle to set back a love that normally wouldn't be held back?" By personally renouncing the birthmark-less face I was temporarily given for the bet, I could advance my relationship with Hajikano. That was a situation the woman on the phone intentionally created. I was being tested to see if I would give up the ideal body I was granted for the girl I loved. Looking at it that way, would I? If I was right about this, I needed to regain my lost ugliness. I had to prove to that woman there was nothing higher-priority to me than Hajikano. But while I had to "get my birthmark back," a simple bruise would heal in no time. I wanted a semi-permanent mark of ugliness. So I thought to use the iron. Where my birthmark had once been, this time, I would give myself a large burn. If I'd had a little more good judgement left in me at the time, I could probably see how foolish it was from an objective standpoint to burn my face with an iron to get Hajikano's attention. Yet with the combination of the short remaining time on the bet and the confusion Chigusa caused me last night, I had a narrow perspective. You could say I was deranged. I was possessed by the naive thought that strong pain had to have a high return. The hand I held the iron with was damp with sweat and trembled. The peak of the pain would probably be in the first instant. But the problem came after that. If I cooled it off too quickly and adequately treated it, the burn would just fully heal. If I wanted to make it "part of me" like my former birthmark, then after firmly burning my face at max temperature, I would probably have to not cool or treat the burn for an hour at least. Imagining that hour made my legs buckle. Still, I had already made my decision. Slowly but surely, I got accustomed to the image of me burning my face. Once it reached a certain point, I was suddenly able to accept it all naturally. Or maybe logically, you could say I went fully mad. I closed my right eye, and pushed the iron plate heated to the necessary temperature toward my face, when the phone rang. If that noise had come a tenth of a second later, I'm sure the iron would have had no problem burning my face. At a distance close enough to scorch my eyelashes, my hand stopped. The ringing came from the phone in the first floor hallway. I couldn't be sure, but from the timing and the way it echoed, I felt sure it was the woman who orchestrated this bet. I put the iron back in the stand, ran down the stairs, and took the receiver. There was no reply. Usually, there would be a one-sided dialogue of telling me some business, but this one time, I heard nothing. But just because I couldn't hear anyone didn't mean there was no one there, and I sensed there was a living person's breathing on the other end. The person seemed to be quietly listening to my breathing. The silence went on. Just as I opened my mouth with impatience, with the suddenness of a hidden track on a CD after leaving it alone on the last track for over ten minutes, the person on the other end spoke. "Who are you?" It wasn't the usual woman's voice, but it was one I'd heard before. A moment later, my head was filled with questions. "Hajikano?", I asked. "No way, is that you, Hajikano?" I heard her swallow. From that reaction, I was convinced the caller was Hajikano. "How?", the person I thought to be Hajikano said. "How did you call here?" That sentence repeated in my head. How did I call here? It was a strange way to put it. She made it sound like I had called her "Answer," Hajikano said. "How did you know I was here? Are you nearby?" There seemed to be a discrepancy here. I got my head in order and decided on what the most important matters to have clarified were. "Listen, Hajikano, stay calm and listen," I said soothingly. "You just asked me "How did you call here?", right? Are you telling me you didn't call me, but you just answered the phone? There was a silence as if for thought. I assumed that to be proof and continued. "Well, same here. I was at home, and I heard the phone ringing, so I answered. And then I heard your voice. Where are you? Not at home?" "One of the unmanned stations along a route that was shut down a few years ago. In other words, Yosuke, a place you wouldn't know," Hajikano explained plainly. "I was wandering around there when a public phone rang. When I took the receiver, I heard you. ...Just what is going on?" Of course, I knew the cause. It was the doing of that woman who proposed a bet to me. While her methods and objectives were unclear, I could only imagine she had some involvement in such an irrational occurrence. I didn't know why she had made such an arrangement at the exact time she did. Maybe the woman on the phone was pleased that I was about to take back my own ugliness for Hajikano's sake. So she decided to give me a little chance. But explaining all those subtleties would surely only further confuse Hajikano. While thinking up ways to dispel her wariness, she said "So you don't know either," seeming ready to hang up. "Wait. I'm begging you, don't hang up," I pleaded. "I want you to listen to me, just for a little bit. You're changing schools soon, aren't you? Before you leave, there's something I want to tell you. It'll take two minutes. You don't even have to reply. Just listen, that's all I ask." There was no response. But also, no sign of hanging up. Relieved, I sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. The sunlight coming through the window at the end of the hall cast a shadow of me on the opposite wall. "As you know," I began, "the birthmark on my face vanished without a trace. It was something that normally would never go away. Countless doctors tried to cure it, and threw in the towel. They all more or less said "You'll just have to compromise." That's the kind of birthmark it was. ...But just a month ago, there came a sudden turning point." I stopped there and listened closely. There were still faint noises, so the call hadn't been terminated. "Explaining it in detail would take a whole lot of effort. And maybe no matter how I go about explaining it, it'll be impossible to accurately convey what I've experienced without misunderstandings. In any event, I met someone, and had my incurable birthmark cured - but it was a hefty trade. Before too long, I'll have to give up something more important than anything to that person. But of course, I did it all of my own volition, so the responsibility's all on me." Unconsciously, I stroked the area where my birthmark had been. "But... It sounds strange, but truthfully, lately I've stopped thinking so badly of my birthmark. I'd had it on my face for sixteen years, came to accept its existence, and even picked up some attachment. And yet, why did I pay such a massive price to have it removed?" After a deep breath, I gave the answer. "Because I wanted you to like me, Hajikano." The moment I spoke, the air around me felt more damp, and I sensed a smell like split-open berries spreading. I felt something hot behind my ears, and my heart beat faster. Though Hajikano wasn't there in front of me, I covered my mouth with my open hand to hide my red face. "Anyway, that's all I wanted to tell you," I appended. "Though from your reaction, it seems like the idea you'd like me just because my birthmark was gone was a one-sided misconception." Once I'd finished with what I wanted to say, I closed my eyes and listened for her response. The call was still going, but I hadn't heard a sound. Maybe Hajikano wasn't actually listening to me in silence, but had left the receiver hanging and left... Just as I began to have such fears, I heard a sudden cough. "Can you hear me?", she asked. "Are you still there?" I replied immediately. "I plan to be here until you hang up. However long it takes." There was a thoughtful silence. "I don't know," Hajikano said with concern. "I was sure you felt pity for me now, and that's why you were so overly concerned. I thought you just sympathized seeing me with the same problem you once had." "Well, I'm not that mature of a person." "Yes, so it seems." There was no change in her tone. Even so, the image of Hajikano smiling on the other side surfaced in my mind. "...To tell the truth, I do like that about you even now," Hajikano admitted. "I've hardly come to hate you, Yosuke. So then, the reason I dislike being with you... is purely a personal problem." "A personal problem?" "When I see you, I go mad with jealousy," she said with a light sigh, as if embarrassed with herself. "That said, it's not your birthmark being gone that I'm terribly jealous of. It's because you're a strong person who was able to accept his birthmark and live a decent life, and I'm a weak one who's been unable to do that, and fallen to such lows in less than half a year. That fact hurts me more than anything. When you're in front of me, I have to constantly acknowledge it. That's the hate that's led me to put distance between us." Hajikano was silent for a few seconds. Somehow, I felt I could see her purse her lips and rub her birthmark. "At this point, this birthmark isn't such an issue. The issue is my weakness that will let one blemish ruin me. When I see you now, Yosuke, my chest could burst from sheer misery." "I think you're still misunderstanding me," I interjected. "If you saw me as accepting my birthmark and living a decent life, you're mistaken. The truth is, I was saddled with a feeling of inferiority. Every time I looked in the mirror, I thought how nice it would be to just be reborn." I switched the phone to my right hand and toyed with the cord with my left. "I didn't get through it all by myself. You were a big support to me back then. Because you accepted me, Hajikano, I could feel like accepting my birthmark. The birthmark I'd come to think of as such an ugly, dirty thing, I could think of as a mere piece of discolored skin once you touched it. That's how significant Yui Hajikano was to me." "...It really never seemed that way," Hajikano said doubtfully. "That's not unreasonable. Since I've been trying to keep it as cool as I could in front of you." "I didn't want to accept that deep down, I strongly desired contact with someone else. And more than that, I was scared of you and those around me realizing the feelings I had for you. I felt like they'd scorn me. "You think a guy like you has the right to love Yui Hajikano?" So when I was with you, I tried to keep a cool face." Yes, in my eyes, Yosuke Fukamachi wasn't a person who could love a specific girl. He would be someone who never loved anyone and was never loved, only living at a solitary pace. "But each time I parted from you and went home, the conversations we had that day repeated in my head, burned into my memory. On days when especially happy things happened, I wrote them in my journal to re-read later. It might sound stupid, but at the time, I did that kind of thing to make it through the days of crushing inferiority. Even after going our separate ways for middle school, my memories of the days spent with you propped me up when I was hurting. If I hadn't met you, Hajikano, my weak endurance would someday crumble for sure." After a while, Hajikano whispered something. "...So you were thinking things like that." Just then, I heard a quiet sound like a buzzer on the other end. "What's that sound?", I asked. "The telephone. I think it's the sound it makes when the time is expiring," she answered. "This call might end soon." "Oh, I see..." I was regretful about it, but I had told her everything I wanted to. "Thanks for not hanging up on me. I was glad to talk to you." Just afterward, the call cut out. Even after the call ended, I stood for a long time in front of the telephone. Just like back then, I was soaking indefinitely in my conversation with Hajikano. To Be Continued in "The Place I Called From"
Hayley Stevens is the co-host of Righteous Indignation. Righteous Indignation's pick for podcast for the year of 2010 was Monster Talk. Now, Ms. Stevens has appeared as a guest on Monster Talk to discuss Bownessie, a local alleged lake monster. Coincidence? Conspiracy? I'll leave delving into the back scratching to the Conspiracy Skeptic Karl Mamer, regardless of any possible graft and grease palming that may have occurred, it was an entertaining episode. Ben, Karen, and especially Blake were in rare pun-generating form on this episode; they all clearly had a lot of fun with the topic of a Nessie-style monster living in another British body of water. From a skeptical view, the show did showcase once again that Hayley Stevens knows her stuff not only in regard to ghost investigations, but now on a cryptid investigation. She discussed various hypotheses about the alleged creature. Her investigation of the latest evidence of the creation, which in this case was a photograph taken by a gentleman named Tom Pickles. (Don't giggle, it's bad form . . . pickles . . . pickles.) Hayley discussed attempts to track Mr. Pickles down, and others who have allegedly witnessed Bownessie. The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe this week did not feature an interview. It did feature a story about more Jesus pareidolia. Bob covered a story on re-examining how Galaxies have been classified, which for the astronomy nerd in me was quite interesting. Jay covered a story on Driverless cars, which while interesting actually seemed a bit out of date to me. The autonomous car of the future coming sorta kinda around the corner has been bouncing around for months and perhaps the last year or so. (On a recent episode of Autoline After Hours, they joked that on current Volvos with all the safety functions you could probably splice three wires together and it could drive itself.) Evan covered a story of a drug that is made out of a bacteria found on Easter Island that might someday be useful in slowing the aging process, and then they did science or fiction. Ok. They also discussed the topic de jour, the skeptical shit storm of the moment "Elevator Gate." Rebecca Watson gave her own take on the issue from within the hurricane, which was interesting. I was sort of dreading hearing the Rogues discuss the topic as I have had my fill of the topic at this point. (Yet, I keep reading various blogs and comment sections about it.) However, it was good to hear from Rebecca, and the section for those tired of the issue should not skip it. I have my own opinions about this whole kerfuffle, but I feel this thing has spiraled enough out of control that I do not feel it would do any good to continue dissecting the matter. And what about Jeter hitting his 3,000 hit, and it's a homerun to boot. Pretty impressive.* While over at the Skeptic Zone, it was a solid show opening Hrab-style with Richard Saunders telling a tale of arguing with the pharmacy assistant over the ear candles the shop was peddling. It was a nice way to start the show. The normal welcome sometimes is a bit flat, but this one I found entertaining. I hope they keep to this format in the future. Maynard spoke with Helene Grover of Laughter Strategies. It sounds cockamamie, but she seems to have a reasonable outlook on using laughter to brighten one's life rather than some serious treatment. She and Maynard discussed some tickle spa in Spain (where the rain falls mainly on the plain) where you pay to dress in special underwear to be tickled with feathers and fingers. That sounds cockamamie to me. On the other hand, I am not a fan of massages in general. I may not be the best judge of these touchy-feely type things. This was followed by a Dr. Rachael Dunlop twofer. (Dr. Dunlop is neither black or Harvard educated which makes it double impressive.)** The first was an interview by Dr. Dunlop of Linda Harpo discussing how genetic research could be useful in doctors prescribing more target chemotherapy treatment for cancer victims and avoiding treatments that have little chance of success. This was followed by a skeptical bread and butter radio interview of Dr. Dunlop on the ineffectiveness of homeopathy. It was a solid episode of the Zone. A nice intro by Richard, a few good interviews, and not a peep on that which I will not discuss but deals with a conveyance that moves people between floors and is not stairs or an escalator. Gratuitous non-sequitur change of topic. *Joke only works if you watch "30 Rock"
Yet another extraordinary encounter that seems to have been ripped from a drive-in movie screen and thrust into local headlines comes to us in the form of the aptly named “Crazy Critter of Bald Mountain” — a organism that’s so unrelentingly weird that there is no parallel to it in the annals of either cryptozoology or ufology. Nestled in the picturesque south-western corner of Washington State, about 20-miles east of Chehalis in Lewis County, is one of fifteen peaks in the state referred to by locals as “Bald Mountain.” What sets this summit apart, however, is not its formidable heights or pastoral beauty, but a series of encounters with one of the most bizarre cryptids on record. The events in question ostensibly began on the evening of November 14, 1974, when numerous eyewitnesses claimed to see a “fiery object” plummet to Earth approximately 5-miles away from Bald Mountain. This extraordinary astronomical phenomenon was noted, but it wasn’t until three days later that nearby residents would begin to grasp its potential significance. On November 17, 1974, a grocer by the name of Ernest Smith was deer hunting near Bald Mountain when he stumbled across an immense animal so utterly unique that he justifiably hypothesized that it must hail from OUT OF THIS WORLD. In his 1978 volume on high strangeness cases within the U.S., “Weird America,” Jim Brandon cited Smith’s description of the creature in question: “It was horse-sized, covered with scales and standing on four rubbery legs with suckers like octopus tentacles. Its head was football-shaped with an antenna sticking up…” As if the above description weren’t already weird enough, Brandon went on to state that this superficially HYBRID-BEAST — which seemed to incorporate elements of insects, reptiles and cephalopods — was also, according to Smith, bioluminescent: “The thing gave off this green, iridescent light.” It is unknown what the merchant’s immediate reaction was upon being confronted by this astonishing apparition — or what reaction (if any) the animal had to the hunter — but, at least in terms of Smith’s emotional response, one can reasonably assume that words like “shock” and “panic” would barely traverse the tip of the iceberg. Luckily, for the sake of his reputation (if not his sanity) Smith’s story was soon after corroborated by a Tacoma couple — one Roger Ramsbaugh and his unnamed wife — who were driving through the Bald Mountain region past dusk on a fog shrouded evening not long after the hunter’s sighting. According to Brandon’s report, the pair were driving along State Route 7 — a nearly 60-mile stretch of road between Morton and Tacoma — when they suddenly noticed “…a dull glow near the side of the road.” The confused couple slowed down for a better look at what they assumed to be: “…a neon sign in the fog.” It was then that the Ramsbaughs got the shock of their lives when the spied the same large, self-illuminated, tentacle-bearing monstrosity that Smith had seen just days before. Following this second incident, the regional press apparently got wind of these surreal encounters and christen the thing the “Crazy Critter of Bald Mountain.” Soon after Smith began to publicly speculate as to whether or not the luminous beast he’d encountered had something to do with the “fiery object” seen falling in the area just days before. While there’s no direct connection between these events, it’s not difficult to assume that whatever this still UNCLASSIFIED creature may have been, it’s not of this Earth. After reports of the creature hit the local papers, the Sheriff of Lewis County, one William H. Wiester — often misspelled as “Wister” — began an investigation into the sightings, but in a twist that will come as no shock to UFO enthusiasts his inquiry was allegedly halted by individuals claiming to represent both NASA and the United States Air Force. These officials were alleged to have been “heavily armed” and clad in military uniforms that bore no insignia. That having been stated it is reasonable to assume that the unit presumably hailed from — and was likely headquartered at — nearby McChord Air Force Base. Needless to say, as soon as this special investigative team swooped in all information regarding the Crazy Critter seems to have dried up. Many questions remain regarding this peculiar cryptid. The most obvious one being: “Where the hell did it come from?” Tentacles were simply not designed for terrestrial locomotion and vary few land animals are bioluminescent, but if this was a sea dwelling creature then what was it doing so far from home? The second most pressing query is: “What became of the creature?” Did this evidently crack government unit of soldiers and scientists manage to capture the thing and secret it off to a clandestine government lab for an endless battery of tests? If it was extraterrestrial in origin did it manage to escape back to its home world? Or, if the ocean is from where it hailed, did this odd varmint manage to slither back into the depths? Perhaps there is just the smallest chance that somewhere on the tree lined slopes Bald Mount there still lurks a creature — or its very CURIOUS CARCASS — that is quite unlike any other on Earth. Rob Morphy is an artist / journalist / filmmaker / designer / crypto historian / podcaster / co-founder of American Monsters and Cryptopia
The Dog Woman of Watts Being a Southern California native, I can’t help but have my curiosity piqued when I hear unusual stories about my home state…especially the southern half. I ran across the “dog woman of Watts” while researching cryptid sightings in Los Angeles. I had not heard of the dog woman of Watts but maybe my cousin, who lives in Watts, had. It turned out that she had not but said she would ask around. Her neighbor, Clifton (presently in his 70s), witnessed the dog woman of Watts. I asked my cousin if Clifton was open to talking about his sighting and if so, to call me. Online resources concerning the dog woman of Watts are scarce, however, of what I could find, I summarized: In 1961, Watts, California, a neighborhood located in the southern region of the greater Los Angeles area, the Watts Police Department began receiving phone calls about a frightening creature roaming the streets. The first sightings of the animal occurred around 3 PM and both sightings, as well as phone calls, would continue for the next 3 to 4 hours. Citizens reported seeing a creature with the body of a large dog, but with the face of a woman. Police initially thought it was a prank call or drug-induced hallucinations, but as the calls kept coming in, they began to take it seriously. I had a brief conversation with Clifton who said he wasn’t feeling well. I asked what he could remember. He stated it was summer, and on a Friday. He got off work early and was walking home when he heard a woman scream. Clifton saw a woman pulling a child through a front gate by his arm. Clifton laughed, he thought the boy “done fucked up,” for his mama to be tugging on his arm like that. Clinton continued walking and saw them pointing at something across the street. He said the woman began yelling for her neighbor to come and look. Clifton looked and saw a huge dog walking towards him on the sidewalk. Clifton remembers it had shaggy dark brown or black fur. The creature had an unnatural side to side gait like it was stumbling. That is when Clifton noticed the dog’s “face.” He said it looked more like an ape’s face than a human’s. Either way, it wasn’t a dog’s. Clifton expressed how scared he was by this. He quickly crossed the street and was extremely grateful the woman let him into the yard. Clifton, the woman, and her son, all watched the creature from behind the gate. Clifton claimed the beast paid them “no mind” as it shuffled by and down the sidewalk. The woman and her son were both rattled, and Clifton admitted to being pretty spooked too. It was Clifton who suggested they call the police. Before I got off the phone with him, Clifton stated he heard rumors the creature spoke to a man, a notorious pimp, from the neighborhood. The man was later found stabbed to death. Clifton wasn’t sure if the rumor was true. He recalls hearing the pimp was found dead before this happened. I thanked Clifton for his time. I might call him later this week, ask how he is feeling and if he remembers anything more about the dog woman of Watts. In theorizing about the dog woman of Watts I came up with some postulations. If the rumor Clifton heard is true, the dog woman of Watts spoke to the pimp, that adds an element of the supernatural. However, I will begin with my less supernatural postulations. The Wolf Ape. Fresno County, California, and in particular the Watts Valley area (interesting connection) is about 250-ish miles north of Watts of the greater Los Angeles area, and home to what is called “Wolf Ape.” The Yokut tribe had stories and artwork featuring a wolf bodied creature with the face of an ape, long before the Europeans came. The Yokut state the creature always appears sick, forever coughing and wheezing. Yokut history marks a dwindling presence of the Wolf-Ape before Europeans arrived. European encounters with Wolf Ape happened primarily during the California Gold Rush (1848-1855). The beast was sighted as far north as Oregon and far south as Arizona. The dog woman of Watts shares many parallels with Wolf Ape. A dog or wolf-like body and as Clifton recalls, an ape’s face. The unnatural gait, or stumbling, support the Yokut claim of Wolf Ape appearing to be sick. Humans and animals who are sick, tend to shuffle or walk with an imbalance. Watts is only 250-ish miles south of Fresno, CA (a 3 or 4-hour drive). Wolf Ape sightings in both Oregon and Arizona demonstrate this creature is capable of travel. For me, Wolf Ape is a highly likely candidate for the identity of the dog woman of Watts, but I have a couple postulations left. Human/Animal genetic experimentation. Southern California, for all its dark secrets, one secret is perhaps best summed up as “vile”. Southern California has a human trafficking problem. The slums of Los Angeles have long been used by US Government Agencies (C.I.A in particular) and private corporations, in procuring human test subjects for cruel scientist research and experimentation. The C.I.A run, declassified before a congressional hearing, MK-Ultra program targeted prostitutes, the homeless, and people with mental disorders (primarily schizophrenia) living or working on Skid Row for sinister mind control experiments. Individuals were kidnapped and regularly administered extreme doses of LSD while locked in coffin-sized boxes for weeks, put through horrible physical torture, as well as drowned and resuscitated multiple times a day. These poor souls where psychologically shattered to develop multiple personalities. Each personality would be separately trained in specialized skills, and could be brought forth using specific “command words.” That is what the C.I.A would admit too. Imagine what they won’t. MK-Ultra success rates where low. What happened to individuals the C.I.A considered failed test subjects? Evidence suggests they were sold to private corporations (Dow, Merck, GE, Monsanto, etc.) for further human experimentation. I do not believe it a stretch to postulate the dog woman of Watts may have been an escaped Human/Animal genetic experiment. Watts, California was part of the C.I.A dragnet for human trafficking. The surrounding ruinous infrastructure on privately own land made the differentiation between discrete work site or abandoned building difficult, as well as problematic to investigate. This makes hiding a secret research facility in plain sight possible and keeping labs near designated abduction grounds cuts down on transportation issues. If the dog woman of Watts did escape such a facility, it could explain her sudden appearance and then subsequent vanishing, as she would have been close and quickly recaptured. I am currently researching other Los Angeles centered cryptid sightings. I believe I could soon support an argument that Los Angeles is, or once was, home to a secret genetic testing lab, not dissimilar to Plum Island, and who used US citizens as test subjects. Avenging spirit, Skinwalker, or similar magic worker (Brujo/Bruja, sorcerer, priest). My last postulation is rooted in the paranormal and given a modicum of possibility should the rumor Clifton heard be true. According to the stories, the dog woman of Watts spoke to a pimp, who was later found dead. In 1961 Watt’s was home to a large African American population, as such the religions of Vodou, various forms of Orisha worship and Palo Mayombe, had footholds within the community. I cannot speak to Orisha worship, however from the perspective of Vodou and Palo Mayombe, I can speak with authority. Followers of both Vodou and Palo Mayombe can petition spirits to seek retribution on their behalf. In particular priests of Palo Mayombe grant the spirit of a human the talents of various animals, and send the empowered ghost to perform tasks. One such spirit or empowered ghost might have been sent to avenge someone exploited, or worse, by the pimp. Numerous problems arise with this postulation. The creature appeared physical and was seen by many. Spirits are almost never seen, and when they are, generally it is by one maybe two people. The spirit is often seen as an “apparition,” there but not physically tangible, and fleeting. The dog woman of Watts seems to have been solid, and her presence sustained for 3 to 4 hours. Keeping in the vein of the supernatural, it is possible the dog woman of Watts was a skinwalker, or similar magic worker, who through sorcerous means assumed the form of a large dog bodied creature and issued a death curse to the pimp. While I use the term Skinwalker, I apply it loosely. The Skinwalker or “Yee Naaldoshii” is distinctly Navajo, and is an overused and misappropriated term to describe any type of Native American shape-shifting phenomena. Los Angeles was home to both the Chumash and Tongva natives, along with a plethora of surrounding tribes. Their descendants still live in Los Angeles. We do not know the context each tribe viewed magic and shapeshifting. Skinwalkers of Navajo lore are primarily evil. Other tribes might see their brand of skinwalker as a protector. While a Navajo Skinwalker might have traveled to Watts to speak to a pimp, I find it more likely (assuming the dog woman of Watts was a shapeshifting sorcerer) the culprit was a Native American magic worker with ancestral land ties to Los Angeles, meting out punishment for someone who could not. In respects to the dog woman of Watts, I find the avenging spirits and Skinwalker postulations the least probable, but enough parallels of both exist (only in conjunction with the rumor Clifton heard) that I feel it’s a possibility…however remote. If Clifton remembers anything more about the dog woman of Watts I will share it. If you discover any information regarding the dog woman of Watts, I would appreciate hearing from you.
\|This article is about a/an villain in Uchu Sentai Kyuranger.\| - "What?! I've obtained the power of a Karo! How?!" - ―Final words before death[src] Thunderbird (ザンダバルド Zandabarudo) is one of the many Daikaan of the Space Shogunate Jark Matter who rule the Earth, was promoted to a Karo who rules the Norma System and the main antagonist of Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: Episode of Stinger. As one of the Daikaan of Earth, Thunderbird manipulated a small town into persecuting a half-alien girl named Mika Retsu. He then approached a despondent Mika, feigning sympathy and kindness, and convinced her to join Jark Matter. Giving her the mission to kill the people who treated her so cruelly, he presented her with an Enlarge Inro as proof of her promotion to Daikaan, after she completed the mission. After Mika was defeated by Stinger and Champ, he attacked Mika and fatally wounded her before escaping in his Moraimars. He later appeared to Champ and Stinger having been promoted to Karo of the Norma System. He then taunted Stinger by revealing he had been behind Mika's suffering, which only infuriated the Kyuranger. They then fought, with Stinger nearly getting defeated, until he used the power of the Ikkakuju Kyutama to turn the tables before destroying him. Thunderbird is a cruel, manipulative, and selfish character, tricking an entire town into persecuting Mika then pretending to be kind to her just to get her to kill her persecutors all to impress Don Armage to get a promotion. Power and Abilities - Voltonvoice (ボルトンボイス Borutonboisu):Thunderbird' primary ability is to emit a voice that causes a fine electrical vibration.This makes it possible to convey your words directly to the spirit, even in the excited mental state such as interference, anger, etc. of the partner's nerves. - Zanderbato (ザンダーバー刀 Zandābātō): A short sword. - Height: 195cm - Weight: 176kg - Title: Daikaan of Earth (promoted to Karo of Norma) - Born: Totem of Aquila - Category: Flattery Alien - Inrō: Left Waist Behind the Scenes Thunderbird is voiced by Tsutomu Isobe (礒部勉 Isobe Tsutomu), who previously portrayed Heavenly Saint Blagel/Isamu Ozu/Dark Magic Knight Wolzard in Mahou Sentai Magiranger. - Its design resembles the Thunderbird cryptid with elements of a totem pole. - Its suit is the remodified version of Ommo Indaver's suit. - He is the second Daikaan to be from Aquila after Mothma.
Two Sasquatch-themed bills moving through Washington’s legislature OLYMPIA, Wash. — Want Sasquatch on your license plate? Or a Forest Yeti as our official state symbol? Two bills currently being discussed in the state legislature are Bigfoot-inspired. Senate Bill 6151 would allow for the creation a bigfoot-themed specialty license plate. The plates would cost $40, plus regular fees related to new plates. After the first year, the cost to keep the license plate is $30 in addition to tab renewal fees. Sales from the special plates would go to programs and facilities in Washington’s public parks. Under the bill, the bigfoot-themed specialty license plate would be sold starting 2019. Washington currently offers about 50 different specialty license plates, and one with the image of a waterfall and lake, which also benefits the state parks. Senate Bill 5816 wants to make Sasquatch, Bigfoot and Forest Yeti Washington’s “official cryptid.” A cryptid is defined by Oxford dictionary as an “animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated.” Currently, Washington doesn’t have a state cryptid. Republican Sen. Ann Rivers of La Center introduced a similar bill last year. She is behind both bills this year.
If you have a single American (or Canadian) bone in your body, you know with total conviction that Bigfoot exists. Maybe you prefer the term Sasquatch. Maybe you think there’s a whole species of the bipedal cryptid, not just a lone representative. In any event, it must be acknowledged that Bigfoot is real, and strong, and maybe our friend. With the understanding that Bigfoot is out there, we can make some other basic assumptions: He has a specific diet. He sleeps and shits in appointed areas. He can probably make some interesting sounds. Most importantly, he gives off a particular scent. In a tautological way, it could be argued that Bigfoot smells like Bigfoot and nothing else. But that doesn’t tell us much. We need an olfactory investigation. This is my takeaway from an article in the Charlotte Observer about Allie Megan Webb, a North Carolina woman who has invented “Bigfoot Juice,” a kitchen-made spray that allegedly attracts “any Bigfoot within a mile and a half.” Although it was originally sold at $7 a bottle and is now going for $12 through Webb’s Facebook store, Happy Body Care, I choose to believe that this is not a novelty scam. As Webb pointed out to the Observer when asked how she knows the product works, “I guess I could ask how do you know it doesn’t work?” This circular logic is the essence of every great modern innovation. Webb is understandably cagey about revealing the ingredients of her scientifically proven Bigfoot lure. Still, we know what the juice smells like, and why: “To attract a Bigfoot, you need a smell that is woodsy enough to keep from scaring him off,” she has said. “But slightly different enough to make him curious, and come to investigate.” That something different could be elements of the less “feminine” bug spray Webb was concocting for her husband when she stumbled upon the Bigfoot formula; she had worked to create “a more musky, outdoors smell” for the insect repellent he wore on his Bigfoot-finding expeditions with other locals. Soon after, the group reported a sighting. Are we to assume, then, that a Bigfoot is attracted to this forest-y melange of odors because it smells like another Bigfoot? Definitely not. If Webb’s husband is willingly putting this stuff on himself, I bet it carries rather pleasant earthy notes. The accounts of Bigfoot witnesses, by comparison, tend to agree that the creature smells terrible. The hunters of Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot, for example, say that “about 10 or 15 percent of witnesses report a smell associated with Sasquatches; a lot of times it’s described as ‘rotting meat.’” Just watching them get a whiff of their quarry is enough to make you a little nauseated. “The smell of death is in the air,” one of them reports. People living in the Pacific Northwest can buy a pine-scented air freshener shaped like Bigfoot to combat the “incredibly rank” smell of the actual thing. Stinking “like Bigfoot’s dick” is supposedly a measure of unholy stench. Yet surely if Bigfoot reeks, it is no accident, which is why some have theorized that the animal uses scent to communicate (an exception would be Bigfoot’s southland cousin, the Skunk Ape, which presumably smells like “rotten eggs or methane gas” because of its swamp environment). Reddit user winkingcatanus brought this up in discussing an unusual aroma he and his girlfriend experienced while hiking at night: “The best way I can describe what we smelled is… horse shit,” he wrote. “Fresh, steaming horse shit, but with a pungent smell like I’d associate with a predator. (Before anyone asks, yes, I do know what horses smell like — we have two — and we did look for horse dung, since it’s a riding trail, but there was nothing, let alone anything fresh enough to make that smell, and no hoof prints.)… It was a really distinct, digested-plants-and-gland-secretions kind of odor, strong but not really unpleasant, at least to someone who doesn’t mind horse odors.” This links up nicely with a hypothesis put forward by a “Dr. W. H. Fahrenbach” — who I’m sure is every bit as real as Sasquatch — on the website Bigfoot Encounters: “It is likely that we, as primates, react particularly to primate aromas” such as those secreted by Bigfoot, they propose. “I have personally smelled two individuals with intense goat and horse aroma at a few feet distance, respectively (both female).” The good doctor, unlike our Redditor, insists that the Bigfoot stench can be “unbearable and overpowering,” like “being wrapped in dirty diapers,” but lends credence to the idea that the beast controls this via axillary organs in the armpits. It may secrete a fluid that gives off the odor when fleeing potential predators or preparing to confront one — a kind of adrenal fight-or-flight response. Nonetheless, the stink lingers. “A sample of purported Sasquatch bedding material that I smelled reminded me of preputial gland aroma (penile glands under the foreskin),” Fehrenbach claims, “a smell that would most certainly be perceived as ‘gagging’ in any concentration.” Nobody said field research was fun. So how do we reconcile Bigfoot’s appalling musk with its interest in Webb’s Bigfoot Juice, which is inoffensive enough to wear for an evening of cryptozoological investigation? I’m of the opinion that, like humans, Bigfoot is a hominid intelligent enough to be repulsed by its own foul emanations. Just because it smells to high heaven doesn’t mean it likes going around spreading a fetid tang of decay. Webb’s signature scent is akin to an intoxicant — the promise of a pleasing fragrance that may cancel out Bigfoot’s own malodorous bouquet. Therefore, I would advise her to leave an entire bottle of Bigfoot Juice out in the woods, unattended, but where observers can wait and see if a Bigfoot approaches, picks it up, and applies it to their fur as cologne. In which case she will have made the single greatest leap in Bigfoot science to date, confirming that our legends are true — and that anyone can get a little self-conscious.
Crytpid isn't out yet, but nevertheless, it sits on the table, a cryptic puzzle: at once real and unreal. Of course, it draws players like a honeypot. "I've heard about this!" "How did you get it?" "Have you read the rules yet?" Turns out that I have because it's a gloriously simple game. So simple that I have visions of playing it with my family. But we're starting here at the game club, so I explain. We draw a card and assemble the pictured map from six modular pieces. It's a hex map of an empty, echoing wilderness, made of different terrain types. Some are animal territory, full of roaming bears or cougars. Then we place coloured wooden pillars and triangles to represent standing stones and empty shacks. After that, everyone gets a coloured booklet and a set of pieces. On the reverse of the map card, there's a series of colours and numbers in a cross-reference. You find the number in your colour, open your booklet and look it up. Mine says "The habitat is within three spaces of a blue structure". We're cryptozoologists, hunting for a mysterious monster and, at the start of the game, this is the only information I have about where it lives. I look up from my explanation and see everyone is hanging on my every word. So I sigh, knowing I'm about to puncture a bubble, and explain we never actually know what the creature is. It's a deduction game. Each turn, a player asks a question of another player. In answer, they place a disc or cube to show whether that hex could, or could not, be the creature's habitat according to their clue. That's the whole game. Or so I thought. "What kinds of clues are there?" someone asks. I'm not really sure why that's relevant, but I show how the clue formats are all printed on the back of each booklet. On one of two types of terrain, for example, or within one space of an animal territory. At first, no-one knows what to ask of who. There's no information to go on. But as the first few cubes and cylinders go down, a strange thing begins to happen. Out of nothing, a vague order begins to form, like salt crystals materialising out of saline. You can barely seem anything at first, wisps of white fluff at the bottom of a bowl. And as time goes on things become harder, sharper until you wonder whether there was every any water there at all. We sit, trying to pull together the strands of what we're given. And all of sudden, I see why knowing the clue types are important. It allows you to reverse engineer the patterns in clue placement. Then you can guess what other player's clues are and put them together to find the habitat hex. I am fearful, wondering what my questions and answers might reveal about my own clue, and whether anyone has guessed it. But I also know, now that despite its simplicity, this is no gateway or family game. The logic chains are too long and cumbersome for that. Wood slides on cardboard. There are a few complaints about the generic nature of the components, and it's hard to argue. The game looks like an abstract rather than a desolate lost world. Two of the player colours are also irritatingly similar under the harsh strip lights of the hall. Other players suck their teeth, exchange knowing winks and glances. I look at the board in bafflement, looking for the crystals, but they're not there. It's a fast game, turns passing quickly, detail flooding into the empty board. My brain clutches at the strands of information, seeking pattern and clarity, finding none. Everyone, I notice, is leaning closer and closer to the board with every placement, as if proximity is the answer. Then, all at once, I see how I can work out one player's clue. It's like a magic filter over the board, having seen one I can see others. A moment later I can see them all and I have it! I know the answer! I wait, itching for my turn to come. The player before me picks up his pieces, extends a finger and points at a hex. "There," she says. "Is that the habitat?" It's the hex I'd earmarked. On a guess, everyone has to place a clue on the board in turn until one places a cube, indicating failure. Tension cranks as cylinder after cylinder goes down until, with the last one in place, she's won. If only I'd figured out the patterns one turn sooner! Five gamers are around the table, the game's maximum number, and none of us recalls playing anything like this before. So we set it up again, find our clues and get quizzing each other. But after a few turns, confusion begins to set in. Something isn't right: no crystals seem to be forming. Another ten minutes later, one player consults his booklet and pales in horror. He's read the wrong clue and, in doing so, ruined the session. Amid profuse apologies, we pack up and play something else. Yet the sheer novelty of this curious Cryptid nags at me like the possibility of a lottery win. I reach out to one or two other lucky people who got advanced copies to solicit opinion. One found they kept running out of pieces. Another points out there's supposed to be an app for the clues to make it clearer than the booklet, but it's not out yet. There is a play Cryptid website, though, which fulfills the same function. So it gets broken out again, with friends this time. The website simply proves too clunky to use in practice: people want to check their clues. I explain and emphasise that you need to be very careful playing Cryptid. That you need to be absolutely sure of your clue and every placement you make, that a single mistake can derail everything. Everyone seems to get the message. And as the crystals start to solidify on the empty board, it feels to me like the danger of a spoiled game is worthwhile. The thrill of cryptid hunting is taut and raw and almost as novel as the weird creatures themselves. But I wish that, just once, the reward for catching one could be more concrete than mere victory and a soft tug at the corners of the imagination.
Who We Are Although formally established in 2014, members of The Old No. 7 Society have been investigating the paranormal since 2009. Our methods have grown with our ranks, whom are listed below. Kelli Byrd\| Investigator\| Kelli is a psychology major and former applied behavioral analysis intern with McNeese State University, and has had careers with various investigative functions. She has been practicing the art of Tarot card reading and serving as a spiritual medium for over seventeen years. In that time, has specialized in occult practices and paranormal activity. Her belief: "Everything is energy." April Benoit\| Investigator\| April works as an armed security officer. She is also going to school to earn an associate’s degree in information technology. She has always been interested in the paranormal and finds beauty in “dark things”. April is a Christian, with a strong belief in spirituality. She is the mother of 3 humans and one dog, and a grandmother of 3. April is very grateful for the opportunity to investigate with this team and looks forward to our future investigations Quincy Byrd \| Investigator\| Raised in SWLA, Quincy is a self-taught mechanic and electrician. He went through technical and electrical college. A technician by trade, Quincy is interested in getting to know energy in the world and getting spooked. Also known as 'MacGyver, Jr.' Alvin Cole \| Investigator\| Alvin Cole (or just "Cole") is an agriculturalist who was born and raised in southwest Louisiana. Timmy Foster \| Cryptid investigator\| Timmy has been a lifelong resident of Vernon Parish, Louisiana. He has been involved in nature since he was a young child, hunting and fishing. He has many years of tracking animals and loves the outdoors. . He is currently enrolled in school majoring in criminal justice. Timmy looks forward to helping the team with many different kinds of investigations. Shelby Benoit \| Investigator\| Though raised Christian, Shelby has pantheistic beliefs, and is also learning more about the power within ourselves and in crystals. Drawn to all things dark, she also believes in healing others and remaining in a healthy state herself. She is a mother. After doing some paranormal investigating on her own, Shelby looks forward to working more with O7S. Dylan Royer\| Co-founder, investigator\| Dylan is a security professional. He has had a lifelong interest in the paranormal and is always open to new theories to prove or disprove unexplained happenings. He is married with two children. Dylan looks forward to many more investigations with his team and is excited about the future of the group. Jeremy Royer \| Director, co-founder\| Jeremy is a licensed psychotherapist who has studied parapsychology and other aspects of the paranormal throughout his life. Although open to any explanation, he does prefer demonstrative evidence over blind faith. He is married with two children. Proud of his team and the work they've accomplished, Jeremy looks forward to serving Louisiana for years to come.
Staff at the Martin County (Fla.) Correctional Institute spied some suspicious activity on the morning of Dec. 16. Around 1:30 a.m., a drone was spotted hovering over an inmate housing center, while at the same time, a black pickup truck rolled slowly in front of the center. The Tampa Bay Times reported officers stopped the truck and questioned Concetta Didiano, 22, and her mother, Cassanra Kerr, 40, who said they had driven the 200 miles from their home in Tampa so Didiano could learn how to drive the truck. But Kerr's husband is an inmate at the facility, and after a drone and a package of contraband—tobacco and mobile phones—turned up near the front gate of the prison, Kerr came clean: "I did it. The remote and iPad are in the backseat." Both Didiano and Kerr have been charged with introducing contraband into a correctional center. H.W. Taylor III, 51, of Chatfield, Texas, was charged Dec. 12 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a parking dispute escalated outside a Domino's pizza shop in Jerrell. Determined to park his tractor-trailer in a restricted area, reported the Austin American-Statesman, Taylor removed a chain blocking the area and parked his truck there, even as store employees told him not to. Williamson County sheriff's deputies were called after Taylor pointed a gun at the chest of one the employees and then shot a 9mm round into the ground nearby, causing a small piece of the bullet to strike the employee in the ear. Having lost his appetite for pizza, Taylor returned to his truck and drove away, but officers soon caught up to him in another county. The Domino's worker had a small cut to his ear and is expected to survive. • In Mesa, Ariz., diverging tastes in music led to a fatality on Dec. 14, reported the Arizona Republic. Officers responded to a call of shots fired at an apartment complex, where Sheldon Sturgill, 41, told them he shot his roommate after an argument and fistfight over the type of music they were listening to. Sturgill and his roommate had been drinking shots and beer before the altercation. He was held on suspicion of second-degree murder. It is unclear what the offensive music choice was. Havana, Cuba, resident Pepe Casanas, 78, has discovered a tried-and-true way to treat his rheumatism pain: Once a month for the last 10 years, Casanas seeks out a blue scorpion, which is endemic to Cuba, and lets it sting him. "I put the scorpion where I feel pain," Casanas told Reuters. After the sting, "It hurts for a while, but then it calms and goes and I don't have any more pain." In fact, researchers have confirmed that the scorpion's venom has anti-inflammatory and pain relief effects. It may even delay cancer growth in some patients. A Cuban pharmaceutical company has been selling a homeopathic pain remedy called Vidatox, made from the scorpion venom, but Casanas, a former tobacco farmer, takes the simpler route. He sometimes keeps a scorpion under his straw hat for luck, where he says it likes the shade and humidity. The Daily Mail reported on Dec. 14 that a Chinese man identified only as Peng, 37, was hospitalized in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, after he complained of a cough and chest pains. As doctors examined him, Peng admitted that he is "addicted to smelling his socks that he had been wearing." The pain in his chest, it turns out, was a fungal infection he had inhaled from his socks. While Peng is expected to make a full recovery, other people 'fessed up on Chinese social media that they have the same habit: "The reason I smell my socks is to know if I can continue wearing them the next day!" one commenter said. Another pledged to "wash my socks every day now." Maybe it was the Triple Breakfast Stacks McGriddles that lured Anthony Andrew Gallagher, 23, to the drive-thru lane at a Port St. Lucie, Fla., McDonald's to satisfy his hungries on the morning of Dec. 16. But when it came time to pay, the Associated Press reported, Gallagher offered the dude in the window a bag of weed instead of cold, hard cash. The worker declined the payment, and Gallagher drove away, returning a while later. McDonald's staff called police after the first attempt, and Gallagher was apprehended for marijuana possession and driving under the influence. Retired hospitality executive Rick Antosh, 66, of Edgewater, N.J., was enjoying a plate of oysters at Grand Central's Oyster Bar in New York City when he felt something hard in his mouth. "I just all of a sudden felt something like a tooth or a filling, and it's terrifying," Antosh told PIX11 News. But when he looked at it, he realized it was a pearl. Antosh called over the floor manager to ask how often such a discovery happens and was told he'd never heard of it before. Antosh has not had the pearl appraised, but early estimates say it could be worth $2,000 to $4,000. Karen Kaheni, 42, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, is a heavy smoker, puffing on 60 to 80 cigarettes a day. But as she watches TV in the evening, Kaheni also eats eight cigarette butts. And, as a side dish, she eats about 9 ounces of chalk every week. Her odd addictions are related to Pica, she told the Mirror, a condition that involves eating things that aren't really food. "I have no idea what triggered it," she said. "It isn't so much the taste of the cigarette butts or the chalk that I like—it's more the texture and the crunch." When she runs out of either item, "I get quite agitated and my mouth begins to water." Kaheni hasn't consulted a doctor about her addiction, claiming she is too embarrassed, but she has discovered a Facebook page for others who suffer from Pica: "It makes me feel like less of a weirdo—less like I'm going mad," Kaheni said. Call it a dangerous case of mistaken identity: The Helena (Mont.) Independent Record reported that a 27-year-old man was shot at multiple times on Dec. 16 after being mistaken for Big Foot. The unidentified man told police he was setting up targets for shooting on federal land when bullets struck the ground nearby. He ran for cover, then confronted the shooter, who said the first man "was not wearing orange and thought he was Big Foot," said Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton. The cryptid impersonator described the shooter's vehicle to police but didn't want to press charges, asking only that the shooter be lectured about safe shooting. Jim Alexander, 41, and Betina Bradshaw, 54, of Torquay, Devon, England, are planning a Christmas feast for family and friends. On the menu: deer, pheasant, rabbits, badgers ... all roadkill. Alexander, a trained butcher, has collected nearly 50 fresh animal corpses over the past year. "I know people will think it's unusual, but really it just makes sense," Alexander told Metro News. Bradshaw says her family refers to him as a serial killer, but he has gradually won her over to the idea of eating roadkill. "The first few times he brought a deer home he told me it was for the dog. ... Obviously, you turn your nose up a bit at the start, but now it doesn't bother me at all," she said. Alexander said his odd collecting habits have drawn the attention of police, but "once they realize I'm doing nothing wrong, they are fine, and one even helped me lift an animal into the van," he said. Send tips to email@example.com
[Preparing for my interview on Lon Stricker’s Arcane Radio podcast this coming Friday, I’ve been putting together my Bigfoot material. Here’s one of those things:] This isn’t a particularly Fortean or cryptid sort of experience, but it was a profound one, and one I find revisiting more than forty-five years later. However, there is a piece of this experience that does fit in with Bigfoot and other crypto phenomena in a small way as we’ll see. When I was a Girl Scout (Troop 1534, the Robin was our crest) we went camping in Northern California. It was a great trip, and my first experience camping. We slept in tents, we hiked in the forests, … the whole real life camping thing. New to me but I loved it. The first night, I remember laying awake in awe at the strangeness of listening to the screams of a woman, or maybe it was a baby. On and on it went, and I couldn’t understand why none of the adults seemed to care. Finally, I came out of my tent, scared but also intensely curious, to find out what was going on. I was very surprised when the camp leaders assured me those “screams” were not the pleas for help from a human in trouble, but wild peacocks. It took some convincing. I simply had never heard such a sound before. I’d seen peacocks in the zoo, but they never cried out like that, just walked around, their brilliant green and emerald tails bursting into jeweled colors every few moments. It was hard for me to put that pretty image together with the sounds I was hearing that night. Of course, since then, I’ve heard peacocks call like that many times. In fact, in the hills surrounding the city where I live, the wild peacocks can be a nuisance. It was during this camping trip that I saw my first elk. I’m not sure what I was doing off by myself; I only have the memory of the elk sighting, and not what I was doing before or after. But I think I was just . . . walking around, which is a bit odd, since we were all about the buddy system and checking in with the adult staff and basically just not doing stupid things like being twelve years old and walking around in the forests by yourself on your first camping trip. I come out on the side of the road; a highway or something. Everything is very still, and very beautiful. I’m surprised the road is here, I didn’t know there was one close by. We came in another way, that involved dusty dirt roads and turns. I just stand there, looking. It seems I’m waiting for something, and suddenly I hear a loud crashing sound coming from across the road. I watch, and hear a snort, a kind of chuffing sound, and almost magically (or so it seemed to me) there was an elk. He came rushing out of the thick foliage and then stopped right at the edge of the road. We were no more than fifty feet from each other. I was amazed; what a beautiful animal! I wasn’t scared, but I was in awe. True awe. There he stood, looking straight ahead. He must have known I was there, but he didn’t look at me or come towards me. He seemed to be allowing me to look him over. (I’ve wondered, years later, if the elk wasn’t afraid of me, how did he know I wasn’t a hunter? Or was the elk unaware of me — but I am sure he was absolutely aware of me.) He just stood there — he had antlers and huge black eyes, and was very large. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at at first; I had never seen an elk outside of books before. At first I thought it was a very large deer, but realized this was no deer, but an elk. (verified later when I looked it up.) And here we were, standing at opposite sides of a road. After a few moments the elk seemed to fly across the road; just bounded in what seemed like one long graceful leap, and into the dark green of the other side. I remember thinking that this was a secret thing that had just happened, a glorious strange private thing. I walked back to our camp (I assume I did) and that was that. Bigfoot and cryptid debunkers and skeptics often say that people mistake the usual for the unusual. A bear, elk or some other animal is mistaken for a Sasquatch. The wild calls of a cougar, coyote, etc. is believed to be Bigfoot cries, or possibly something even more preternatural: the Beast of Bray road, or some such. All mundane sounds of animals mistaken to be something paranormal by nervous humans. It’s a disingenuous and insulting explanation, which is applied to all witnesses who find themselves out in the woods, regardless of their experience. The person who’s grown up with camping and hunting or who’s lived their entire lives in rural areas is considered in the same group with those unfamiliar with flora and fauna. Myself, at that time long ago. I had never heard the peacock’s eerie calls, or seen an elk in its natural habitat. Yet I didn’t jump to supernatural conclusions. At twelve, I was only vaguely aware of things like UFOs and strange creatures, but I did have an open mind, and in fact, assumed that things like ghosts existed. I don’t know where this trust in the “other” came from, just the way Im wired I guess. Even so, I investigated the call of the peacock, and simply accepted the gift of seeing wapiti. I didn’t assume those things were banshees or Bigfoot or anything strange. I know too many people that I trust who have shared with me their Bigfoot encounters. To varying degrees, all of those people are familiar with the outdoors, having lived in the country, or hunted, fished and camped all their lives. To suggest they “mistook” a bear, or something else of a mundane nature for a Sasquatch is ridiculous. In fact, it is irrational to suggest that. The debunker’s dismissal that “people see what they want to see” is also ridiculous. I didn’t, even in my twelve year old mind, believe I saw a fairy, or Bigfoot — I knew I saw an elk, even though I’d never seen one before. (Believe me, as wonderful and magical in its way seeing that elk was, it would have been much cooler to have seen a fairy.) Another tactic used by uber-skeptics is the “life itself is magical enough, only the bored or disturbed need to create something –Bigfoot, ghosts, etc. — instead of seeing the natural beauty around them.” What these skeptics don’t understand is that both exist; it’s not a contest. That elk was magical indeed. And so is Sasquatch, (and that’s with or without the high strangeness aspects of the phenomena, another topic for another day) which, so far anyway, I have not been blessed to encounter. At least not in a literal, flesh and blood way.
Posted by: John Kirk on August 31st, 2006 While the Kelowna detachment has had to deal with people attempting to harm an aquatic cryptid, the RCMP detachment near Peter Pond Lake in Saskatchewan has had to deal with a ‘lake monster’ which could prove harmful to humans. “Puff,” as the creature is known, has had a habit of tearing up the nets of local fishermen, so much so that they reported these occurrences to the RCMP. In addition to the fishermen who are on that lake, it is also used recreationally, so if there is something that poses a danger to persons and property, the police are obliged to check it out. Although the damaged nets are there for all to see, things have been peaceful on Peter Pond Lake and it seems “Puff” has taken on the characteristics of the dragon Peter, Paul and Mary sang about in the 60’s. The RCMP in Newfoundland have also been involved indirectly in a monster riddle that has long baffled the inhabitants of the hamlet of Roberts Arm. This delightful little town sits just to the west of the scenically beautiful Crescent Lake, reported home of an underwater cryptid named Cressie. A number of local people have seen the creature and some like Fred Parsons have spotted the beast more than once. Although the locals believe that there may be a lake monster in their local body of water, there may be a more plausible explanation for what they have seen. A number of years ago, the RCMP was called in to deal with a tragic death involving a boating accident. Divers from the RCMP were called in to assist with retrieval duties. While underwater the divers from the force were amazed to see enormous ‘eels’ in the lake. Some of these eels were very thick in size, a few of them as large around as a man’s thigh. It is very possible that these large eels are what the locals are taking for a lake monster. I have asked my friends on the force to keep me updated on anything cryptozoologically newsworthy so watch out for more on the Crypto-Police on Cryptomundo. One of the founders of the BCSCC, John Kirk has enjoyed a varied and exciting career path. Both a print and broadcast journalist, John Kirk has in recent years been at the forefront of much of the BCSCC’s expeditions, investigations and publishing. John has been particularly interested in the phenomenon of unknown aquatic cryptids around the world and is the author of In the Domain of the Lake Monsters (Key Porter Books, 1998). In addition to his interest in freshwater cryptids, John has been keenly interested in investigating the possible existence of sasquatch and other bipedal hominids of the world, and in particular, the Yeren of China. John is also chairman of the Crypto Safari organization, which specializes in sending teams of investigators to remote parts of the world to search for animals as yet unidentified by science. John travelled with a Crypto Safari team to Cameroon and northern Republic of Congo to interview witnesses among the Baka pygmies and Bantu bushmen who have sighted a large unknown animal that bears more than a superficial resemblance to a dinosaur. Since 1996, John Kirk has been editor and publisher of the BCSCC Quarterly which is the flagship publication of the BCSCC. In demand at conferences, seminars, lectures and on television and radio programs, John has spoken all over North America and has appeared in programs on NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, TLC, Discovery, CBC, CTV and the BBC. In his personal life John spends much time studying the histories of Scottish Clans and is himself the president of the Clan Kirk Society. John is also an avid soccer enthusiast and player.
Eric S. Brown. / Special to the Citizen-Times Want to track down Bigfoot? Follow the progress of “Bigfoot Wars” on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BigfootWars. The search for Sasquatch is over. Canton’s own Bigfoot will soon be spotted on the big screen. Production of the film adaptation of “Bigfoot War,” a horror-apocalypse book series by Eric S. Brown, of Canton, will begin at the end of July in Texas, according to Brown. Origin Releasing, a Dallas-based company, purchased the rights to the book first published in 2010 and plans to release the film in 2014. “Growing up in the rural South, Bigfoot terrified me,” said Brown, a Sylva native best known for his zombie fiction, such as “Season of Rot.” He pursued the legend of Sasquatch — a large, hairy humanoid creature reputed to live in wilderness areas — as a way to, well, revive his creativity after eight years of writing about the undead. “This is a personal book and a complete divergence from what was out there (in the market),” Brown said. “I didn’t expect the series to be turned into a movie, but I wanted to write the book like it was a movie. There is a very cinema feel to it, it (reads) like a big popcorn action flick.” In “Bigfoot War,” a fictional 800-person town in Haywood County struggles to survive a massive Sasquatch attack. “It is a zombie formula,” Brown said. “But the monsters are meaner, stronger, faster (than zombies). They will rip you in half — they are big, strong guys who could tear a car in half.” Lyle Blackburn is a fan of Brown’s, as well as an author, cryptid researcher and staff writer for the horror magazine, “Rue Morgue.” “One of the best aspects of Brown’s “Bigfoot War”books is that he doesn’t hold back,” Blackburn said. “The usual horror-themed approach to Bigfoot is to have a maligned creature or two lash out at some hikers who wander too far into the forest. “But in this case, we have a whole species of powerful creatures unleashing the full force of their anger on any human who happens to stand in their way,” Blackburn said. “It’s like the ultimate ‘nature fights back’ scenario in which an animal with extraordinary brute strength has enough intelligence to make them a worthy foe for mankind.” For Blackburn, the story works on a couple of levels, “ not only as an entertaining and over-the-top horror story, but as a harsh reminder that we should take better care of the animals we share the planet with. “Sure, we can’t prove Sasquatches are real, but then again we can’t prove they’re not. “We certainly don’t want to find out the hard way,” he said. The movie adaptation is altering some of Brown’s story. He did not write the script but does have an advisory role in the film. The film is set in Texas instead of Haywood County, for one. And instead of focusing on the sheriff, the story centers on an Iraqi veteran whose Bigfoot feud sparked the invasion. “When I first read ‘Bigfoot War,’ I thought to myself ‘this would make a great horror film,’” Blackburn said. “There’s been plenty of Sasquatch horror films in the past, but never one like ‘Bigfoot War,’” he added. “The take-no-prisoners approach will lend itself to some exciting visuals that can complement the tight storyline of the book. And the fact that the creatures are so intelligent and amazing, it almost makes you root for them.”
Archive for the “Cinema News” Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 27th, 2015 A fractured family battles against a tribe of angry Sasquatch. The thing that makes Valley of the Sasquatch stand out is how it focuses on the characters as they bond or bicker throughout the tale. Their conflicts add a lot to the monster encounters later in the film. This goes a long way in preventing the film from becoming another low budget waste of time. Read: Reviewed: Valley Of The Sasquatch » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 26th, 2015 New Film “Valley of The Sasquatch” Takes Inspiration From Real Life Bigfoot Encounters After losing their home following a devastating tragedy, a father and son are forced to move to an old family cabin. Neither reacts well to being thrown into this new world. The son’s attempts to relate to his father are complicated when two old friends arrive for a weekend of hunting. This trip into the forest will unearth not only buried feelings of guilt and betrayal, but also a tribe of Sasquatch that are determined to protect their land. Read: Update: Valley Of The Sasquatch » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 20th, 2015 This psychological thriller follows two men on their search for proof of Bigfoot’s existence. They soon find out that the real question is not IF he exists, but why… Read: Bigfoot: The Curse of Blood Mountain » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 12th, 2015 The Fiancé – 2015 feature film written and directed by Mark Allen Michaels and starring Carrie Keagan, Dallas Veldez, Curt Lambert, and Douglas Tait. When a beautiful bride-to-be is bitten by Bigfoot, she becomes a brutal force of nature hellbent on breaking her engagement… and her fiancé! Read: Trailer Teases Bigfoot Thriller The Fiancé » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 10th, 2015 If you were searching for the definitive bigfoot movie, look no further; Exists is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Read: Exists Reviewed » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 6th, 2015 Release date and DVD cover artwork are out for the UK release. And what a difference in the artwork? Read: Bigfoot Exists on DVD in the UK » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 3rd, 2015 The day we’ve all been waiting for is here! Available at Amazon.con for only $13.99. Order here. Read: Exists DVD Release Today! » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on February 2nd, 2015 Filming for the Minerva Monster documentary wrapped in December of 2014. Now, in 2015, you can be a part of a brand new style of cryptid entertainment! Read: Minerva Monster Documentary Kickstarter Launch » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on January 22nd, 2015 Bigfoot. Is it a legend, a myth or is it real? Regardless of public opinion, many people have reported spotting the elusive creature. An initial sighting followed by several “visits” from the alleged creature occurred in Paris Twp. on US 30 east of Minerva in August 1978. Read: Did Bigfoot Really Visit Minerva in 1978? » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on December 22nd, 2014 Minerva Monster is a documentary centered around a series of sightings of a strange creature in and around the town of Minerva, Ohio. The sightings were accompanied by animal deaths, strange happenings and packs of “monster hunters” descending on the town. Watch the film trailer here at Cryptomundo! Read: Teaser Trailer for Minerva Monster » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on December 19th, 2014 Looks like the DVD release date for Exists is February 3rd, 2015. Read: Bigfoot Exists on DVD » Posted by: Craig Woolheater on December 18th, 2014 Listen to the archived interview with Eduardo Sanchez, director of The Blair Witch Project and the Bigfoot horror thriller Exists as our guest. Read: CryptoCast Archive: Eduardo Sanchez and Exists » Posted by: Shannon LeGro on December 2nd, 2014 Posted by: Craig Woolheater on November 28th, 2014 “If something chases you… run!” Read: Jurassic World Trailer » Posted by: Shannon LeGro on November 27th, 2014 In this special episode Seth talks with Alan and Jesse about their upcoming Bigfoot documentary, Minerva Monster and the series, Small Town Monsters. They discuss the story behind the film, get in-depth on the making of it, and talk about what’s next. Read: SasWhat: Small Town Monsters presents Minerva Monster »
I am greatly indebted to American cryptozoological investigator Todd Jurasek for the following information and kind permission to publish it, and also to acclaimed cryptozoological artist William Rebsamen for the wonderful artwork above. In autumn 2002, Todd visited the village of Siawi in a remote region of Papua New Guinea roughly 18 miles east of the border with Irian Jaya just below the mountains, and approximately 6 miles from the Sepik River. During his stay there, he interviewed members of several different tribes in the hope of extracting information of cryptozoological relevance, with the aid of a missionary called Jason acting as interpreter. He obtained some information concerning giant monitors (the apparent identity of the Papuan artrellia) and also giant snakes, as well as some more surprising testimony concerning the alleged existence here of a lion-sized cat (no feline species is known to exist on New Guinea) and also a possible large canine cryptid. But by far the most extraordinary information obtained from these interviews concerned an alleged bigfoot-like man-beast, which was described to Jason by members of both the Siawi and the Amto tribes. According to their accounts, this New Guinea ape-man, known to the Amto people as the kayadi, was at least man-sized (i.e. about 5 ft 5 in tall, judging from the average height of most native peoples on New Guinea), hirsute, and bipedal, but also able to climb trees very rapidly, and strong enough physically to throw humans if confronted. One Amti tribesman stated that in 1981 a kayadi had been startled by his uncle while digging for eggs in a cave near his village, and another claimed that a local girl had actually been kidnapped a while back by one of these man-beasts. Many of the major islands or island groups in the vicinity of New Guinea can lay claim to reports of man-beasts - such as the yowie in Australia, maero or macro in New Zealand, orang pendek in Sumatra, batutut in Borneo, and mumulou in the Solomon Islands. However, as far as I am aware, this is the first time that a named man-beast has been reported from New Guinea, thereby making Todd's findings a very notable contribution to cryptozoology.
In The Slime People, Subterrestrial reptilian slime men invade Los Angeles with a wall of solidified fog-and spears. Hordak uses a mind-controlling slime pit to sap He-Man of his will in the Masters of the Universe series. Hulk adversary The Glob was formerly petty criminal and escaped convict Joe Timms, until he drowned in a radioactive swamp while escaping prison, turning him into a soupy man-like mound. Todd's Adventures in Slime World, a video game for the Atari Lynx and Sega Genesis, pits the titular astronaut Todd against an entire alien planet of living slime. In "The Deadly Blue Slime", an episode of M.A.S.K., the team travel to Africa to stop a malignant blue goop created in a laboratory accident. In the Quartermass Experiment, an astronaut returns to Earth with the ability to absorb all matter he touches, changing him into an unidentifiable blob. In an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus, an alien Blancmange from the planet Skyron is eating famous tennis players and turning the rest into Scots, in a ploy to depopulate England and win Wimbledon because Scots are terrible at tennis. Makuin of the Blob is the leader of the Yuumajuu, cryptid-based monsters with anthropoid elements, and a major antagonist on Tensou Sentai Goseiger. He wishes to remake the world to his liking, so his people can flourish on Earth while taking delight in human suffering. Slimebucket is reoccurring character from the series Aaahh!! Real Monsters. As his name would imply, he resembles a living bucket of slime. In World of Warcraft, Oozes are blind and acidic creatures who eat but do not need sleep. Globsters are unidentified organic skin masses that occasionally wash up on beaches. Cryptozoologists believe they may belong to a new species, but common opinion dictates they're merely the sloughed flesh of dead whales. In a two-part episode of the Silver Surfer animated series, "The Learning Curve", The Watcher's Universal Library becomes infected by alien viral globs. Mattel made a slime monster board game in 1977, The Slime Monster Game. The idea is to manipulate the monster into vomiting slime on your opponent's character pieces, so your character will pick up the landmine that sends the monster toppling over. In the Sega Genesis video game the Ooze, you play as Dr. Caine, a scientist transformed into human ooze by toxic waste after discovering his colleagues plan to unleash a virus onto the populous. Ronnie Cook's "Goo Goo Muck", popularly covered by The Cramps, concerns a teenager who transforms into the titular creature come nightfall. In the Night Gallery episode, "A Question of Fear" Leslie Nielsen plays a soldier-of-fortune bet $10,000 he cannot survive a night in a haunted house. After encountering a number of animatronics and holograms, Nielsen is greeted in the morning by his employer, Fritz Weaver, over a television, revealing himself to be a vengeful biochemist that has injected him with a serum while he was sleeping. He explains that over several months his bones will disintegrate, metamorphosing him into a human annelid. After pointing out the slime trail left by his colleague and first victim, Nielson commits suicide. Weaver reveals afterward he was lying. On Invasion: Earth The nDs, a tentacled and slimey alien farming race that harvests organic matter to create living machines, invades Earth plotting to use humans as a new power source. Meg Mucklebones is a slimy swamp hag played by Robert Picardo in Ridley Scott's Legend. The Slim Slime Man, a villain in the cartoon series Grossology, is a sewer worker fused to a slime mold. His ultimate aspiration is to bury the planet in slime molds. Snott is the second of Earthworm Jim's sidekicks, a small unspeaking creature who often hides in Jim's backpack. Snott helped Jim battle Major Mucus, a phlegm-based alien conqueror out to steal Jim's suit. The Slime Princess, from the series Adventure Time, is the ruler of the Slime Kingdom. She has been kidnapped by the Ice king and trapped in the Ghost Ship Vortex, but Finn and Jake rescued her on both occasions. In The Neverending Story, The Swamps of Sadness is a series of bubbling black mires so depressing they frequently cause those who trespass to be so overcome with grief they choose to suicidally sink to its bottom than make their way through, as it does to Atreyu's horse Artax. Toxoid, from Saban's VR Troopers was one of Grimlord's chief lieutenants. He had the ability to shoot slime from his fingertips. Globbor was an energy-sapping slime monster created by Master Vile to combat the Power Rangers. Unlike Ivan Ooze, Globbor survived his apparent destruction at the hands of the Ninja Falcon Megazord by recomposing himself from dispersed slime. Shortly afterward, Master Vile was able to establish a voodoo-like physical link between Globbor and Ninjor, an ally to the Rangers, so every blow dealt to Globbor harmed their friend equally. The Rangers were eventually able to sever the link, and Ninjor killed Globbor with a concentrated ball of energy. In the Martin Mystery episode "The Creeping Slime," The Center is dispatched to investigate the disappearances of oilrig workers eaten by a creature covered in oily viscous. The invading aliens in Quartermass II can amalgamate into 150-foot high slime monoliths. Goblins from the rural town of Nilbog are intent on transmuting humans into an edible vegetable slime in Troll 2. In the made for television Disney film, Fuzzbucket, the title creature turns invisible after staying out past midnight, and must make himself apparent again by drinking a magical fluorescent slime, graphically reconstructing himself layer-by-layer. In Harlan Ellison's "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", a genocidal supercomputer named AM perpetually tortures the final five surviving members of the human race who want nothing more than to kill themselves. One of the unfortunates, a man named Ted, reasons the computer will not intervene if they kill each other, due to its programming. Being the odd man out, AM, furious with Ted for outwitting him, genetically reduces him to a limbless human jelly unable to move or speak, keeping him alive indefinitely.
It's known as the Jersey Devil, the winged beast spawned 400 years ago by Satan himself. Some say this creature still inhabits the dense pine forests of southern New Jersey, where Richard Vineyard takes his family for a rustic weekend camping trip. As the Vineyard family ventures further into the woods in search of the perfect campsite, Richard teeters on the edge of sanity. And it seems that the blood-crazed demon called The Jersey Devil may no longer be just a myth. Darren Lynn Bousman burst onto the genre scene in 2005, when he directed Saw 2, one of the better installments in the franchise. Bousman spent the next couple years of his career with Jigsaw, directing the subsequent third and fourth franchise installments, which I was also a fan of. From there, it was on to Repo : The Genetic Opera, a grassroots rock opera that quickly garnered a huge cult fan base, a fan base which did not include me. Musicals just aint my bag, and though Repo is more my type of musical than any other musical that's come before it, it still didn't do a thing for me. Sorry. A couple years after Repo, Bousman helmed the Mother's Day remake, a film made in 2010 but not widely released here in the states until earlier this year. Taking the basic plot of the goofy Troma film from 1980 and turning it into a brutal straight up horror flick, Bousman's vision of Mother's Day was one of my favorite remakes from the past couple years, and ensured that from there on out, I would watch anything and everything with the name Darren Lynn Bousman attached to it. With that film, Bousman proved to me that he wasn't just 'that Saw guy', and that he was a force to be reckoned with in the genre. Last year saw the release of 11-11-11, that film that is only relevant one day out of every one hundred years. As such, it was largely forgotten after November 11th of last year, so by the time it was actually widely available for consumption (in 2012...), there was pretty much no interest from anyone in consuming it. Including myself. After hearing nothing but highly negative reviews, I completely avoided 11-11-11, and still have not watched it. Since I likely won't be around in 2111, that may never change. In 2012, it was back to song and dance for Bousman with The Devil's Carnival, another horror themed musical that toured around the country earlier in the year, and now can be watched for free over on Netflix. I haven't done so, and I don't think I need to reiterate why. I'm sure it's cool and all, for those who were a fan of Repo, but yea, not my cup of joe. Which brings us to The Barrens, Bousman's other 2012 offering, which just came out on home video on October 9th. And which I just rented on VUDU last night. And with that, we're all up to speed on Bousman's career up to this point, so we may proceed to the review! I guess the point I was trying to make by all that text I just typed above is that Darren Bousman is a very interesting filmmaker. For one, he always seems to be making movies that get the shaft when it comes to distribution. And for two, he's pretty hit or miss with his movies. Though the likes outweigh the dislikes for me personally, it's kinda hard to say whether or not I'm a fan of him as a filmmaker, considering he's not exactly consistent with his output. One year you've got an awesome film like Mother's Day, and the next, you've got ... The Barrens. Hit ... and miss. The Barrens is another big time miss for Bousman, one of my personal biggest disappointments of 2012. As a fan of most of Bousman's work, and an avid Cryptozoology nut, I had been looking forward to seeing his take on the Jersey Devil mythos for the past couple months, hopeful that this would be one of the rare movies about a mythical Cryptid that was actually good. Save for Mothman Prophecies and the fun flick Abominable, Cryptozoological creatures have mostly only been given the super shitty Syfy treatment over the years, which makes me one sad little man. In the hands of Bousman, my hopes were high that the Jersey Devil would finally be given the cinematic respect he deserves. ....Which is why I was so disappointed to discover that The Barrens is a Jersey Devil movie that is pretty much about anything but the Jersey Devil. Bousman's lame-o script is instead a psychological peek inside the fractured mind of a father/husband (played by True Blood's Stephen Moyer), a man who has taken his family camping in Jersey Devil territory, and who thinks the Devil is real, and out to get him. And so, for the majority of the movie, the Jersey Devil is only seen as delusions in Moyer's head, or at least what we're led to believe are crazy delusions. Now that's all good and well, and the idea of a crazy man going out into the woods and thinking he's seeing the Jersey Devil, when he's not, could be quite an interesting tale, in the right hands. There was definitely the germ of an interesting idea there, which could very well have sprouted into an effective exploration on the effects of fear and paranoia. But here's the problem with The Barrens. In addition to the script just all around being incredibly boring and dull, we are shown early on that the Jersey Devil does in fact exist, in the world that this movie inhabits. In the opening pre-credits sequence, two young campers come upon a pile of dead animal bodies and are then killed by something that flys towards them, though we never see what it was that attacked them. But obviously, since it was flying, and this is a movie about the Jersey Devil and all, we can be pretty sure that it was the Jersey fucking Devil. And thus, the fact that the whole movie tries to convince us that we're watching a movie about a crazy guy who thinks he sees a creature that doesn't really exist, rather than a movie about a family that's about to become a hearty meal for the Jersey Devil, is totally silly. If Bousman had instead decided to not show us that the Jersey Devil was real, in the early parts of the film, then the movie could've perhaps been interesting, as we'd actually wonder if this guy is really nuts, or if he's right about the Devil. Instead, Bousman spoils that whole thing from the word go, thus making everything that comes after the opening credits a totally predictable bore. Gee, I wonder who's really responsible for killing all the campers, man or myth, when you already showed us two campers getting killed by the Jersey Devil before the opening credits!! I realize the above paragraph is a bit spoiler-ific, but it's the movie that spoils the movie, so don't blame me! The other major fault of Bousman playing the film for psychological kicks rather than making a straight up Jersey Devil gone wild flick is that the movie is a total bore, without any of that Jersey Devil action that I went into it hoping for, and expecting. It's essentially The Shining ... in the woods ... made by Syfy ... and I don't say that in any sort of complementary way. Basically, it's a Syfy movie that's devoid of the one thing that makes Syfy movies remotely watchable; cool monster on human kill scenes. Though the film obviously wasn't setting out to be fun, but rather a psychological trip, I again must reiterate that I didn't dislike it simply because it wasn't what I was expecting it to be. If the story had been any good, I would've enjoyed it had the Jersey Devil played any actual role in it or not. But the fact of the matter is that the story just isn't good. And again, since we've already pretty much been told the secret of the film within the first couple minutes, there's not much reason to even go along for that boring ride. Sorry Darren, but when I'm sitting there the whole time itching to see the Jersey Devil tear up every character in the film, your attempts at making a Jersey Devil film more interesting than the typical Jersey Devil film have failed. As far as Stephen Moyer is concerned, I'm a big fan of him as Bill on True Blood, but I've never really been impressed by any of his acting outside of that show, and I always have a hard time seeing him as anything other than Vampire Bill. He seems to be struggling with his accent throughout The Barrens, much like he was in The Caller, which gets a bit distracting. Oddly enough, he gets to use his native accent in this film, so I'm not sure what the problem was there. It's as if he's stuck between his real accent and his True Blood accent, both of which are internally fighting with one another to get out of his mouth! Ya know when you're watching a movie, and you're kinda bored, so you hit the select button on your PS3 remote, hopeful that you've only got a few minutes left? And then once you hit the button, you realize that you've only made it an hour into the film, and you've still got 30 minutes to go? Yea. That pretty much sums up my experience of watching The Barrens last night. The Barrens is a big step back for Bousman, a film that feels more like a debut effort from an amateur filmmaker. Still love ya Darren, but you're better than this. And the Jersey Devil's better than this too. Those cryptids get no respect, I tell ya.
Abrams stands at attention for The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Jen Corace, a new version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale; The Museum by Susan Verde, illus. by Peter H. Reynolds, a picture book that celebrates visiting the museum; How to Be a Cat by Nikki McClure, in which a kitten learns all things feline; Henry’s Hand by Ross MacDonald, starring two best friends: a monster, and his right hand; and Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss, illus. by Yuko Shimizu, the true story of how Kenichi Zenimura introduced the game of baseball to Japanese internment camps during WWII. Amulet cleanses its palate for Like Tuna on a Milkshake by Julie Sternberg, the sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, in which Eleanor is off to summer camp; An Army of Frogs: A Kulipari Novel by Trevor Pryce, illus. by Sanford Greene, a chapter book from pro football player Pryce; In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters, about a teenage girl who sees a ghost during the frightening confusion of the 1918 flu epidemic; My Summer of Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald, in which sisters Lucy and Sunny try to keep the Old Mill Pharmacy – now spa – running smoothly; and The Origami Yoda Doodle and Activity Book by Tom Angleberger, a companion to the Origami Yoda series. Appleseed is shovel-ready with Dig In by April Jones Prince, illus. by Michelle Berg, in which some industrious mice have a busy day on the construction site; Animal Print Shop: I Love Your Face by Sharon Montrose, featuring detailed portraits of baby animals and text about unconditional love; Up Close by Gay Wegerif, a name-that-animal board book; and The Jellybeans Board Book by Laura Numeroff, illus. by Lynn Munsinger, a story of friendship with a ballet-recital backdrop. Albert Whitman heads into spring with Three Bears ABC by Grace Maccarone, illus. by Hollie Hibbert, a nursery-tale-meets-concept-book project; Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, illus. by James Daugherty, an illustrated interpretation – originally published in 1947 – of the famous speech; In Search of Goliathus Hercules by Jennifer Angus, a debut fantasy about a boy who, while traveling the world in search of the mythical titular creature, discovers he can talk to insects; Baby Parade by Rebecca O’Connell, illus. by Susie Poole, featuring babies on the move, and Mystery at Blue Ridge Cemetery by Florence Parry Heide and Roxanne Heide Pierce, illus. by Sophie Escabasse, a new Spotlight Club mystery involving rubbings from Civil War-era tombstones. ALBERT WHITMAN TEEN Albert Whitman Teen rolls out the welcome mat for When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon, starring a popular, rugby-playing teen who just happens to be gay; and debut novel Being Henry David by Cal Amistead, in which a 17-year-old finds himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of who he is or why his only possession is a worn copy of Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Annick raises the curtain for Showtime: Meet the People Behind the Scenes by Kevin Sylvester, about the people who make a theatrical production hum; Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helped Solve History’s Mysteries by Elizabeth MacLeod, featuring wonders of modern forensic science; Arabs Thought of It: Amazing Inventions and Innovations by Saima Hussain, which profiles the achievements of Arab peoples; Follow the Money: Where Does It Go? by Kevin Sylvester and Michael Hlinka, a look at the cost of everyday items; and War Brothers by Sharon McKay, a graphic novel about a boy forced to be a child soldier in Ugandan rebel leader Kony’s army. Barefoot checks its scuba gear for A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea by Jessica Law, illus. by Jill McDonald, a cumulative tale about underwater life; A Farmer’s Life for Me by Jan Dobbins, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith, a look at a farm family’s everyday activities; Animal Stories 3: The Hungry Wolf – A Story from North America by Lari Don, illus. by Melanie Williamson, in which a clever lamb tricks her way out of a wolf’s jaws; Ruby’s Baby Brother by Kathryn White, illus. by Miriam Latimer, in which a big sister adjusts to a new sibling’s arrival; and Chandra’s Magic Light by Theresa Heine, illus. by Judith Gueyfier, about two sisters determined to to replace the unsafe kerosene lamps in their house with solar lighting. Bloomsbury serves for match point with The Academy, a new series by tennis star Monica Seles set at a sports academy for super-talented and super-rich; Chick ’n’ Pug Meet the Dude by Jennifer Sattler, in which a big mutt ambles onto the turf of pals Chick and Pug; Jessica Day George's Wednesdays in the Tower, a sequel to Tuesdays at the Castle, about the unusual discovery Princess Celie makes in her magical citadel; The Quirks: Welcome to Normal by Erin Soderberg Downing, starring Molly, a girl who relishes her normalness among family members who have magical abilities; and Hidden by Marianne Curley, in which a girl is on the brink of discovering she is not human, but rather, a stolen angel whom the heavens want back. BOYDS MILLS PRESS Boyds Mills waves the checkered flag for Speed by Nathan Clement, a picture book featuring a stock car race; Last But Not Least Lola by Christine Pakkala, first in a series of chapter books starring second grader Lola Zuckerman; Shine, Baby, Shine by Leslie Staub, a picture book celebrating the parent-child bond; and Uh-Oh, Dodo by Jennifer Sattler, in which a baby dodo bird explores the world with his mother. BOYDS MILLS PRESS/WORDSONG WordSong is all smiles with Face Bug: Poems by J. Patrick Lewis, photos by Frederic Siskind, illus. by Kelly Murphy, which pairs close-up photos of bug faces with humorous verse; and Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illus. by Matt Hahurin, which gives the points of view of the princess, the pea and all sorts of other fairy tale characters. Candlewick goes wild for Feral Nights by Cynthia Leitich Smith, a dark fantasy adventure for teens featuring werepossum Clyde and other characters from the Tantalize quartet; Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun by Liz Kessler, about half-mermaid Emily’s icy and perilous journey to a strange land; The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline, a picture-book immigration tale; Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis, an illustrated middle-grade novel starring the comical title character, and Zebra Forest by Adina Gewirtz, a debut middle-grade novel in which a fugitive upends everything two siblings think they know about their family. Nosy Crow proceeds with caution for Open Very Carefully by Nick Bromley, illus. by Nicola O’Byrne, in which a bedtime tale is interrupted by a furious crocodile; Baby and Me by Emma Dodd, spotlighting all the things one does to take care of a baby; Dinosaur Zoom! by Penny Dale, a picture book filled with dinos and vehicles of all shapes and sizes; Pip and Posy: The Big Balloon by Axel Scheffler, about Posy’s plan to cheer up Pip when he loses his big red balloon; and The Princess and the Peas by Caryl Hart, illus. by Sarah Warburton, starring a finicky eater who is diagnosed with a case of “Princessitus” and sent to live at the palace. Templar Books blasts off with King of Space by Jonny Duddle, featuring a small child with big ambitions; Art for Baby: Faces by various artists, a collection of color images of faces by some of the world’s leading modern artists; FArTHER by Grahame Baker-Smith, in which a boy tries to realize his father’s dream of flying after his father does not return from war; Jemmy Button by Jennifer Uman and Valerio Vidali, about a native of Tierra del Fuego who was brought to England for a year to be “civilized” by the captain of the HMS Beagle; and Matilda and Hans by Yokococo, starring a pair of feline friends. Toon Books can hardly wait for Barry’s Big Surprise by Renée French, a graphic easy-reader featuring funny pals Barry and Polarhog; and Benjamin Bear in What Goes Up Must Come Down by Philippe Coudray, the comic-strip formatted account of Benjamin Bear’s adventures walking on water, riding a square bicycle, and taking a dip under the sea. Charlesbridge wags its tail for War Dogs: Churchill and Rufus by Kathryn Selbert, the true story of Winston Churchill and his faithful poodle companion; Global Baby Girls by The Global Fund for Children, a board book featuring photos of baby girls from around the world, which will help raise funds for charities that support girls; The Market Bowl by Jim Averbeck, an original folktale set in contemporary Camaroon; Pinch and Dash and the Terrible Couch by Michael J. Daley, illus. by Thomas F. Yezerski, in which two friends decide where a very large couch will eventually live; and Bad Girls: Sirens, Jezebels, Murderesses, Thieves and Other Female Villains by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illus. by Rebecca Guy, profiles of 26 women from history notorious for their bad reputations. Chronicle calls “all aboard!” for Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, a bedtime book for train lovers; Mommy! Mommy! by Taro Gomi, in which readers follow two chicks on a barnyard search for their mother; I Scream! Ice Cream! by Amy Krause Rosenthal, illus. by Serge Bloch, a book of silly and clever wordplay; Seagulls Don’t Eat Pickles by Erica Farmer, illus. by Jason Beene, first in a new chapter book series about nine-year-old Fish Finelli, who’s challenged by a bully to find a pirate treasure; and The Falconer by Elizabeth May, the tale of a well-bred young Victorian lady leading a double life as a Falconer, a female warrior who hunts and kills faeries. Disney-Hyperion brushes up on mnemonics for Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedy, illus. by Jon Muth, a collection of classic poetry designed to encourage reading, memorization, and recital; A Big Guy Took My Ball!: An Elephant & Piggie Book by Mo Willems, a spin on playground bullying and comparisons; WARP: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer, first in a new Oliver Twist meets The Matrix time-travel adventure series; Kingdom Keepers VI by Ridley Pearson, in which five guardians must thwart villains Maleficent and the Overtakers; and The Odd Squad: Bully Bait by Michael Fry, an illustrated fiction title about a team of hopeless oddballs that morphs into an empowered group ready to face whatever middle school dishes out. Disney Press does the time warp with Tomorrowland by Michael Siglain and Bryan Q. Miller, illus. by Kelley Jones and Hi-Fi Design, featuring two science cadets in 2125 who win “golden tickets” to travel 24 hours into the future; Happy Halloween, Buddies!, first in a new tie-in series to the Disney Buddies movies starring golden retriever puppies; Monsters University Fearbook, a yearbook inspired by the Disney-Pixar film Monsters University; Blooming Bows by William Scollon, in which Aunt Minnie must repair Millie and Melody’s posy costumes before the big pageant; and Minnie & Daisy B.F.F.: Much Ado About Juliet by Calliope Glass, which finds Minnie and Daisy competing for the lead in Mouston Central’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Eerdmans has a blueprint for spring with The Hens Build a Wall by Jean-Francois Dumont, about the chickens’ approach to dealing with an unfamiliar hedgehog; When No One Is Watching by Eileen Spinelli, illus. by David Johnson, which encourages readers to celebrate the joys of a good friendship, regardless of whether anyone’s watching; Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse, illus. by Rébecca Dautremer, a tale featuring the titular folklore character from the Middle East; A Girl Called Problem by Katie Quirk, in which a 13-year-old African girl named Shida (which means "problem" in Swahili) is determined to overcome misfortune and make a better life; and Bully.com by Joe Lawlor, about a brilliant student who is wrongly accused of cyber bullying, and then pulls out all the stops to find the real culprit. Egmont USA greets the season with Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison, starring a teen girl who is contacted by a ghost to solve his murder; BZRK, Book Two by Michael Grant, a continuation of the nano wars over the fate of free will begun in Book One; My Homework Ate My Homework by Patrick Jennings, a middle-grade novel about a girl who has far-fetched excuses for accidentally losing the class pet; and Cloneward Bound: The Clone Chronicles, Book 2 by M.E. Castle, a humorous middle-grade adventure set in Hollywood. Enchanted Lion takes cover for Thunderstorm by Arthur Geisert, which follows the course of a Midwestern thunderstorm passing through a small farming community; Me First by Michaël, illus. by Kris Giacomo, a comic story about a duck that always wants to go ahead of everyone; and My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, illus. by Øyvind Torseter, in which a boy who is unable to sleep climbs into his father’s arms and ponders the big questions of his life. HarperCollins goes to the head of the class with The School of Good and Evil, a debut novel starring BFFs Agatha, a witch-girl, and princess-wannabe Sophie; Big Nate Flips Out by Lincoln Peirce, the fifth comic adventure novel for sixth-grade detention king Nate Wright; Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis, in which a 12-year-old boy with six months to live is offered a mystical reprieve; Love Wins: Teen Edition by Rob Bell, a YA adaptation of Bell’s bestseller examining questions of heaven, hell, salvation, and compassion; Requiem, the culmination of Lauren Oliver's Delirium trilogy, about a society in which love is seen as a disease; and Charlie Goes to School by Ree Drummond, illus. by Diane deGroat, in which Charlie the Ranch Dog sets up a class for his friends. Amistad welcomes spring with Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers, about two Harlem teens: Twig, whose running will take him far, and Darus, a writer, who’s still seeking a dream of his own. HARPERCOLLINS/BALZER + BRAY Balzer + Bray knows mum’s the word with House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini, which kicks off a fantasy series about the Pagett family, their mysterious house, and a magical inheritance; That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems, the story of a hungry fox who meets a plump goose; The Fairy Bell Sisters #1: Silver Saves the Fairy Ball by Margaret McNamara, first in an illustrated early-chapter series about Tinker Bell’s five little sisters and their adventures; The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd, the debut title in a gothic suspense trilogy inspired by The Island of Dr. Moreau, starring Moreau’s daughter Juliet; and The End Games by T. Michael Martin, in which 17-year-old Michael tries to protect his younger brother from the horrors of a post-apocalyptic West Virginia. Collins is angling for teacher’s pet with How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids by Thomas C. Foster, an accessible homework helper; and Coral Reefs by Seymour Simon, an eco-friendly nonfiction picture book. Greenwillow gets its jar ready for The Lightning Catcher by Anne Cameron, first in an action-packed tween series about friendship, the wonder of science, and extreme weather; I Represent Sean Rosen by Jeff Baron, in which middle schooler Sean Rosen sells a movie idea to a motion picture studio while pretending to be a grown-up – and his own agent; Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish, illus. by Lynne Avril, which finds Amelia taking on lots of jobs to earn money for a new bicycle; Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird, illus. by Brandon Dorman, about a girl who teaches a gaggle of giants how to cut a rug; and Arclight by Josin McQuein, a debut teen fantasy/thriller. HarperFestival wriggles into spring with Diary of a Worm: Teacher’s Pet by Denise Cronin, illus. by Harry Bliss, a tale about finding the perfect birthday gift, marking Worm’s I Can Read debut; Charlie the Ranch Dog: Where’s the Bacon? by Ree Drummond, illus. by Diane deGroat, an I Can Read title in which Charlie is upset when a visiting dog takes over his turf; Pinkalicious: Pink-or-Treat by Victoria Kann, about Pinkalicious’s efforts to save her favorite candy-filled holiday from being canceled by a power-outage, and Fancy Nancy: Apples Galore by Jane O’Connor, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser, an apple-picking adventure. HarperTeen stocks up on eye of newt for Spellcaster by Claudia Gray, first in a new series about a young witch who battles dark forces in a small town; Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, a dystopian teen novel set in the dry wasteland of Prin; Towering by Alex Flinn, a dark, modern retelling of Rapunzel; Revolution 19 by Gregg Roseblum, about a futuristic world controlled by robots; and an as yet untitled illustrated novel by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, based on the Zits comic strip. HARPERCOLLINS/KATHERINE TEGEN BOOKS Katherine Tegen Books keeps the beat with Pulse by Patrick Carman, a fantasy-adventure trilogy set in 2051 featuring teens who can move things with their minds; Septimus Heap, Book Seven: Fyre by Angie Sage, the final installment of the series, in which Jenna is crowned and Septimus realizes his destiny; Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley, about a 13-year-old girl who develops multiple personalities to deal with the trauma of being kidnapped and abused; Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza, first in a sci-fi thriller series about a teen who discovers she is an experiment in artificial intelligence; and Light by Michael Grant, the sixth and final book in the Gone series, which culminates in the destruction of FAYZ. HARPERCOLLINS/WALDEN POND PRESS Walden Pond Press dons its armor for The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy, illus. by Todd Harris, in which eight fairy-tale princes and princesses band together to recover an enchanted sword; Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, the debut title in a middle-grade series featuring monotreme detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O’Malley; The Fellowship for Alien Detection by Kevin Emerson, in which middle schoolers prove their theories about extraterrestrial life in our galaxy; The Girl from Felony Bay by John Thompson, about a southern girl who tries to prove the innocence of her father, who has been wrongly accused of a crime; and The Fourth Stall Part III by Chris Rylander, the final chapter in the Fourth Stall saga that finds Mac and Vince struggling to stay out of the organized crime business. Heyday knows the moral of the story with Aesop in California by Doug Hansen, which features Hansen’s California-set retellings of Aseop’s beloved fables. HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT HMH is coming up roses with Lois Ehlert’s Growing Garden Gift Set by Lois Ehlert, which contains copies of Growing Vegetable Soup, Eating the Alphabet, and Planting a Rainbow, and a bonus poster; The Little Prince 70th Anniversary Gift Set by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, containing a hardcover copy of the original book packaged with a recording of the text read by Viggo Mortensen; A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester, illus. by Lynn Munsinger, one of the first titles in the new Laugh-Along Lessons series of 8x8 paperbacks; and Where Is Curious George?: A Look and Find Book, and Curious George Dance Party, a tie-in to the PBS animated show about the mischievous monkey. Clarion pirouettes into fall with Tallulah’s Toe Shoes by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Alexandra Boiger, about a determined young dancer who is sure she’s ready to dance en pointe; Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger, illus. by Cece Bell, the comical “true” story behind a favorite, though confusing, patriotic song; The Meanest Birthday Girl by Josh Schneider, an early reader about a mean girl who gets her comeuppance when she receives an unusual birthday gift; Tides by Betsy Cornwell, a YA debut that weaves Celtic lore about selkies into a mysterious story about family secrets and love; and The Caged Graves by Dianne Slaerni, in which a young woman in 1867 returns to her hometown and discovers that her mother’s grave is in an iron cage outside the cemetery. Graphia cranks up the oxygen tank for Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler, the final installment in the Riders of the Apocalypse series of YA fantasy titles; and Confederates Don’t Wear Couture by Kate Strohm, in which Libby tours the South with best friend Dev and a group of Civil War re-enactors. Harcourt has a ticket to ride with The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, illus. by Stacy Innerst, an account of how the Fab Four’s sense of humor and musical talent inspired Beatlemania; The Center of Everything by Linda Urban, a middle-grade novel about donuts, a birthday wish, and making things right with the one you love; Dear Life, You Suck by Scott Blagden, in which Cricket Cherpin tries to figure out what to do with his life before he turns 18; Nugget and Fang, featuring the unlikely friendship between a minnow and a shark; and Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde, which gives the story of the princess and the frog a new twist. Houghton Mifflin makes the grade with The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau, a dystopian novel in which teens are tested to see who will become society’s new leaders; Dark Triumph: His Fair Assassin Book 2 by Robin LaFevers, the further exploits of Sybella, Death’s assassin in 15th-century France; Happy Birdday, Tacky by Helen Lester, illus. by Lynn Munsinger, a celebration of the penguin character; Lenny Cyrus, School Virus by Joe Schreiber, illus. by Matt Smith, a middle-grade novel with comic illustrations starring a boy who shrinks himself to the size of an amoeba; and Animals Upside Down: A Pop-Up Book! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, an introduction to animals that spend quite a bit of time upside-down. Sandpiper hits the road with Celebrating California, Celebrating Texas, Celebrating New York, and Celebrating Florida, the debut entries in the new 50 States to Celebrate series of leveled readers that highlight history, geography and tourist attractions of the various states. Holiday House turns on the flower power with My Beautiful Hippie by Janet Nichols Lynch, about a teenage musician in 1967 Haight-Ashbury; See Me Dig by Paul Meisel, an I Like to Read title that finds some spirited dogs being chased by pirates after they dig up a treasure; The Frazzle Family Finds a Way by Ann Bonwill, illus. by Stephen Gammell, starring a disastrously forgetful family who come up with a strategy for remembering things; Dirty Gert by Tedd Arnold, a picture book about a dirt-loving girl; and Becoming Ben Franklin, about the coming of age and impressive accomplishments of one of America’s founding fathers. Kane Press sorts out the season with The Case of the Superstar Scam by Lewis B. Montgomery, illus. by Amy Wummer, in which Milo and Jazz investigate mysterious emails that start arriving when a teen idol comes to town to film a TV show; and four new titles in the Mouse Math series by Eleanor May and Daphne Skinner, illus. by Deborarh Melmon, featuring mice Albert and Wanda, who live in the walls of a People House. KTeen Books scans the night sky for Othermoon by Nina Berry, second in the YA Otherkin series, which blends paranormal and fantasy; Moonglow by Michael Griffo, which kicks off a YA trilogy starring Dominy Robineau, a teen cursed to become a werewolf; Invisible by Marni Bates, a look inside the world of a teen girl whose life is changed by a story she writes; A Touch of Scarlet by Eve Marie Mont, a contemporary spin on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter; and Survivor by James Phelan, the continued adventures of Jesse, hero of the Alone trilogy, who explores New York City for answers and a way home. Dafina ushers in the season with Sweet 16 to Life by Kimberly Reid, a third installment of the Langdon Prep series starring Chante, who tries to balance prep school life and life in the ’hood; Reality Check and an as yet untitled novel by Kelli London, two new entries to the Charly’s Epic Fiascos series, about 16-year-old Charly St. James; Get Ready for War by Ni Ni Simone and Amir Abrams, second in the Hollywood High series chronicling the glitz and scandal surrounding four seniors at a private high school in the Hollywood Hills; and Nikki Carter’s as yet untitled next entry in the Fab Life series, about two cousins experiencing the drama-filled world of hip-hop. Kingfisher serves up a spring list with Basher Basics: Creative Writing by Simon Basher, a guide designed to encourage young writers, and Lifesize: Ocean, highlighting facts about sea creatures and images of the ocean environment. Kingfisher also introduces three new series: the Lift Me Up and Lift and Explore lines, featuring lift-the-flap interactivity; and the Picture This! Amazing Information Right Before Your Eyes books, which make complex concepts more accessible to young readers. LEE & LOW Lee & Low sets a spring table with Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell, about colorful ingredients in Grandpa’s famous entrée; As Fast as Words Could Fly by Pamela Tuck, illus. by Eric Velasquez, in which an African-American boy uses his typing skills to face down a challenge at his predominantly white school in the 1960s south; How Far Do You Love Me? by Lulu Delacre, a celebration of the enduring love between adult and child as seen in cultures around the world; Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby, illus. by Shadra Strickland, about an African-American girl and her grandmother who use Sunday newspaper ads as a springboard for their imaginary shopping sprees; and The School the Aztec Eagles Built by Dorinda Nicholson, which recounts the role of Mexico’s Eagle force in WWII. LEE & LOW/TU BOOKS Tu sets the alarm for Awakening by Karen Sandler, the second title in the Tankborn teen fantasy series; and New Worlds by Shana Mlawski, a fantasy-adventure set during the Spanish Inquisition, which lands a boy on Christopher Columbus’s voyage – with a half-genie. Carolrhoda gets nothing but net with Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball by John Coy, illus. by Joe Morse, a look at the inspiration behind the game; Cookie, The Walker by Chris Monroe, about a dog who decides to try walking on her hind legs; My Crocodile Does Not Bite by Joe Kulka, in which a boy brings his pet croc to school; and Something to Prove: Rookie Joe DiMaggio vs. the Great Satchel Paige by Rob Skead, illus. by Floyd Cooper, an untold story from African-American history about heroes of America’s pastime. Carolrhoda Lab gives the thumbs up to The Twelve-Fingered Boy by John Hornor Jacobs, first in a trilogy that finds Jack and his “supernumerary digits” on the run from Mr. Quincrux; Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson, the sequel to Ultraviolet, which follows Tori’s adventures on the road with her parents; and Sin Eater’s Confession by Ilsa J. Bick, an unflinching look at what it means to be a gay teenager in America. Darby Creek bites into the Big Apple with Mallory and Mary Ann Take New York by Laurie Friedman, illus. by Jennifer Kalis, in which fashion contest winner Mallory tries to make sure her BFF Mary Ann can share in her cool prize; Blow Out by M.G. Higgins, a new entry in the Counterattack series about an elite girls’ varsity soccer team in North Carolina; Change of Heart by Norah McClintock, which joins the Robyn Hunter Mysteries series starring a sleuthing Canadian teen; The Alliance by Gabriel Goodman, part of the Surviving Southside urban teen fiction series; and Spider Stampede by Ali Sparks, the debut title of the Switched series starring two boys who’ve been turned into bugs by a mad scientist neighbor. Graphic Universe rounds up a search party for Your Pajamas Are Showing! by Vincent Caut, illus. by Michel-Yves Schmitt, first in the Where’s Leopold? series about a six-year-old boy who can turn invisible; William and the Lost Spirit by Gwen de Bonneval, illus. by Matthieu Bonhomme, a graphic novel that blends medieval fantasy and folklore into a coming-of-age story; The Red Ruby by Lars Jakobsen, the latest in the Mortensen’s Escapades series about a secret agent who travels through time; He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Robin Mayhall, illus. by Kristin Cella, a new horror-romance in the My Boyfriend Is a Monster teen graphic novel series; and The Bark in Space by Trina Robbins, illus. by Tyler Page, which joins the Chicagoland Detective Agency series about weird goings-on. Millbrook takes the mound for Baseball Mud by David A. Kelley, illus. by Oliver Dominguez, a nonfiction picture book about the Baseball Rubbing Mud developed to take the shine off brand-new baseballs; Breezier, Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest: What Are Comparitves and Superlatives? by Brian P. Cleary, illus. by Brian Gable, a humorous word-usage guide; and several newcomers to the Cloverleaf Books – Community Helpers nonfiction series, including Dentist by Bridget Heos, illus. by Kyle Poling; Librarian by Gina Bellasario, illus. by Ed Myer; and Veterinarian by Gina Bellasario, illus. by Cale Atkinson. Little, Brown stays up late for The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illus. by Jon Klassen, in which a boy who’s afraid of the dark tries to conquer his fear; Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall, about a boy inventor-turned-superhero who saves his town by extolling the joys of reusing, repurposing, and recycling; Loki’s Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr, the debut book in the Blackwell Pages fantasy series, set during the Norse Apocalypse; Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger, a YA novel about a girl who discovers her finishing school is actually a spy training center; and Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff, starring a teenage boy with no name or history – the perfect soldier-assassin. LITTLE, BROWN/LB KIDS LB Kids gallops into spring with My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle’s Crystal Empire, an original story about the popular horse characters in a format that includes journal pages; Barnyard Baby by Elise Broach, illus. by Cori Doerrfeld, a novelty board book with rhyming text; Count My Kisses, 1, 2, 3 by Sandra Magsamen, a debut title in the I Love Learning series that features abacus-style beads and a die-cut handle; Pinwheel by Salina Yoon, an interactive novelty book with colorful spinning wheels on every spread; and Transformers Rescue Bots: Meet Chase the Police-Bot, a Level 1 reader starring Transformers that work side-by-side with the people of Earth. Poppy is ready to play with Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green, the first title in a new YA series about teen girls who are receiving mysterious dares; This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith, in which romance sparks when a teen movie star accidentally sends e-mail to a total stranger; How to Be a Star by M. Doty, a Surviving High School series entry about Kimi’s rise to stardom via a viral music video; Rules of Summer by Joanna Philbin, in which two very different girls become friends during a summer in glitzy East Hampton; and The Grass Is Always Greener: A Belles Novel by Jen Calonita, featuring the arrival of Izzie’s estranged Aunt Zoe. MACMILLAN/FARRAR, STRAUS & GIROUX FSG swigs some Pepto Bismol for The Barftastic Life of Louie Berger by Jenny Meyerhoff, a humorous middle-grade novel about friendship and stagefright; The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith, a thriller about what happens when humans turn into bloodthirsty savages; and Boom! Boom! Boom! by Jamie Swenson, illus. by David Walker, a rhyming picture book about overcoming stormy-night fears with help from some friends. Margaret Ferguson Books digs into spring with The Treasure of Way Down Deep by Ruth White, the sequel to Way Down Deep, in which Ruby tries to save her town by finding a legendary buried treasure; Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills, about a middle school student facing expulsion over a misunderstanding regarding a school policy; and Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming, illus. by Boris Kulikov, an illustrated chronicle of Lodner Phillips’s quest to invent a submarine. Frances Foster Books brings out the flavors of fall with Salt by Helen Frost, a novel in verse about two boys – one settler, one Native American – whose friendship is endangered by the War of 1812; Second Impact by David Klass and Perri Klass, M.D., about a boy who sustains serious head injuries while playing football, told in alternating voices by a brother-sister writing team; The Zarene Alphabet by Elizabeth Knox, in which Canny discovers that the symbols she has seen all her life are a form of magic; This Is Our House by Hyewon Yum, a story that follows a family though seasons and generations as their house becomes a home; and Please, Papa by Kate Banks, illus. by Gabi Swiatokowska, a picture book in which the polite “magic” word really does some magic. MACMILLAN/FEIWEL AND FRIENDS Feiwel and Friends sees red with Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, a futuristic take on Little Red Riding Hood and the second volume in the Lunar Chronicles; Oh So Tiny Bunny by David Kirk, about a small rabbit that dreams big; Kid Picker: A Kid’s Guide to Picking: From “Junk” to Found Treasure by Mike Wolfe with Lily Sprengelmeyer, a how-to book from the star of the History Channel show American Pickers; Home Sweet Horror by James Preller, illus. by Iacopo Bruno, the debut title in a new chapter-book thriller series; and Otis Dooda: Strange but True by Ellen Potter, illus. by David Heatley, an illustrated chapter book series-starter about a boy who lives in a very unusual New York apartment building. Henry Holt floats into fall with Bubbly World by Carol Snow, in which Freesia’s carefree island life is a virtual reality; The Invented Life of Locke Jenkins by Mary Pearson, the conclusion to the Jenna Fox Chronicles; Down the Yukon: Bo at Ballad Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill, illus. by LeUyen Pham, a pioneer story set on the banks of the Yukon; Some Monsters Are Different by David Milgrim, which looks at what set monsters apart, and what they all have in common; and the second in the Grisha trilogy, the sequel to Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Christy Ottaviano Books hits a high note with Sing by Joe Raposo, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, a visual interpretation of the beloved “Sesame Street” song; Another Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc, an underwater adventure from the creator of A Night at the Museum; Who Said Women Can’t Be Doctors by Tanya Lee Stone, illus. by Marjorie Priceman, a biography of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female medical doctor; Arnie the Doughnut Saves the Day by Laurie Keller, a chapter book starring the tasty-looking hero; and My Life as a Cartoonist by Janet Tashjian, illus. by Jake Tashjian, third in the “My Life…” series, in which Derek’s plan to help a new classmate backfires. Priddy Books straps on a backpack for My First Day at School by Roger Priddy, a first reader book about this early childhood experience; Schoolies School House by Roger Priddy, a book that unfolds to create a school house; Pop-Up Little Lamb by Roger Priddy, a novelty title featuring five pop-ups; Sticker Doodle Do! by Roger Priddy, a mix of photographic and illustrated doodling activities packaged with 200 stickers; and Hello Baby Play and Learn Activity Center by Roger Priddy, a large-size board book that contains an interactive play bar. Roaring Brook Press slathers on the sunscreen for Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Tommy Greenwald, illus. by J.P. Coovert, in which Charlie Joe Jackson wreaks havoc at an academic camp; Freshman Year by Bridie Clark, in which the reader decides which risks the characters must take in pursuit of social status, adventure, success, and love; 100 Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents by Elizabeth Henderson and Nancy Armstrong, a manual that offers honest, reliable answers to sex questions; How to Bicycle to the Moon and Plant Sunflowers: A Simple but Brilliant Plan in 24 Easy Steps by Mordicai Gerstein, a picture book guide; and Winterblood by Marcus Sedgwick, a tale that intertwines seven stories of passion and love separated by centuries. MACMILLAN/ROARING BROOK/FIRST SECOND First Second Books blasts off with Astronaut Academy: Reentry by Dave Roman, in which something is stalking the halls of the Academy and making off with the hearts of the students; Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Prudence Shen, illus. by Faith Erin Hicks, about two unlikely best friends who take on the cheerleaders in a no-holds-barred battle over school funding that leads to a robot death match; Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, illus. by Sara Varon, a tale of two duck pals who each realize they are a little odd; Poseidon by George O’Connor, new to the Olympians series; and Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani, illus. by Maris Wicks, a non-fiction graphic novel. Neal Porter Books jumps into the ring with Niño Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales, a picture book featuring Niño, world champion Lucha Libre competitor; Grandma and the Great Gourd by Chitra Divakaruni, illus. by Susy Pilgrim Waters, about a grandmother who hides in a giant gourd to avoid danger; If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Erin E. Stead, in which a boy learns exactly what he must do to catch a glimpse of the elusive aquatic mammal; Ben Rides On by Matt Davies, a humorous story about a boy, a bully, and a bicycle; and The Things I Can Do by Jeff Mack, showcasing the book that young Jeff makes of all the things he can do all by himself. Square Fish knows the endgame with Execution by Alexander Gordon Smith, the final title in the Escape from Furnace series; a Ninja Meerkats title by Gareth P. Jones, starring the “small, furry, deadly” critters; a reissue of Why Noah Chose the Dove by Isaac Bashevis Singer, illus. by Eric Carle, trans. by Elizabeth Shub; and reprints of Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos and Cool Cars and Trucks by Sean Kenney. Orca makes a splash with Marine Life of the Great Bear Rainforest by Ian McAllister and Nicholas Read, a look at the diverse aquatic life in the largest rainforest in North America; Little You by Richard Van Camp, a board-book lullaby for newborns; Allegra by Shelley Hrdlitschka, a YA novel in which Allegra falls for her music teacher and must deal with the fallout, and Lauren Yanofsky Hates the Holocaust by Leanne Lieberman, about a teenage girl who rebels against her family and her faith. Rapid Reads is on the case with Dirty Work by Reed Farrell Coleman, a Gulliver Dowd Mystery; and Sunset Key by Blake Crouch, a Letty Dobesh Mystery. Penguin marches into spring with Puppy Parade by Jill Abramson and Jane O’Connor, a picture book about a puppy named Scout; Guppy Up! by Jonathan Fenske, about an extraordinary fish that drives and plays the drums; On a Farm by Alexa Andrews, illus. by Candice Keimig, a leveled reader about life on a farm that also contains photographs; A New Friend by Wiley Blevins, illus. by Ekaterina Trukhan, a leveled reader featuring dog and cat buddies; and Nellie Sue, Happy Camper by Rebecca Janni, illus. by Lynne Avril, in which the star of the Every Cowgirl series goes camping. Dial can take the heat with Dragonbreath #8: Nightmare of the Iguana by Ursula Vernon, in which Danny forges into the nerdy world of his best friend’s brain to try and conquer the cause of his pal’s nightmares; Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher, a sci-fi fantasy/adventure that kicks off a new trilogy; Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It by Michael Kaplan, illus. by Stephane Jorish, in which the title character learns the consequences of crying wolf; Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Jossee Massee, featuring a poetic form where the poem is the same when presented forward then backwards; and Al Capone Does My Homework by Gennifer Choldenko, the final book of the trilogy that began with Al Capone Does My Shirts. Dutton is not like the others with The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist, in which the lone survivor of a shipwreck mysteriously arrives on an island where all the girls look identical and are tasked to learn in sync; 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma, about a teen who sees visions of girls who disappeared once they turned 17, and wonders whether she’s next; and The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand by Gregory Galloway, starring a bored, self-absorbed boy who commits suicide and later wakes up alive, physically unharmed – 39 times. PENGUIN/GROSSET & DUNLAP Grosset & Dunlap heads for the hills with What Was the Gold Rush? by Joan Holub, illus. by Tim Tomkinson, first in the new What Was…? series of easy readers that offer accounts of historical events; The Doodles of Sam Dibble by Judy Press, illus. by Michael Kline, the debut title in a chapter book series starring a mischievous third-grader who chronicles his misadventures via doodles and stories; Beast Keeper by Lucy Coats, the kick-off to a new series featuring the stable boy for the mythical creatures of Olympus; Agatha Mistery: #1 The Curse of the Pharaoh by Sir Steve Stevenson, illus. by Stefano Turconi, in which the headstrong titular character jets to exotic locales to solve mysteries; and Treasure Chest: #5 Brave Warrior by Ann Hood, which finds time-traveling twins Felix and Maisie meeting up with a young Crazy Horse in a Sioux village. Nancy Paulsen Books is nuts about Ol’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein, about one fierce and funny mama protecting her babies; Dream Friends by You Byun, in which a shy girl’s imaginary friend gives her the courage to make a real one; Kiara Rules by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, featuring a girl with Asperger’s syndrome who struggles with tough choices when she learns the dangerous truth about her new neighbors; Everyone Sleeps by Marcellus Hall, about (almost) the entire animal world falling asleep, and Twenty-Six Pirates by Dave Horowitz, an alphabet-book companion to Twenty-Six Princesses. Philomel is all tied up with Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, in which an 11-year-old orphan discovers that her fate involves an old peanut butter recipe and a thief on a mission; Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys, about a teen girl who tries to break away from the lure of the clandestine underworld of New Orleans’s French Quarter; Otis and the Puppy by Loren Long, which finds Otis the tractor facing his fear of the dark to find a lost puppy; The Invisibility Curse by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan, a romance about a boy who is invisible and the one girl who can see him; and Runner by Ben Scott, a post-apocalyptic novel in which teens must survive a near-uninhabitable Earth. Poptropica sails into the sunset with Cryptids Island by Max Bralier, a book based on Poptropica.com’s Cryptid’s Island game, in which players earn rewards from an eccentric millionaire for finding mythical creatures. PENGUIN/PRICE STERN SLOAN Price Stern Sloan is over the moon for Adventure Time: Lumpy Space Princess’s Guide to Love, starring Cartoon Network’s royal purple glob from Land of Ooo; My Pet Polar Bear and My Pet Giraffe by Mark Iacolina, two board books about unusual pets doing not-so-unusual things; and The Apple and the Butterfly by Iela and Enzo Mari, a reissue of an Italian wordless picture book in which a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Puffin lights a tiki torch for Stranded,by Survivior Host Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts, the debut title in a series about four stepsiblings who have to learn to work together when they are shipwrecked on a deserted South Pacific island; Ways of Being With by Robin Palmer, about a girl’s complicated relationship with her TV actress mom; and Demonosity by Amanda Ashby, in which Cassidy learns from the spirit of a medieval knight that she and must battle demons to keep the Black Rose safe. Putnam bundles up for Frozen: The Other Land Chronicles, Book One by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston, a new fantasy series by this husband-wife team; Code: A Virals Novel by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs, in which the Virals must find and defuse a bomb hidden in a geocache; Prodigy: A Legend Novel by Marie Lu, the high-stakes-thriller sequel to Legend; Orleans by Sherri Smith, a gritty futuristic tale set in the hostile city of the title; and The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson, sequel to The Name of the Star. Razorbill has the blues with The Indigo Spell: A Bloodlines Novel by Richelle Mead, in which Sydney begins to embrace the mysterious magic within her; The Ultra Violets by Sophie Bell, about four spunky BFFs who accidentally end up on the wrong side of a genetics experiment; How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller, a chilling tale about an academy that turns out sociopaths; The Ruining by Anna Collomore, about a young nanny who slowly descends into madness after moving in with her employer’s deceptively perfect family; and The Ghastly Dandies Do the Classics by Ben Gibson, an illustrated compilation of classic tales retold by monsters. Viking breaks out some polish for Tarnish by Katherine Longshore, a Tudor tale of love, lust, and power featuring a teen Anne Boleyn; The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen, in which Emeline struggles to balance the value of what she has against the allure of the wider world; Crap Kingdom by DC Pierson, about a teen boy whose dream of being whisked away to a magical fantasy world comes disappointingly true; Tea Rex: Tea Party Manners for Very Special Guests by Molly Idle, a collection of helpful and humorous tips; and Octopus Alone by Divya Srinivasan, a picture book that follows the underwater adventures of a shy cephalopod. Random House gets heavy with The Weight of the Stars by Tessa Gratton, the first book of the Songs of New Asgard fantasy series, which features an alternate universe inspired by old Nordic religions; Dualed by Elsie Chapman, set in a world where citizens must prove their worth by killing their Alts – twins raised by other families; Giddy-Up, Daddy by Troy Cummings, about a father who gives the best horsey rides; Robot, Go Bot! by Dana Meachen Rau, a graphic novel that kicks off the Step Into Reading series’ new Comic Readers line; and Icky Ricky #1: Icky Ricky by Michael Rex, the debut title in an early chapter book about a kid whose madcap messes get him into uncomfortable situations. Robin Corey Books breathes the rarified air up there with The Elites: Privileged Positions by Quinn Xi and Emily Flint, about a middle-class girl swept into the privileged, no-rules life when she gets a scholarship to a Swiss boarding school; Wedgieman to the Rescue by Charise Mericle Harper, illus. by Bob Shea, a Step Into Reading title that finds Wedgieman defending the local playground against a villain named Bad Dude; Not That Tutu! by Michelle Sinclair Colman, illus. by Hiroe Nakata, about a girl’s enthusiasm for her favorite article of clothing; My Mom Is the Best Circus by Luciana Navarro-Powell, which celebrates a working mom as a multitasking household wiz;, and Bean Dog and Nugget: The Ball by Charise Mericle Harper, first in a new graphic novel series for beginning readers. Delacorte pulls out an autograph book for Starstruck by Rachel Shukert, first in a trilogy about three teen girls trying to make it to the top during the golden age of Hollywood; Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson, a companion to Hattie Big Sky starring resilient orphan Hattie, who goes to San Francisco to follow a dream of being a newspaper reporter; Grotesque by Page Morgan, an interpretation of gargoyle lore, which kicks off a new YA trilogy; The Year of Luminous Love by Lurlene McDaniel, about three best friends planning their lives after high schooland Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder, an adaptation for young people of Kidder’s book about the Harvard doc with a mission to transform healthcare on a global scale. Knopf goes radio silent with Doug Unplugged, featuring a rebellious robot who wants to go outside and explore; Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, in which Lunch Lady tries to catch a crook who is disrupting the student council election; Mojo by Tim Tharp, a YA mystery thriller; Toys in Space by Mini Grey, a look at what happens when toys are left in the garden at night; and Far Far Away by Tom McNeal, a Brothers Grimm-inspired mystery thriller. Wendy Lamb Books spices up the season with Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff, in which a girl in 1944 runs away, guided by a ghostly voice; Vote by Gary Paulsen, which features goof-up Kevin Spencer’s run for class office; Zigzag #8: Zigzag Zoom by Patricia Reilly Giff, illus. by Alisdair Bright, about a challenge to see who’s the fastest runner at the afternoon center; and Calvin Coconut: Extra Famous by Graham Salisbury, illus. by Jacqueline Rogers, which finds Calvin and his pals hired as extras in a zombie movie. RANDOM HOUSE/SCHWARTZ & WADE Schwartz & Wade Books straps on a helmet for Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka, a simple how-to book filled with the highs and lows of trying to master this skill; Bluebird by Bob Staake, in which a shy boy befriends a brave bird; The Beginner’s Guide to Running Away from Home by Jennifer LaRue Huget, a step-by-step guide narrated by a boy who decides to fly the coop; Water in the Park: A Book About Water and the Times of the Day by Emily Jenkins, illus. by Stephanie Graegin, a look at a hot summer day at a city park; and The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan, illus. by Sophie Blackall, a historically inspired picture book about a humble postman who boxes his way to victory over fierce competition. RUNNING PRESS KIDS Running Press Kids plates a fall list featuring Lidia’s Kitchen Through the Seasons by Lidia Bastianich, illus. by Renée Graef, a picture book in which the chef-author shares her memories of growing up on a farm; Tiny Pie by Mark Bailey and Michael Oatman, illus. by Edward Hemingway, in which a hungry elephant comes upon a mouse doing a cooking show, complete with a pie recipe from Alice Waters; Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia by Jenny Torres Sanchez, about a girl who tries to understand her crush’s suicide by retracing her steps the last night she was with him; Coda by Emma Trevayne, about a teen who fights against the Corporation that controls every aspect of his life in a high-tech, postmodern world; and The Color of Rain by Cori McCarthy, a fantasy in which 17-year-old Rain struggles with how to save herself from an underground slave trade – and her younger brother from madness. ST. MARTIN’S GRIFFIN Griffin crackles with Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon, fourth in the Chronicles of Nick series; Mystic by Alyson Noel, a new Soul Seekers title about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead; Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, a debut YA novel about two misfits who fall in love; and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch, another YA debut, starring two sisters who have been raised in a trailer deep in the forest and are suddenly thrown into the world of school, clothes, and boys. Arthur A. Levine Books takes wing with The Bird King: An Artist’s Notebook by Shaun Tan, a book of sketches, artwork, and personal reflection; The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson, illus. by Axel Scheffler, in which a snack-stealing bandit gets his comeuppance; The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson, a tale of love, death, and technology set in the tropics of a futuristic Brazil; and A Corner of White (The Colors of Madeleine, Book 1) by Jaclyn Moriarty, the first title in a trilogy that features two characters exchanging letters across worlds. Cartwheel wakes up with Good Morning, Sunshine! by Sandra Magsamen, a novelty book featuring a tasty breakfast; Can You See What I See? Out of This World by Walter Wick, the ninth search-and-find title in the series; Uh-Oh, David! Sticker Book by David Shannon, an activity title starring the mischievous little boy. Chicken House works the runway with The Look by Sophia Bennett, about an aspiring super-model whose sister is diagnosed with cancer; Freaks by Kieran Larwood, featuring a strange cast of crime fighters including Sheba the Wolfgirl, Monkeyboy, and Sister Moon; and Muncle Trogg #2: Muncle Trogg and the Flying Donkey by Janet Foxley, a new adventure for the titular littlest giant. Graphix plays with fire with BONE: Quest for the Spark #3 by Tom Sniegoski, illus. by Jeff Smith, in which Tom Elm and friends race against time to find the final piece of the Spark. Orchard puts the kettle on for Sophia Grace and Rosie’s Princess Tea Party by Sophia Grace Brownlee and Rosie McClelland, featuring the precocious young cousins from England who are YouTube singing sensations and frequent Ellen DeGeneres Show guests; Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore, illus. by Nancy Carpenter, a picture book about the rescue of five baby ducks; and The Lamb and the Butterfly by Arnold Sundgaard, illus. by Eric Carle, which finds the title characters trying to understand each other’s perspective. Point pitches the big top for That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard, about a girl who joins a traveling circus attempting to find her estranged mother; Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg, in which a girl who’s tired of being a wallflower, and jealous of the family time spent on her sister’s pageants, joins the beauty game; and Unbroken: A Ruined Novel by Paula Morris, about Rebecca’s return to New Orleans, where she gets drawn into a mystery involving a troubled ghost. Scholastic Nonfiction swings for the fences with a Roberto Clemente biography by Luis Clemente, the first authorized bio of the Pittsburgh Pirate; Andrew Jenks by Andrew Jenks, the story of the documentary filmmaker and MTV star; Scholastic Discover More: Sharks and Scholastic Discover More: Puppies & Kittens by Penelope Ardon, two photographic titles for younger readers; and Profile: The Vietnam War by Daniel Polansky, featuring accounts from six critical players in the controversial war. Scholastic Paperbacks calls the exterminator for Infestation by Timothy Bradley, in which a boys’ reform school in the desert is attacked by giant ants after an earthquake; A Dog and His Girl Mysteries Book 1: Play Dead by Jane Mason and Sarah Hines Stephens, featuring a retired police dog and his girl as a mystery solving team; Deep Dive #1: Cephalox the Cyber Squid by Adam Blade, first in a deep-sea adventure series that pits Max against four aquatic monsters; and Monstrous Stories #1: Night of the Zombie Goldfish by Dr. Roach, which kicks off a series of illustrated monster stories for early readers. Scholastic Press expresses excitement about Exclamation Point by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld, a tale of standing out, fitting in, and self-discovery; The Very Beary Tooth Fairy by Arthur A. Levine, illus. by Sarah S. Brannen, which begins with a curious bear’s loose tooth; Starring Jules (as Herself) by Beth Ain, about a girl who is between best friends when she gets discovered and needs someone to help her with a big audition; Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce, a new Circle adventure that takes mages Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy to the forbidding land of Yanjing; and Hold Fast by Blue Balliett, in which a girl and her family are forced to seek help at a city shelter when her father disappears. SIMON & SCHUSTER Simon & Schuster pushes the ‘up’ button for Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans, a debut novel about a heroine trying to topple corrupt angels in the afterlife; Again! by Emily Gravett, featuring a young dragon and its favorite book; They Call Me a Hero by Daniel Hernandez, the story of the intern whose efforts help saved the life of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords when she was shot in Tucson; and Chemical Garden #3 by Lauren DeStefano, the conclusion to the fantasy series. SIMON & SCHUSTER/ALADDIN Aladdin watches the clock for 33 Minutes: Countdown to an Epic Smackdown by Todd Hasak-Lowy, a humorous school story; Beyonders #3: Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull, the final volume in the bestselling fantasy series; Girl Meets Ghost by Lauren Barnholdt, starring a 12-year-old medium; and Hardy Boys Adventures #1: Secret of the Red Arrow by Franklin W. Dixon; and Nancy Drew Diaries #1: Curse of the Arctic Star by Carolyn Keene, relaunches of these classic series. SIMON & SCHUSTER/ATHENEUM Atheneum seeks inner calm with Peace by Wendy Andersen Halperin, a picture book about the true path to world harmony; Panic by Sharon Draper, about one moment and one bad decision that change everything; and Red Hat by Lita Judge, a companion to Red Sled that finds a playful crew of baby animals getting into some mischief. SIMON & SCHUSTER/BEACH LANE Beach Lane Books makes a wish with Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Garton Scanlon, about an animal celebration; and I Love You Nose! I Love You Toes! by Linda Davick, a playful appreciation of the human body for very young readers. SIMON & SCHUSTER/LITTLE SIMON Little Simon puts up neighborhood fliers for The Critter Club #1: Amy and the Missing Puppy by Callie Barkley, first in a new early chapter book series; Galaxy Jack #1:Hello, Nebulon by Ray O’Ryan, which begins a chapter book series starring out-of-this-world characters; and Pretty Costumes and Pretty Patterns by Hannah Davies, illus. by Beth Gunnell, two titles that encourage readers to color and customize the pages. SIMON & SCHUSTER/WISEMAN Paula Wiseman Books sticks out its tongue for Lick by Matthew Van Fleet, an interactive novelty book; Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book by Jane Yolen, illus. by Jane Dyer, a collection for babies and toddlers; and Do Not Open!: There Are Monkeys in This Book by Adam Lehrhaupt, illus. by Matthew Forsythe, a picture book filled with monkeys, alligators, and more. SIMON & SCHUSTER/SIMON PULSE Simon Pulse takes cover for Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger, a paranormal romance; Visions #1: Crash by Lisa McMann, first in a new YA series; Then You Were Gone by Lauren Strasnick, a suspenseful teen novel; The Program by Suzanne Young, set in a world where teen suicide is an epidemic; and Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey, a romance set in Victorian London in which a teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society. SIMON & SCHUSTER/SIMON SPOTLIGHT Simon Spotlight addresses fall with Dear Know-It-All #5 by Rachel Wise, in which Samantha is thrilled with her assignment to review the school play for the school newspaper; Cupcake Diaries #12: Alexis Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice by Simon Coco, featuring the fallout from the arrival of a mean girl; and Croods Movie: The Croods Movie Novelization by DreamWorks Animation, a tie-in to the comedy feature set in the prehistoric era. Simply Read weighs anchor for Dream Boats by Dan Bar-el, illus. by Kirsti Anne Wakelin, featuring children riding through their dreams on boats; Murilla Gorilla by Jennifer Lloyd, illus. by Jacqui Lee, the debut title about the messiest, hairiest, and hungriest detective around; and Spark by Kallie George, illus. by Genevieve Cote, about a young dragon who can’t control his fire. Sleeping Bear walks the plank for No Pirates Allowed Said Library Lou by Rhonda Greene, illus. by Brian Ajhar, in which a pirate and a parrot turn the quiet Seabreezy Library upside down; In Andal’s House by Gloria Whelan, illus. by Amanda Hall, about a boy in India who comes from a family consider to be Untouchables by the caste system; Jasper’s Story: Saving Moon Bears by Jill Robinson and Mark Bekoff, illus. by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, starring a rescued Asiatic black bear; and Finnegan & Fox: The Ten Foot Cop by Helen L. Wilbur, illus. by John Manders, the story of a policeman and his horse, Finnegan, part of the NYPD Mounted Unit. Fire needs a counter-spell for Cursed by Kate and J.R. Angelella, about a girl who comes to believe the curse on her family when she’s pulled into a world of voodoo and demons; Emblazed by Jessica Shirvington, in which Violet is forced to turn over the key to hell to one who has saved, then betrayed her; How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler, a tale about a friendship at stake the summer before two girls’ senior year; My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks by Marc and Maya Silver, an advice book for teens featuring stories from real kids; and Sucks to Be Me by Geoff Herbach, in which nerd-turned-jock Felton faces life changing decisions during his senior year. Jabberwocky fires up the oven for The Cupcake Club: Winner Bakes All by Sheryl and Carrie Berk, in which the Club competes in a Battle of the Bakers on live TV; Funny Bird by Jennifer Yerkes, about an unassuming bird who believes that adorning himself with flashy feathers will win him friends; My Epic Fairy Tale Fail by Anna Staniszewski, the follow-up to My Very UnFairy Tale Life, which finds Jenny challenged to three impossible tasks in the Land of Tales; This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh, featuring a homeschooler’s account of her daily life; and Wonder Light by R.R. Russell, the story of a troubled girl banished to a misty, haunted island where she must save the last free unicorn herd. Sylvan Dell goes green with Nature Recycles: How About You? by Michelle Lord, illus. by Cathy Morrison, which explores how animals in various habitats use recycled material to build homes, protect themselves, and get food; and Ferdinand’s First Summer by Mary Holland, a photo essay that chronicles a young fox’s first few months of life. Walker waddles into spring with Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon, starring a penguin that plans a getaway after tiring of cold and snow; the launch of an as yet untitled series by Simone Elkeles, about the lives and loves of high school football teammates; Hysteria by Megan Miranda, in which a girl who killed her boyfriend in self-defense is suspected of a murder at her new school; Stung by Bethany Wiggins, a futuristic fantasy thriller in which a bio-engineering experiment involving honeybees goes wrong; and Regency Witches by Alyxandra Harvey, a tale set in 1804 in which three cousins discover their family lineage of witchcraft. Zest Books saves the last dance for The Prom Book: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need by Laruen Metz, an advice title focused on the big event; A Girl’s Guide to Fitting in Fitness by Erin Whitehead and Jennipher Walters, featuring practical tips; Super Pop: Pop Culture Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make it Through the Holidays, a collection of edifying top 10 lists; Secrets of a Straight-A Student: A Guide to Studying Better and Stressing Less by Lesley Schwartz Martin, a compendium of helpful techniques; and How to Lose Everything by Philip Matthies, the true story of four teens who find a small fortune in an abandoned house in 1994. Zonderkidz plans an escape route with Captives by Jill Williamson, first in a series of dystopian/apocalyptic novels starring three brothers; Avenger by Heather Burch, final volume in the Halfling trilogy about half angels; Always Daddy’s Princess by Karen Kingsbury, featuring a special father-daughter relationship; The Chained Deep by Christa Kinde, second in a quartet about a girl who discovers she can see angels that live among us; and The Skull Creek Mystery by Eddie Jones, in which a young man begins to question everything around him, including his faith.
Articles in Fiction Sabina, the wife of the enigmatic Roman emperor Hadrian, is beset by enemies in Rome – and safeguards a secret they’d all kill to know … A businessman is on a trip to new-money Tunisia when the world’s economy goes into meltdown… Can you improve on a classic? A new novel retells George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda — but much more is lost than gained in the attempt. The great Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa claims he became a writer in order to annoy his father; his new novel takes up this age-old theme of the strife between fathers and sons. As we should expect from someone whose previous work is both experimental and kinky, Miranda July has written a first novel that refuses to play by the rules. Despite his iconic status today, in the 19th century Sherlock Holmes was neither the alpha nor the omega of crime fighters: a fascinating new book introduces us to his many contemporaries. Ron Howard’s adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick’s bestselling In the Heart of the Sea will soon appear, but even the trailers raise rich questions: Why does this story still have the power to fascinate? A Moby-Dick fan ponders. When we say of someone that they died too early, does this posit that there is a perfect time? How does the meaning of a life change the longer it’s lived. Jenny Erpenbeck’s new novel End of Days explores some answers. Stalking the pages of Thomas Pierce’s debut story collection, where the surreal shares quarters with the ordinary, are dwarf mammoths, genetically modified guard dogs, baby Pippin monkeys, and a parakeet named Magnificent. The Friendship of Criminals by Robert Glinski is a fresh, original and totally entertaining perspective on mob relationships; A Murder of Magpies is Judith Flanders deliciously wry take on murder and publishing. Irma Heldman dives into a rollicking, bawdy yarn depicting an infamous, turn-of-the century caper masterminded by Professor Moriarty—Sherlock Holmes’ archenemy. Then she matches wits with a cheeky mini-tome refuting the great detective’s solution to his most illustrious case. Free thinker, strong-minded woman, scholar, lover, novelist: George Eliot lived a courageous life that should be known and celebrated. But does Brenda Maddox’s biography do it justice? Julio Cortázar and Gabriel Garcia Marquez brought Latin American fiction to the attention of the world. Now a young crop of writers are trying to move beyond magical realism–a new anthology charts the diverse approaches. In this New York Times bestseller, a hapless woman spots a mysterious event from the window of her commuter train and is soon caught up in a police investigation. Driven into hiding by the victorious forces of William the Conqueror, the heroic Hereward the Wake and his band of freedom fighters must struggle to survive A strong-willed Bavarian princess captures the eye of the young Austro-Hungarian emperor in Allison Pataki’s opulent new historical novel. Steve Donoghue reviews. In Jo Walton’s latest novel, the “just city” of Plato’s Republic is brought to life via Greek gods, robots, and a little discreet time travel In Dewey Lambdin’s latest rousing Alan Lewrie adventure, our dashing hero sees action off the coast of a Spain imperiled by Napoleon In V. E. Schwab’s new fantasy novel, a young man can travel between a string of alternate-reality Londons In Matt Sumell’s debut, his main character manages to alienate every other person in the book, often by punching them. For twenty-five years, the “Table Talk” feature of The Threepenny Review has offered occasional musings on a wide range of topics by some of the best freelance writers and critics in the business. A new hardcover collects a generous helping of highlights When a 21st-century woman travels to the hometown of Emily Dickinson, she finds herself caught between a passionate present and a past far more human than she imagined In the very engaging latest from Sharma Shields, one family has a very unusual encounter with the legendary Bigfoot A small group of Americans visit a super-secret Chinese nature-park with a very unusual star attraction. The author of “Dogwalker” returns with a new collection of interlinked short stories that revel in their own straight-faced absurdity In this arresting debut, a young woman working in Paris is hiding from her past – and she worries that the old friends she betrayed are hunting her. To shut down his internal censors, Karl Ove Knausgaard wrote My Struggle at the astounding rate of over a thousand pages a year. The result is fiction that is vibrantly alive. Any new translation of a classic like Anna Kareninainevitably raises an awkward question: what was wrong with all the old translations? Debut writer Zach Rabiroff takes it line-by-line Claudia Rankine articulates the truths of the black experience so poignantly in her celebrated collection Citizen by putting them, paradoxically, both plainly and artfully. Like an overheated love letter, André Aciman’s novel Eight White Nights is easy to mock–but is it perhaps just as candid and emotionally powerful? With so many versions of War and Peace to choose from, is there anything that translators can do to set themselves apart? Yes, says Steve Donoghue, they can make old mistakes. 97 years ago this month, the great, acerbic novelist Muriel Spark was born; we look back at Martin Stannard’s richly detailed biography from 2010 A slim picaresque novel that was a runaway bestseller in France gets a stylish English-language translation A true believer in the tenets of Darwinism in the 19th Century goes on what amounts to a pilgrimage to that great Darwinian destination, the Galapagos Islands, in James Morrow’s glowing new novel Only one man can possibly save a plague- and fire-stricken sub that’s burning and adrift at the top of the world … When young Promise’s family is killed on their peaceful frontier planet, she signs up with the space-Marines – as one tends to do in such circumstances The legendary fantasy author Michael Moorcock returns after a long absence to the genre he helped to create Michael Mewshaw comes not to praise Gore Vidal but to bury him in this new memoir of a friendship that did not outlast Mr. Vidal’s funeral. Horror fiction may not at first compare with more respectable genres, but look a bit closer. Horror is one of the oldest emotions known to man, and the artists who’ve evoked it have been some of our most brilliant and most strange … It’s comforting to believe there are lessons to be learned from the Holocaust, or to treat it as a story about the triumph of the human spirit. Jona Oberski’s Childhood rightly refuses us these consolations. The voice of poetry can often be the voice of lyric witness, turning our attention to moments in history that would have eluded us, or that might never have been felt as well as understood. These titles perform this function about as well as it can be done. The contemporary American short story is a kind of stunt double for the novel. Monica McFawn’s Bright Shards of Someplace Else is one such collection, each of its eleven stories posturing like a dare accepted. Historical novelist Andrew Levkoff stuffs the last installment of his “Bow of Heaven” trilogy with battles, love, loyalty betrayed, crucifixion, cross-purposes, loyalty regained, and deep reflections on what it all means. Open Letters Monthly interviews the author of Blood of Eagles, book three of the Bow of Heaven series. “We must compensate the man for the loss of his gun,” wrote Virginia Woolf. Roxana Robinson’s riveting novel challenges us to imagine how we can do that as we work for peace. Book critic James Wood is a fascinating collection of contradictions: an apostate true believer, a champion of experimental fiction, an earnest searcher in empty temples. Sam Sacks reads one of our foremost readers. Nora Webster may be Colm Tóibín’s slightest novel yet, but his later novels are born from and echo this wise and intimate investigation of the interior life. Literature by post-Yugoslavian writers is often about identity in flux. That includes the books of David Albahari, one of the most widely read of contemporary Serbian authors and one of the most worth reading. The author made immortal by the novel Dune also wrote a career’s worth of short stories. Robert Minto looks at the first-ever complete collection of those stories. Norman Mailer was as fiery and mercurial a letter-writer as he was a novelist and journalist – and ten times as prolific. A big new volume collects the highlights of a lifetime in the post. Now back in print: an English translation of iconic Polish writer (and compulsive re-inventor of himself) Marek Hlasko’s most powerful novel. “Our belief in Literature has collapsed” Lars Iyer once wrote, but his new novel Wittgenstein Jr, the story of a passionate philosophy professor and his apathetic students, bristles with literary faith. A veteran and a newcomer give us two gripping thrillers: The Big Finish by the critically acclaimed master of suspense, James W. Hall, and The Life We Bury, a mesmerizing debut by Allen Eskens. Against a pervasive American sports culture, author Steve Allmond pits a devastating critique of the savage violence – and staggering toll in injuries and deaths – of football. Title Menu: A list of great political books that doesn’t include What It Takes by Richard Ben Cramer Just in time for the November midterm elections, we do what doubters said couldn’t be done: we present you with a list of ten great political books that doesn’t include Richard Ben Cramer’s What It Takes. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Marilynne Robinson returns to small-town Iowa in this new novel full of deceptive calms and clear mastery. A reissue of James Agee’s letters to Father Flye give a picture of the writer’s naked ambition, excoriating self-hatred, and unrefined genius. But it also raises the question: Do we remember Agee more for what he wrote or what his addictions prevented him from writing? Felix Francis continues to artfully follow in his late father’s footsteps with his newest thriller, Dick Francis’s Damage. The Button Man, Mark Pryor’s fourth Hugo Marston novel, is a prequel that adds a fascinating dimension to the highly charismatic protagonist of this splendid series. John Updike once affably damned James Agee as a wasted talent who failed to cultivate his craft. Liza Birnbaum replies with a defense of the glories of Agee’s ragged, heartfelt work. As Hollywood looks to science fiction and fantasy novels for the ‘source material’ of its newest CGI spectaculars, Justin Hickey picks ten sci-fi/fantasy books he hopes the studios never find and ruin … In his latest collection of essays, Theater of Cruelty, Ian Buruma launches a series of expert investigations into the springs of cruelty and the perils of victomhood. The wide-ranging themes of this wrenching novel are unified by imagery that links its heroine to an unexpected community of the traumatized living dead. Martin Amis’ new novel not only delves into the souls of a small group of characters involved in the running of concentration camp – it also interrogates the very nature of Holocaust fiction. Jack Hanson reads the latest from the author of Time’s Arrow. James Ellroy begins a second L.A. Quartet with his new novel Perfidia. But does it harness the demonic madness and stylistic panache of the author’s earlier works of historical crime fiction? A British historian’s richly-sourced accounting of Molotov-Ribbentrop offers fresh insights into this Nazi-Soviet pact of “non-aggression.” With literary criticism disappearing as a popular artform, we increasingly look to the book reviewer to do the critic’s work. A new collection by John Domini offers an example of reviews that transcend their form to provide analysis alongside mere evaluation. Sophie Hannah revives Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot with panache in The Monogram Murders, and Joe Gannon’s debut thriller Night of the Jaguar is a tightly wound, gut-wrenching read. In her debut collection of stories, Tiphanie Yanique attempts to capture in prose the complexities of modern-day life and racial identity in a Caribbean behind the tourism ads. The critical consensus around reclusive Italian novelist Elena Ferrante is enough to make you suspect collusion – but to what end? and at what cost? Rohan Maitzen reviews the reviewers. Can Joseph Boyden’s The Orenda heal Canada’s colonial relationship with its First Nations? Why should we expect literature to succeed where our leaders have failed? A disaffected British colonial officer with a yearning for heroism is relegated to a doomed imperial outpost where he meets a native boy with a yearning for heroes – and from this unlikely pairing, Nick Harkaway’s Tigerman weaves its fantastic, moving story. It’s been half a century since the appearance of Saul Bellow’s seminal novel Herzog – Jack Hanson revisits the work to see how Bellow’s various machinations have held up over time. Christopher Beha’s new novel Arts and Entertainments aims to be that weirdest of all things: a serious, even elegant, book about … reality television. As our reviewer reports, the oddity is that it was even attempted, and the wonder is that it succeeds so well. In the world of Julie Hayden’s stories, the contingency of all experience, let alone of literary creation and reputation, is inescapable. A tightly drawn disturbing novel, The Frozen Dead is Bernard Minier’s auspicious debut. The Long Way Home is the tenth in Louise Penny’s celebrated Armand Gamache series. A fascinating debut collection of short stories set in modern China Ben Lerner has followed his breakout novel Leaving the Atocha Station with a metafictional tale of a second-time novelist trying to throw a book together. Is it more than a game? If you think distinctions between ‘high’ and ‘low’ art are stuffy Victorian relics, our beleagured Stephen Akey says, you’re just not paying enough attention. So are you a highbrow? And should you be? And should everybody be? Metaphor: a tool for poets and rhetoricians, but also, perhaps, the way that people connect to the world at large. Lianne Habinek reviews a gamesome new study by the great literary critic Denis Donoghue. What place do deep questions about the meaning of life have in our technological age? Is philosophy more important than ever? Cover art from Omni, the new-age science mag of yore, is now a coffee table book: Giger, Frazetta, and Grant Wood are all here, but something crucial has been left out. A Colder War is the latest from Charles Cumming, one of the best at depicting the frail and brutal world of spydom. Neely Tucker’s The Ways of the Dead marks the debut of what promises to be a first-rate series. Powerful South Korean writer Kyung-sook Shin’s second novel to be translated into English tells a touchingly human tale set in a world which, for most of her Western readers, could scarcely be more alien. Michael Cunningham’s beautiful new novel The Snow Queen follows the wisdom of fairy tales: its revelations occur at dusk, because the hour of despair is the most fertile of the day. Over time, the books of our youth make way for titles better suited to the grown-up readers we have become. But not all of them: YA or not, some books — such as K. M. Peyton’s Pennington trilogy — deserve a lasting place on our shelves. It’s summer at last, and you won’t find any relief from the heat in our editors’ round-up of the hottest books they know. Daniel Wilson’s first book, Robopocalypse was a straightforward adventure story about robots rising up against their human makers. His new book takes that simple premise and expands on it in complex and timely ways. The new Scribner “Hemingway Library” edition of The Sun Also Rises offers annotations, rough drafts, and alternate line-edits – but how much light does it shed on its “near-perfect work of fiction”? Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, those supersmart, sophisticated sleuths, are back in The Late Scholar, a savvy new detective story by Jill Paton Walsh. A ticking clock hangs ominously over every page of Craig DiLouie’s genuinely creepy new horror novel, filled with beings who aren’t quite zombies and not quite vampires. Our resident horror maven Deirdre Crimmins tells us all about it. Middlemarch is all the rage now – as it should be! But what if you’ve already read not just George Eliot’s masterpiece but all of her novels? Do not despair: these eight books will bring you close to her in spirit. Rusty Barnes’ debut novel Reckoning is both a hardbitten Appalachia noir and tender coming of age tale, both real art and real fun. Rjurik Davidson’s stunning debut – an epic of espionage, magic, and beasts migrated out of mythology – isn’t the sixth in a series, or the tenth, or the fifteenth; it’s that rare thing in the genre: a stand-alone novel For a little over two years, shortly before she died, short story master Katherine Mansfield wrote a weekly book review column. Those pieces not only shed light on Mansfield’s particular slant of genius, but have much to say about the embattled art of reviewing. Major Kolt “Racer” Raynor doesn’t salute the U.S. flag – it salutes him. He punches bad guys so hard their grandkids are born with bruises. He once garrotted a terrorist using a string made from his own eyelashes. He stars in Dalton Fury’s new action novel – and if you don’t read the book, he’ll know. Legendary Indian author Saadat Hasan Manto’s choicest short stories – depicting a teeming Bombay that’s both long-vanished and eternal – receive an attractive new paperback edition from Vintage International Our mystery columnist looks at a highly anticipated debut, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker, as well as the second novel in Jonathan Holt’s brilliant Carnivia trilogy, The Abduction. Is it really the immigrant writer’s job to represent third-world suffering for the sake of first-world catharsis? In All Our Names, Dinaw Mengestu resists the pressure to substitute autoethnography for art. Characters never go wrong when their poor life choices make for fascinating reading. Kathleen Rooney supplies us with eight unmissable examples. In Valeria Luiselli’s debut novel, a young Mexican woman imagines the real life of a long-dead man whose writings she has forged in the voice of a famous American poet. Then things get complicated. As the world’s supply of writers outpaces the world’s demand for their books, the financial returns for writing have fallen to laughable levels. Then why keep doing it? Paul Griffin explores the problem of writing and money. A troika of mysteries—one a gripping debut, Precious Thing by Colette McBeth, the others superb new novels from two very special authors: Peter Robinson returns with Children of the Revolution and Donna Leon is back with By Its Cover. In his latest novel In Paradise Peter Matthiessen dramatizes a collision between the thoughtful philosophy of Zen and the worst of the 20th Century’s horrors. William S. Burroughs’s notorious Cut-up Trilogy was his fiercest broadside against what he felt was the tyranny of linear thought. Steve Danziger delves into their Word Hoard. “Your field is the mind, mine is the brain – will the twain ever meet?” Master novelist E. L. Doctorow’s latest deals with the traumas of duality. The Cairo Affair is an elegant new espionage thriller from the highly accomplished Olen Steinhauer. And in The Revenant of Thraxton Hall, Vaughn Entwistle teams Arthur Conan Doyle with Oscar Wilde – what could be better? B. J. Novak, the gamine and unassuming star of the American version of The Office, has written a collection of short stories, and that collection, remarkably, got published. Justin Hickey decides to judge it on its merits. Raintree County may be the greatest American novel nobody has ever read. When Michael Johnson pulled it off his shelf, he was instantly hooked: maybe it’s time for a revival. A dazzling, kaleidescopic debut novel journeys through Kenya’s fraught post-colonial history while unpacking the tangled question of what it means to be a Kenyan. A close reading of Elisabeth de Waal’s The Exiles Return reminds us that the dream of every returning exile is to savor not only a lost land but a lost time. A veteran master of suspense, Gerald Seymour enhances his track record with The Dealer and the Dead. Scott O’Connor’s Half World is a chilling fictional take on a secret CIA mind control program activated in the middle of the last century. We mourn the death of the great Canadian short story writer Mavis Gallant and are re-running Karen Vanuska’s moving appreciation from 2009 in tribute. The books we reread say a lot about who we are or who we hope to be. They also shape us, as Rebecca Mead discovers in exploring her own long relationship with George Eliot’s Middlemarch. Spike Jonze is the most mainstream of indie directors — or the most indie of mainstream directors — and his newest film Her is a triumph of quirky charm and visionary depth. Matt Sadler reviews. February would be unremittingly bleak if it weren’t for the excuse it gives us to ponder the meaning of love, that many-splendored thing. Our editors offer up their favorite literary treatments. Martha Grimes’ The Way of All Fish is a delectable satire set in the cutthroat world of New York publishing. Max Kinnings’ Baptism is a taut thriller of unbridled terror in the London subway. One could argue, from the evidence of cable TV ratings, that we’ve entered the age of the anti-hero. But why are they so popular? Adam Sternbergh’s debut novel provides some unexpected answers. To literary scholar Laura Frost, the great 20th century modernists created readerly pleasures not through familiar comforts but by transforming difficulty and strangeness into something exciting and new. Daniel Green tests the theory. Romance, nostalgia and beguiling delusions are hallmarks of Lara Vapnyar’s novels, including her sinuous newest, The Scent of Pine Two fine, first-rate thrillers usher in the New Year. One centers on a major drug bust in a cutting edge contemporary setting, the other tackles one of the most baffling and notorious crime sprees of the Victorian era. Every correspondent in Moscow wanted to be the first to find Solzhenitsyn after he won the Nobel Prize in 1970. Michael Johson had that honor – but the great Russian writer wasn’t altogether pleased so see him. The new Bridget Jones novel will make you laugh and cry — but it might also make you fret, as it continues the series’ ongoing celebration of incompetence. Is blue soup really the best we can hope for, or the most we should strive for? John Ford’s story of star-crossed lovers is bloodier than Shakespeare’s and more heart-wrenching, too, for it’s a tragedy of childhood, of innocence lost. Charles Blackstone, author of the novel Vintage Attraction and managing editor at Bookslut, speaks with Kevin Frazier about Chicago literature, online publishing, and being the spouse of a sommelier A murder, a trip to the dump, and oh yah – September 11. That wacky Thomas Pynchon is at it again! “The Moonstone will have its vengeance on you and yours!” Those fateful words propel us into one of the first and best of modern English detective novels — still sensational after all these years. Led on by a “shared obsession,” a philosopher and a psycyhoanalyst have teamed up to offer their interpretation of Hamlet. With the ghosts of countless critics looming before them, how has this pair fared? Chimananda Ngozi Adichie’s expansive novel Americanah centers on a Nigerian woman’s immigration to the United States and eventual return to Nigeria. Orem Ochiel explores what her story says about complex, often traumatic experience of being black and African in the West. Vintage records, black dogs, and lost souls fill Dead Set, a teen novel for readers (of all ages) who are sick of half-hearted Hunger Games clones. A light mantle of frost settles over the crowded events of Jumpha Lahiri’s new novel, which is “about” loss in the way that Anna Karenina is “about” love The splendid Tatiana is Martin Cruz Smith’s eighth Arkady Renko novel, while Sins of the Flesh is the fifth thriller to feature Colleen McCullough’s offbeat detective Carmine Delmonico. Jonathan Franzen has translated and annotated a collection of essays by Karl Kraus, the Austrian polemicist known as the Great Hater and one of the signal curmudgeonly influences behind Franzen’s fiction. How do you follow up on creating Tarzan of the Apes? You give the Ape-Man a son, stranding him in the jungle, and sending him out on hair-raising adventures of his own. And if you’re lucky, a legendary comic book artist will come along and draw it all. Elizabeth Gilbert’s ambitious new novel imagines the life of a 19th-century woman botanist, as insightful as Darwin but lost to history. It’s an interesting project, and a worthy one, but does the novel live up to its premise? Throughout its history, humankind has been both terrified by and obsessed with monsters – hence the booming ‘cryptid’ industry, traversing the globe in search of legendary beasts like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. A new book looks at the science and psychology behind our modern bogeymen. The style of Clarice Lispector’s unconventional and uneasy fiction was driven by both social anxiety and physical pain. How did this transubstantiation take place? Fearless reporter Renata Adler’s novel “Speedboat” has been stirring debate and controversy since it was published in 1976; now, in a new reprint from the New York Review of Books, it retains its power to shock, subvert, and just maybe seduce. Never Go Back, Lee Child’s 18th Jack Reacher adventure, is a winner; plus, the second in a nifty new series, Mortal Bonds by Michael Sears, redefines “follow the money.” To many the scriptural story of Joseph is ancient and arcane. But its exploration into divine and authorial omniscience make it seem powerfully contemporary. Distance is complicated: it measures intimacy, but in unpredictable ways. Rebecca Solnit’s evocative new book explores the meaning of distance and closeness. An aspiring young writer encounters the journals of legendary Canadian novelist Elizabeth Smart, whose virtuoso novella By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept gives no hint of her struggles with her own writing Today George Orwell is a buzzword; what can his collected letters tell us about the man himself? G. Robert Ogilvy looks for the human being beneath the persona. A newly translated selection of occasional prose by Robert Walser demonstrates the Swiss eccentric’s range of manic humor and Romantic melancholy Two special thrillers, The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton and Alex by Pierre Lemaitre: They “star” a duo of sexual predators—each a particularly nasty piece of work that makes for heart stopping suspense. A wild fever-dream of a book, By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept careers between thrilling emotion and absurd histrionics. Is David Rakoff’s novel-in-verse either worthy verse or a worthy novel? Does he pull off a high-wire act, as so many critics have concluded, or is it all a grand illusion? The meek and peaceful Jesus has become the standard Christian image of the Messiah. Religious scholar Reza Aslan’s controversial new book shatters that image and replaces it with something very different: a violent revolutionary who came not to bring peace but a sword. In Caleb Crain’s debut novel, a young man puts his ordinary life on hold and goes to post-revolution Prague in search of all the usual things young people go searching for in Prague. But, as reviewer Yulia Greyman observes, “false selves are a part of love.” A young man on a tentative law school track encounters the fiction of Philip Roth, and suddenly, his lostness acquires a commanding sense of purpose. An essay by Barrett Hathcock. The Lord of the Rings draws on many medieval stories and myths. Oddly absent, however, are overt references to the one myth that ruled them all. A newly published poem fills that gap – but it may bemuseTolkein’s usual readers. ‘Everyone knows who won the war,’ runs the refrain of Muriel Rukeyser’s Savage Coast; her newly published 1930 novel about the Spanish Civil War shows what it meant to be a witness to it. The stories of British writer H.H. Munro, known by his pen-name Saki, are devastating studies in torment and cruelty; they’re also exceptionally funny. A new collection offers a bracing reminder of that duality. From the surfeit of Scandinavian thrillers comes one that stands out with the best: Bad Blood by Arne Dahl. Shirley Jackson is best known – infamous, even – for her chilling story “The Lottery.” But it’s her novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle, where battle rages between evil within and without, that’s her masterpiece. When Hannah Arendt published Eichmann in Jerusalem in 1964, her moral authority was called into question. Now Margarethe von Trotta’s new film Hannah Arendt explores both who has the right and who has the responsibility to speak about the Holocaust. In the famous jingle ‘divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived,’ Katherine Parr comes last – the sixth wife of King Henry VIII. But she was far more than that – scholar, regent, and passionate young woman – as a new Tudor historical novel attempts to portray An auspicious debut, The Abomination is a riveting conspiracy thriller by Jonathan Holt. Plus, Philip Kerr’s cheeky, charismatic Berlin cop Bernie Gunther is back in A Man Without Breath. As the haze and heat of summer kick into full swing, the folk of Open Letters break out their annual Summer Reading recommendations! Our feature continues, as more Open Letters folk share their annual Summer Reading recommendations! Is close reading disappearing? And is that the most pressing problem facing universities? Terry Eagleton’s latest, How to Read Literature is a plea for a return to what made the humanities worth knowing. Richard Ford likes complexity, and he filled his novel, The Sportswriter, with sonnet-like weights and counterweights of tangled and gorgeous intricacy. As Spencer Lenfield’s reading demonstrates, single sentences can contain worlds. Olivia Manning: A Woman at War By Deirdre David Oxford University Press, 2013 When is a woman writer not a “woman writer”? What does it mean to claim or resist that identity — for a woman who writes, … Fintan O’Toole is an idealist about Irish republicanism and his books begin a desperately necessary conversation. It’s a bad sign, though, that he can’t quite get past the preliminaries. Baz Luhrmann’s blockbuster is merely the newest Great Gatsby for film or television–four adaptations before it attempted to capture the dazzle and pathos of the classic. Matt Sadler us on a tour of West Egg across the decades. Nice as it is to revisit old friends, readers of Jane Gardam’s latest may end up wondering if all the most interesting things happened somewhere else, at some other time. John le Carré, the pre-eminent spy writer of the 20th century and beyond, dazzles us again with A Delicate Truth. Plus a debut addition to the ranks of the genre, Red Sparrow, might just earn the author Jason Matthews a pat on the back from the master. In life there are no second chances, no do-overs. But what if we could keep trying until we got it right? Kate Atkinson explores the possibilities in a novel that just might win her a coveted literary prize or two. In Andre Aciman’s latest novel, a man recalls his time as a graduate student at Harvard, revisiting the early days of a long-estranged friendship. On Kate Zambreno’s Heroines and the crime of dismissive criticism in both Bookforum and The LA Review of Books Tea Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife was universally acclaimed by critics, but behind its beautiful writing lie some dangerously unexamined stereotypes about the Balkans. Pedja Jurisic digs beneath the mythology. Mark Wallace’s novels won’t be found at a Barnes & Noble, and that may be a shame beyond words: both Dead Carnival and The Quarry and the Lot reveal haunting truths and wrestle language into terrifying attitudes. In a new memoir packed with garbled madness, we get a funhouse-mirror autobiography of the legendary Richard Hell, who did more than anybody to invent punk rock and only haphazardly survived to tell the tale Does love create an unbridgeable distance between two souls? Marco Roth’s searching memoir of his microbiologist father alternates between longing and numbness in its search for what, if anything, binds fathers and sons Born of ancient Buddhist philosophy into the fragments of the modern world, Yoko Ogawa’s Revenge asks essential questions about what it means to be human. Two seductive thrillers: one starring a fearless female cop, the other a boatload of washed-up MI5 spies. Traumatized by her baby’s kidnapping and murder, disappointed in her marriage to a fallen hero, Anne Morrow Lindbergh found hope in the beautiful, fragile shells she found on the beach. The result was her gentle masterpiece Gifts from the Sea. The lurid pathology of Patrick McGrath’s fiction – its endless procession of madmen, derelicts, and misguided psychiatrists – can often blind us to the fact that he is first of all a historical novelist – and a great one. Why, asks James Meek’s latest novel, should the rich get smoother, easier lives than their less well-paid fellow men? And what can an innovative novelist do with the oft-visited ‘immoral rich versus honorable poor’ premise? The great Russian writer Maxim Gorky’s heart may always have been in Russia, but for years his intermittent stays in Italy stirred his creativity and fired his passion. “In love you discover everything right away,” he wrote – and he loved Italy. The media just won’t leave old man Voltaire alone! We run a transcript of the latest interview. Elie Wiesel once claimed “a novel about Treblinka is either not a novel or not about Treblinka.” How does Steve Sem-Sandberg grapple with representing the unrepresentable in his sweeping chronicle of the Łódź ghetto, The Emperor of Lies? A review from our archives. Venice has traded flinty commercial acumen and world-weary merchant princes for an ennui worthy of M. John Harrison’s science fiction; her profession has now become the art of insubstantiality. For centuries authors have tried and failed to capture her. Steve Donoghue surveys the glorious wreckage. George Eliot’s Middlemarch is beloved for its wit and wisdom. But behind its many beauties lurks a disquieting possibility: that misery is the price we must pay for morality. After fictionalizing his experiences in his previous four books, Aleksandar Hemon revisits his memories in a new collection of essays. Yes, we know Sam Lipsyte’s stories are laugh-out-loud funny. But all that low comedy–the pratfalls, the dirty jokes–serves as the ballast for some of the darkest stories in contemporary fiction. Steve Danziger elaborates. To make something we must first unmake or take apart something else. Why, then, in a novel preoccupied with acts of destruction and reconstruction, does Pat Barker not offer a corresponding deformation of form? Has her critique of Modernism led her to disavow art altogether? Car crashes, suburban swingers’ societies, accidental prostitution, Nixon enthusiasts, and a cameo performance by Don DeLillo – in her latest novel, A.M. Homes maintains her equilibrium Ghostman, by Roger Hobbs, is a dazzling debut that deserves a place as a benchmark of the crime-thriller genre Spoiler alert! It’s a familiar warning — but isn’t it also a silly one? There’s so much more to novels than their plots. And yet what if we’re better readers for not knowing? Consider The Mill on the Floss, for example. When the Paris Review, long regarded as a literary standard-bearer, publishes a volume on the art of the short story, it flushes a flurry of conversations into the open: what is a short story? What constitutes an anthology-worthy example? What’s the audience for this kind of thing? And: can these stories answer such questions? “The eye says ‘Here is Anna Karenina,’” wrote Virginia Woolf; “A voluptuous lady in black velvet wearing pearls comes before us. But the brain says ‘that is no more Anna Karenina than it is Queen Victoria.’” Joe Wright’s cinematic adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic avoids the pitfalls of such literalism. In M. John Harrison’s lyrical Viriconium trilogy, the high science of quantum physics meets the low art of fighting giant locusts. Justin Hickey finds a quiet spot to watch the chitin fly. Joseph Epstein has a cult following as a sharp-tongued critic and essayist. His latest collection showcases his love of words and ideas as well as his caustic wit. “The proper function of a critic is to save a tale from the artist who created it” wrote D. H. Lawrence, but sometimes – most of the time – despite the best efforts of the best critics, both tale and artist disappear. What do we do with the criti-cal darlings of yesteryear, now filling the library bargain sale? And what of the critics, who called them imperishable? The startling revelations in Anonymous turn out to be only the beginning: literary sleuths have uncovered a slew of other authorial misdemeanors. Year after year, D. H.Lawrence found love, lust, and gainful employment in Italy – and through the strange alchemy of the place, he also found the inspirations for some of his most enduring works of art. John le Carré is still as popular as he’s ever been, but what about Len Deighton? Our correspondent has gone back to Deighton’s novels and found their Cold War intrigue and human dramas as rewarding as ever. Watching the Dark, the latest in Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks series, shows the master crime writer at the top of his form. A conversation about the enduring appeal of Pride & Prejudice. In 2011, Aleksandar Hemon chooses his favorite short fiction from all across Europe. From our archives, Kevin Frazier celebrated these bracing imports. It is said that Thomas Hardy fell deeply in love with his wife, Emma, only after she died. Stephen Akey revisits the stunning, elegiac poetry he wrote in her memory. Say “Evgeny Onegin” to any educated Russian and you will trigger the first stanza or two of Pushkin’s great novel in verse. Now Russia’s national poet is finally coming into his own in the West as well. Unsettled and penniless, James Joyce’s exile was initially more imrpovised than cunning. Luciano Mangiafico tells the story of his early years on the continent. Not every actor gets the plum role of vampire hunter and romantic lead Jonathan Harker. Steve Brachmann reflects on his part in the Dracula-inspired rock musical The Dead English Dan Fesperman’s The Double Game is a complex literary novel of intrigue that makes spy fiction a central character, “doubling” the reading pleasure. The Hemingway Library has given us a variorum edition of A Farewell to Arms with 39 alternate endings. But how might Hemingway himself have felt about the resulting collage? A rumor of Narnia at Trinity Church prompts two questions. Can a building have a spiritual life? Can a work of art not? Phillips Brooks and the idea of ecstasy Anthony Burgess is famous, but not for his best book. John Cotter sees your A Clockwork Orange and raises you the new Europa edition of Earthly Powers. Anthony Burgess the novelist had dreams of being a composer. He had little success, but along the way he delved deep into the nature and meaning of music. Europa Editions has reprinted Anthony Burgess’ masterpiece Earthly Powers. Our editors talk about that seminal volume which has inspired an issue wide celebration of Burgess and his work. Respectable novelists are solemn, meditative, and deliberate–they certainly don’t churn out book reviews every week. Anthony Burgess smashed that fussy mold and left us a lifetime’s work of brilliant, omnivorous literary journalism. A Clockwork Orange turned 50 this year and received the gift of an anniversary edition. Justin Hickey looks anew at the novel Anthony Burgess claimed to have knocked off in three weeks, and which made him famous. Anthony Burgess’ first novels were a series of dark comedies set in colonial Malaya. Did he fall prey to Edward Said’s Orientalist crtitique, or did he anticipate it? Some of Anthony Burgess’ most accomplished inventions roam into the past, to Shakespeare and Marlowe’s England and Jesus’ Judea. How well has his historical fiction stood up across the years? “I knew my trip would mean an encounter with Adela Quested”: Victoria Olsen reflects on what she found, and what was lost in translation, when she travelled to India with E. M. Forster on her mind. A city in northern England and a remote Scottish island are appropriately bleak settings to launch two impressive new series. Open Letters Weekly has been the venue for hundreds of book reviews in 2012. For your reading pleasure and holiday book-buying convenience, we gather them here in chronological order. Bossophilia: The idolization of Bruce Springsteen that comes from midlife nostalgia and a fear of dying. Steve Danziger confronts the phenomenon, and a new biography. The fairy tale has been through several metamorphoses; the next might result in its extinction. Max Ross reviews Jack Zipes’s cultural history of the genre. Although I would rather do almost anything than attend a literary reading (like, for instance, stay home and read), I made an exception for Jorge Luis Borges when he lectured to a packed house at … What does it mean to say “only the music matters?” In her bleakly intelligent new novel, Lynne Sharon Schwartz challenges us to consider what we really value in music and how our own demand for superhuman perfection strips it of its soul. William Kent Krueger and Steve Hamilton, authors of two critically acclaimed series, have winning new detective novels. Irma Heldman reviews. Renowned reviewer and cultural critic Daniel Mendelsohn has a scintillating new collection of his recent work; John Cotter and Steve Donoghue compare notes on “Waiting for the Barbarians” How can writers depict the fragmented modern soul? For Zadie Smith, the solution is an untidy, fragmented novel. M.K. Hall reviews NW In the opening volume of the “Toxic City” series, London is cut off from the rest of the world and filling up with super-powered mutants – two things which have been true on YouTube for some time now. Can a famously cold and impersonal writer like Paul Auster make a memoir of aging that works against his strengths? And are they strengths after all? Madman, lothario, despot, drug fiend, friend and enemy of Mussolini – and immortal poet. Gabriele D’Annunzio was all of these things and many more in his whirlwind of a life. The seventeenth Lee Child is vintage Jack Reacher and the eighth Louise Penny is, as always, compelling and charismatic The son of a powerful crime family falls in love with a young woman in the Witness Protection Program – a young woman his family wants dead! Don’t you hate it when that happens? What does the soul-searching writer do when the concept of the soul–to say nothing of God–has lost its currency? Two new confessional novels try to navigate that uncharted territory. It’s a bridge, a barrier, and a burden; it’s used in the bedroom, the kitchen, and the outhouse. Leah Price helps us think again about what we can, should, or want to do with that most fetishized of objects: the book. The worlds of fine art, porno, hollywood, meth addiction, and quality lit cross and recombine in Bruce Wagner’s latest Dead Stars. We made this culture, now what do we make of it? Pound wrote The Pisan Cantos on toilet paper while prisoner in an open-air metal cage during WWII, and he spent many of the following years in mental hospitals. “I can get along with crazy people,” he quipped. “It’s only the fools I can’t stand.” What would it mean if history were a joke, a shaggy dog story? J. G. Farrell’s bleakly funny Troubles reflects the struggle of post-war British literature to come to terms with the inheritance of modernism. There are warring schools of fad and interpretation, there are critical readings of an hour or a season – and then there’s Wordsworth’s verse itself, annotating and amplifying the personal reading experience. A rare film is the centerpiece of Syndrome E, a cutting-edge, mesmerizing thriller. “Ellis, Leyner, Leavitt, Franzen, Powers…their fictions reduce to complaints and self-pity. Dostoevski has balls.” This and other gleanings from a trip to the David Foster Wallace archives. The great Antonio Machado loved his native Spain and was disgusted by its descent into fascism; that fusion of enchantment and grief vivifies his unforgettable poetry. Two scalpel-sharp political thrillers that mark the welcome return of the thoroughly winning, charismatic protagonists: Charlie Muffin and Joe DeMarco. You think you know Ivanhoe: it’s the original swash-buckling adventure story, full of fights, escapes, ambushes, and then, of course, a happy ending. But what you see if you look more closely may make you think twice about its chivalric ideals. The verses of the neglected poet James Schuyler seem to ramble, but they don’t really ramble; they seem dishevelled, but they aren’t; they seem miniaturist, but they contain whole worlds. Stephen Akey makes the case for your renewed attention. 2012, a William Gaddis renaissance year, sees the reissue of the author’s awesome, strangely prescient 1975 novel J R. Greg Gerke and Gabriel Blackwell discuss their experiences tackling the tome. Nerdy teenager Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider – and a super-franchise was born! As a new blockbuster Spider-Man movie hits the summer theaters, Justin Hickey takes us on a tour of the character’s colorful – and often tortured – past! The inventor of the beloved Inspector Maigret was gigantically prolific – hundreds of novels, churned out at lightning speed (80 pages a day, according to the author himself) – and in this as in many other things, Georges Simenon was a world unto himself. Cop to Corpse, the 12th in Peter Lovesey’s Detective Supt. Peter Diamond series, finds the master at the top of his form. Book reviewers are split on whether Toni Morrison’s new novel is a further triumph or a falling off. Or have these critics only found what they anticipated? We review the reviews, then we review the book. As Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” takes movie-goers back to the world of his “Alien” classics, we take a look at the long and lively history of modern cinema’s most famous monsters. Dubbed the Voltaire of science fiction, Robert Sheckley often denied that there was anything serious in his fabulations. But a new collection belies the claim, displaying inventive satire mixed with wisdom “You come as opportunely as cheese on macaroni” is a terrible line, a symptom of all the reasons George Eliot’s Romola is a failure. But is failure really such a bad thing? Maybe a novelist’s reach should exceed her grasp. This picaresque classic by Colombian novelist Álvaro Mutis doubles as an extended valentine to the author of Heart of Darkness. Robert Latona revisits it. Carsten Stroud’s Niceville is a wildly edgy thriller with the heart of a dark comedy–our resident mystery maven reviews Steve Donoghue takes the emperor’s box to thumbs-up or thumbs-down an array of Roman historical novels, as “A Year with the Romans” continues. Felix Holt, the Radical may be one of George Eliot’s least-read novels, but its questions about a democracy that puts power in the hands of “ignorant numbers” still have both moral and political resonance. Brian Evenson’s work is a violent exploration of a violent medium: language. His new novel Immobility and the stories collected in Windeye continue that journey into dark territory. The real mystery of Richard III is not the fate of his nephews, the Princes in the Tower, but why we never tire of telling and re-telling his story. What do we really see when we stare at his enigmatic portrait? Art, Truth, Data, Sex, and Facebook–rabble-roused by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal’s The Lifespan of a Fact, Max Ross connects them in a key to all nonfiction aesthetics No form of literature seems as thoroughly doomed in the 21st century as the printed encyclopedia, but even dinosaurs can have rich and rewarding life-stories. Where did we go, before we all went to the Internet? Ken Layne’s political writing is sharp and raucus, and a novel about a financially devastated near-future United States would seem like a perfect vehicle for more anger. But though that fire is still there, a gentle-but-compelling spiritualist tone has risen to to the fore. Known as much for how she exited her life as for the poetry she wrote during it, Sylvia Plath remains a polarizing figure in the world of verse. What are we reading, when we subject ourselves to her poems? Randall Jarrell was suspicious of attempts to turn criticism into a science: he wrote as a reader, for other readers, with the work itself foremost in his mind. A thumping mix-tape of dystopian fantasy and gangster noir, Kevin Barry’s City of Bohane defies easy categorization–but does it offer a story to match its stylistic bravura? The box office record-setting movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is the latest incarnation of an unsettling children-as-prey plot that’s been with us in one form or another for a long time – and never more vividly than in Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale The raw sexuality of the Catullus’ love poems keeps them alive even today, and the things he implied about Julius Caesar STILL can’t be repeated in polite conversation – how do we deal with this young man who’s always making us feel just a bit uncomfortable? When the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 2010, it was given to an empty chair. Its recipient, Liu Xiaobo, was in prison for advocating human rights in China. Though he is still incarcerated, a collection of essays sheds light on his thought and struggle. With its headspinning wordplay and lunatic cast of characters, Seth Morgan’s 1990 novel Homeboy blazed like a comet into the literary pantheon. Steve Danziger revisits this grime crime classic. To the quintessential virtues the Puritans lent to a fledgling republic – globality, philantropy, and autonomy – the ‘speaking aristocracy’ of the Boston Brahmins added one more: the love of learning Long-time critic John Sutherland’s latest book The Lives of the Novelists takes readers on a biographical tour of 294 creators’ lives. But does it work? Long-time critic Steve Donoghue and novelist John Cotter try to figure that out. In Nick Harkaway’s altogether remarkable novel Angelmaker, blistering gangster noir meets Rabelaisian comedy In The Orphan Master’s Son, Adam Johnson evokes the brutality of North Korea’s authoritarian regime by way of an over-the-top love story. Joyce W. Lee investigates whether torture and romance can coexist in one novel. Of his 60+ books, one in particular, The United States, is best representative of his work as a whole and, by readers, best loved. On the Collected Essays of Gore Vidal. Frank Kermode consumed all of the tumultuous 20th century’s literary theories without being consumed by them. A look at the work of this wisest of secular clerics. For two generations, the great American critic and man of letters Edmund Wilson has been instructing and delighting his readers – and inspiring some of them to become critics themselves. Elizabeth Hardwick joined the literary world of mid-20th century Manhattan with every intention of making her mark upon it – which she did, in review after inimitable review, taking American book-discourse to levels and places it had never reached before Where would Lionel Trilling, godfather of the liberal imagination, fit into our contemporary culture of ideas? And how much of that culture is of his making? Most criticism is reactive, but in his essay “The Poet,” Ralph Waldo Emerson proved prophetic. He set a challenge and Walt Whitman took him up on it. Richard Poirier was one of the great bridge-builders–his sorely neglected classic A World Elsewhere drew upon the writing of Emerson but presciently anticipated the postmodernist ideas that would soon enter the mainstream. The best of Anthony Lane’s many New Yorker reviews and essays were collected in Nobody’s Perfect, a big volume that amply displays this writer’s wit and subtlety. Agatha Christie has received praise from wide and varied corners, and mystery columnist Irma Heldman adds to the chorus with this retrospective on the life and work of the Queen of Crime. Is there more to romance fiction than perfect people meeting cute and living happily ever after? Sarah Wendell thinks so, but her arguments in defense of this most reviled of genres may themselves sell it short. Wallace Stevens, so long considered the driest and most cerebral of poets, can in fact touch the soul. It all hangs on the nature of poetry itself, what it is. Eli Gottlieb’s novels are built on dissimulation: lies to be cruel, lies to be kind … how does this formula hold in The Face Thief, and what is Gottlieb getting at? This new novel has all the grit, violence, and hopelessness we expect of the noir sub-genre, but here it’s infused with an almost philosophical edge. Tom McCarthy’s Derrida-inspired linguistic and narrative fixations are once again on full display in Men in Space, his first novel now reissued after the popularity of Remainder and C Nobody would accuse the mature Larkin of being a greeting card poet, and yet a warm and even vulnerable sentimentality bubbles up in his verse, often when it’s least expected. The Silent Oligarch is a smashing debut thriller that has Chris Morgan Jones assuming the le Carré mantle in his own very original way She’s a shadow, an absence, that haunts the letters, diaries, and novels of her famous half-sister Virginia Woolf. What can we really know about Laura Stephen? Ayad Akhtar’s debut novel American Dervish describes joins a Pakistani-American boy’s coming-of-age story with the exploration of a Muslim family’s assimilation into picket-fenced suburbs. What traditions will be kept or compromised? And more importantly, how well does the author present his vision? If anything’s taboo in our society it’s a thoughtful, humanistic portrait of a terrorist, which is why more established writers failed where Jarett Kobek delivers something new. Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is usually overshadowed by her sisters’ masterpieces, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, but this gripping novel, a startling exposé of Victorian patriarchy, deserves a turn in the spotlight. Is Don DeLillo’s short game as good as his long? Is it better? His first collection of short fiction — or is it his first? — offers occasion to take the much-lauded writer’s measure. P.D. James takes on Jane Austen: a match made in elite whodunit heaven. Prince of the Bengali renaissance, internationally feted poet, composer, painter, educator — why don’t we know Rabindranath Tagore today? And will a new book open our eyes? His own life was the great tragedy he was never quite able to write. Michael Adams assesses the career of playwright Terence Rattigan. A rich, beautiful, but sadly neglected historical masterpiece: Hilda Prescott’s The Man on a Donkey is the War and Peace of the English Reformation Carte Blanche is bestselling author Jeffrey Deaver’s new take on James Bond—bringing Agent 007 into the post-9/11 age. “I made no particular effort to keep the portrait of Byron consistent from one novel to another. I wanted to show him in different lights, from different angles.” Joshua Lustig interviews the author of the esteemed Byron Trilogy. Does marriage mean much anymore? Does the novel? Jeffrey Eugenides sets out to reinvent the classic literary story—but can he combine the style and the substance of the greats he hopes to update to our times? A meticulously-researched rendition of the horrifying massacres that comprised the “Rape of Nanjing” is the backdrop for Ha Jin’s latest telegraphic and affecting novel.
Sources Close to Hell January 13, 2014 The Morning Heresy is your daily digest of news and links relevant to the secular and skeptic communities. The NPR media criticism show On the Media (my favorite!) does an episode chock full of skeptical goodness. It's got fake science being reported as fact, journalists being duped by political ringers, creationism's stealth campaign, and even telemarketing cyborgs. CFI gets a very cool new addition to its Board of Directors: global development expert Hector F. Sierra. From our announcement: “The most precious resource a country has is not its visible infrastructure and wealth but what is inside people’s minds,” wrote Dr. Sierra in an article last year for CFI’s Free Inquiry magazine. “Just as there are dysfunctional policies, there are dysfunctional beliefs and traditions that can be costly to a country.” Researchers from the University of Tampa and Iowa State University are conducting a survey on the beliefs of and goals of skepto-atheists. Click here if you want to take part. CFI-DC's Simon Davis turns down the temperature on the excitement over atheism-experimenting pastor Ryan Bell, who was fired by his Christian employers: [T]hese employers are under no obligation – legal or moral – to entertain Bell’s recent experimentation with atheism. The fact that he’s simply giving it a shot doesn’t change the fact that he is publicly stating his intention to not follow the the tenets that they require him to uphold. And speaking of the DC branch, February 9 Paul Offit will be the guest speaker, talking about the sense and nonsense of alt-med. This Friday, CFI-Long Island hosts mathematician Jason Rosenhouse, who braved the belly of the creationist beast and lived to tell the tale. Dennis Murphy tweets this pic of CFI-Michiganders helping out at the Feeding America food bank. The Guardian asks scientists and artists (??) which scientific ideas need to be retired. Mauritanian journalist Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed reportedly faces a death sentence for apostasy, for writing critically about the Prophet. There is also a bounty on his head from an Islamic cleric. Apparently, Anglicans no longer have to reject Satan by name in baptism. Damian Thompson reports, "Sources close to hell report that the Devil is pleased that he’s no longer mentioned by name." Despite the hysteria, Ben Radford takes the blame for the Aurora shooting 18 months ago off of Batman. Before you pop those vitamins, you might want to check in with Steven Salzberg's do-not-pop list. Sharon Hill is agog at all the old and recycled pseudoscience stories popping up of late. "So, do local news media get their stories from Reddit? And do they do ZERO fact checking?" This is kind of fascinating. The Boston Globe interviews Dr. Josephine Briggs of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and she's kind of, well, level-headed about what alt-med can't do, though seems rather bullish about placebos. Not surprisingly, a lot of parents of kids with autism are turning to alt-med (40% in the study cited). Jehovah's Witness who "cannot sit in judgment of another human being" only lets this be known at the end of a trial at which she was a juror, causing a mistrial. Filmmaker Darrin Johnson makes a short documentary on nonbelievers of color. Jeffrey Tayler has "15 ways atheists can stand up for rationality," many of which are bound to cause disagreements. Oh, and it's in Salon! And I'm all, huh? Snake-handling pastor escapes indictment for breaking a state law forbidding the possession of poisonous snakes. The Russian Orthodox Church wants anti-sodomy laws put to popular vote. Longreads.com has a bunch of cryptid articles. Here's your Monday morning palette cleanser: Smithsonian posts the Mars rovers' loveliest photos. Quote of the Day Neil deGrasse Tyson and the upcoming Cosmos reboot get cover treatment in the hyper-mainstream Parade. (And the photo of NdT makes him look like a plastic action figure. That's Parade for you, I guess.) Spoiler alert for the end of the article, it has a great nerd joke from a fan of Tyson's, 11-year-old Giuseppe Lombardo: Playing off the size of a gigabyte (1,024 megabytes), [Giuseppe] asks, “Have you heard of the band 1020 Megabytes?” “No,” says Tyson, curious. “Of course you haven’t,” Giuseppe says. “They haven’t got any gigs yet!” * * * Linking to a story or webpage does not imply endorsement by Paul or CFI. Not every use of quotation marks is ironic or sarcastic, but it often is. Follow CFI on Twitter: @center4inquiry Got a tip for the Heresy? Send it to press(at)centerforinquiry.net! The Morning Heresy: "I actually read it." - Hemant MehtaCommenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Yeti Set Go! 1 Mile, 10-K, Trail Run Kids Only Event Included \|Sat 09/14/2013\|\|07:30 PM\|\|Trail Run (1 Mile)\|\|1 Mile\| \|Sat 09/14/2013\|\|07:30 PM\|\|Trail Run (10-K)\|\|10-K\| Q: What? ?Yeti Set Go!? ? Twilight Trail Series? A: This is Night Trail/Ultra Running 101.???????????? The ?Yeti Set Go? Twilight Trail Series is a family adventure in the woods. Every race is a green event. Each participant will be encouraged to use a headlamp and carry their own water bottle. The runs will begin at dusk. Up to 1,000 participants will follow a trail of glow sticks thru single track trails in 2 of Ohio?s most beautiful parks. The late summer race will be 10-K, the early fall race will be 15-K. One more thing, the Yeti. He?s here in Ohio. He?s been seen at both parks, he?s always spotted at dusk and he loves a good race. Maybe you will catch the Yeti, maybe he will catch you...that?s the fun part. The ?Yeti Set Go? Twilight Trail Series will also feature a 1-mile trail run for kids. The ?Yeti Set Go? Objectives: 1. Encourage Health and Fitness. 2. Keep it Green. 3. Proper Nutrition and Wellness. 4. Promote our Region?s Parks/Green Space and Communities. 5. Have fun in the woods/don?t be afraid of the dark. Why it is Called ?Yeti Set Go!? It is called ?Yeti Set Go? because it sounds cool. The Yeti is said to be an ape-like cryptid taller than an average human, similar to Bigfoot, that inhabits the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The scientific community generally regards the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of conclusive evidence, but it remains one of the most famous creatures of cryptozoology. The Yeti may be considered a sort of parallel myth to the Bigfoot of North America. So, we use Yeti because ?Bigfoot, Set, Go!? just doesn?t hack it. - Name:Mark Godale - Address:Aurora, OH Aurora, Ohio 44202
Name: Tau, the Guardian of Tombs and Cemeteries Symbol: Shears and a torch Movement: 180' (60') Armor Class: -4 Hit Points (Hit Dice): 126 hp (21 HD) Damage: 1-4 +3 Hoard Class: XV, XVI Tau is closely associated with the god of the dead and is the guardian of tombs and cemeteries. He most often appears as a vaguely reptilian humanoid with a canine face, fangs, a forked tongue, three yellow eyes, and matted black hair. This form stands approximately five feet tall, has bluish-gray skin, four arms, frog legs, and sharp dorsal spines. He appears naked but heavily ornamented with earrings, bracelets, and anklets made from human bones. Tau is surrounded by a perpetual stench of death and decay and his appearance is so frightening and repulsive that his mere presence will instill terror (requires an immediate morale check at -2). He casts spells as a 21st level cleric and may speak with the dead at will. Tau also possesses limited teleportation ability that functions as that of a blink dog. In his humanoid form, Tau bears +3 iron shears in three of his hands and carries a blazing torch in the fourth. He suffers no penalties for executing multiple attacks and is not subject to standard spell casting constraints. Tau cannot be surprised, is immune to charm, hold and sleep spells and can only be struck by silver or magical weapons. Tau lives in a terrifying cemetery high in the mountains. Although lawful, he is singularly concerned with the protection of burial places and delights in murdering tomb robbers. In some lands with ancient traditions, the Cult of Tau is more prominent; worshipers of Tau in such countries are known to police tombs. Tau was inspired by the deities of Tékumel, by Tibetan and Etruscan mortuary gods, and by the chupacabra, the well known cryptid that reportedly inhabits various regions of Latin America. The influence of the gods of Tékumel and the source mythologies of Mesoamerica and the Indian subcontinent likely resulted in the terrible demonic form of Tau. In Tibetan myth, the yaksha Ksetrapala is a warden of cemeteries. He is often depicted as a fearsome demon with blue-black skin, adorned with human skulls and holding a curved knife and skull cup filled with blood. Like Tau, Ksetrapala dwells in a terrible cemetery high in the mountains. His home stands at a gate to one of the many Tibetan hells and it is probable that Tau's abode is similarly situated near a portal to the underworld. Clearly, aspects of Tau are quite similar to the chupacabra, literally from the Portuguese and Spanish, goat-sucker. That creature typically appears in one of three forms; the most common being a relatively small reptilian monster with leathery or scaly greenish-gray skin and a canine head. This form is said to hop in a manner similar to the kangaroo and is accompanied by a sulfuric stench. The second described form is predominantly canine, though bipedal with coarse grey fur. It also hops. The third form is described as a hairless dog with a spinal ridge and protruding eye sockets. The association of the monstrous chupacabra with Tau probably follows from the dog-like appearance of the beast in all its forms. Dogs, in Mesoamerican folklore and myth, are often presented as guides for dead souls; the Aztec underworld deity Xolotl took the form of a dog-headed skeleton with reversed feet. Tau’s torch and shears; however, are derived from an ancient Mediterranean cemetery deity, Kulsu, often erroneously identified as Kulmu, an Etruscan Chaonian goddess associated with the guardianship of tombs. Kulsu is depicted on a sarcophagus from Chiusi emerging from a tomb with buskins and shears in one hand and a flaming funeral torch in the other. The existence of a deity such as Tau and the cult's tomb police, might be problematic for the traditional party of dungeon explorers, essentially glorified grave robbers that they so often are. Tékumelani adventurers are certainly well acquainted with the patrols of capable, although often corrupt, Tomb Police that guard the underworld. Mark Wigoder-Daniels in the Eye of All-Seeing Wonder noted: Before entering the underworld you must deal with the tomb police. The ideal is to avoid contact with them altogether, but in other circumstances you will have to come to a financial arrangement. It is best to do this before descending into the underworld, as the police are more likely to be content with a few kaitars if they do not see you with a sack freshly filled with antique loot. Tau, himself, is not so easily placated. His hatred for tomb robbers is absolute and those that run afoul of the little god will likely end as bloody mutilated corpses on the dungeon floor. In rare circumstances; however, Tau may provide assistance to some adventurers. Tau Reaction Table (2d6; Use Wisdom as Modifier instead of Charisma; +10 to tomb robbers and defilers) 2 or less Benevolent: Will Commune with or Raise Dead party members or character if properly propitiated. 3 Positive: Will Bless or Cure character or party if properly propitiated. 4-8 Indifferent: Ignores character or party. 9-10 Negative: Will Quest character or party if not properly propitiated. The quest will involve the protection of burial places or the restoration of defiled burials or looted grave goods. 11 Hostile: Will attack character or party if not properly propitiated. 12+ Enraged: Attacks character or party.
A print reporter from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan contacted me recently in reference to this report from December 2009: I'm a reporter for the Prince Albert Daily Herald who just read on your website the eyewitness account from the Mutual UFO Network on a reported alien abduction in Prince Albert in December 2009. I'd love to talk to this person, but can't figure out a way to get in touch with them. Have you had any luck in hearing from the witness who wrote the account? I checked MUFON and the guy says to email people but he doesn't provide an email address. Prince Albert Daily Herald (306) 764-4276 ext. 249 If you have any information for Matt, please contact him. I plucked this abduction report (unedited) from the MUFON Case Management System at the time. Honestly, I don't know how many, if any, of these abduction cases are investigated by MUFON...Lon: Please, this is a true story that took place on December 23rd of 2009. I was in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and there is a local legend of a ghost train that appears on an old railroad track located in the woods just off an out of town road. I decided to check it out as I was on my way to town. It was 1AM. I was driving for a while and I decided I needed a stretch, have a few cigarettes and get back on the road. I parked just off the road and made my way through the field to the woods. It was extremely dark. I heard some quick footsteps. I got scared but figured it must've been a baby deer or a fox or something. I remember then smelling a strong odour. It smelt like chemicals, strong enough to make you cringe and tingle your brain. That's the last I remember of being in the woods. I must've passed out but I awoke and I was being led in a dark hallway. Something was communicating with me. It told me "not to worry," and that "you will not be harmed." For some reason I trusted it. The platform we were walking on seemed to cushion my every step. The creature appeared to be communicating with others but I couldn't see anything else. Finally we approached this spherical room. We entered but nothing was in there. Just two weird looking seats and the entrance. A dim bluish light illuminated from above. At this point, I thought I was dreaming. The "thing" that was leading me appeared to be some sort of creature. It invited me into one of the seats as it took the other. This is where I observed its appearance. It was very short. It had dark skin. It had a large head with two large dark eyes. It had a visible nose but no visible ears or mouth which is weird because it had a voice. It also had long limbs and long fingers. It appeared to have some sort of engraving on it's chest. It also appeared to be injured. This creature and I had a conversation. It spoke to me. It asked me, "What are you?" I responded, "I'm a human being." It then asked me, "And this is your home, Earth?" I responded, "Yes. Why are you here?" It paused for some brief moments. Then it said, "Because the humans will face the exact same fate that the Ithileceus faced. The creature stated "Ithileceus". I'm guessing that's how you spell it and I'm guessing that's the race of the creature. I asked, "And what's that?" It replied, "Extinction." Before I asked another question, it continued. "If the humans don't build an Ostisuphrymicous, during the year 2065, they will perish and your world will become their world." I asked, "What's an Os-tis-u-phrym-icous?" Then a small desk appeared from above us and landed in between us. A small sphere appeared. It seemed to emit some sort of energy. The creature just stared at it. It started to glow and I felt all my energy drain from my body. Then it stopped glowing. I felt exhausted and vulnerable. The creature said, "This one was built for use against your kind just in case you happened to portray some level of hostility. But after some observation, your kind is at most, harmless. We used the last of our resources to build it." I can't describe the sphere with words. I probably could only draw it. I asked the creature, "Where are you from?" The creature replied, "I am from a place far more advanced than this one. Approximately a thousand times more advanced. But my home is now home to invaders. My race was completely destroyed. I as well as a few others are all that remain in existence." I asked, "Why are you helping us?" The creature replied, "It is in our nature to aid those that we cross paths with. It appears that your planet is in a collection of several planets and as a group, appears to be in the path of the invaders that have taken our planet. I am simply warning you of what's to come." I still believed I was dreaming. The creature seemed to be able to read my thoughts and my feelings. The creature said, "As victims in a massive slaughtering, this makes us brothers in this universe. If you don't survive, at least you will die fighting." I tried to comprehend everything that was being told to me. But I just couldn't believe it. The creature extended it's hand out as to shake my hand. I reached out too and as our hands touched I went unconscious. The next thing I know, I awoke in my bed. My clothes were still on, as well as my shoes. But my watch was missing. So was my wallet, my phone, my Ipod, my cigarettes and my lighter. I looked outside and my car was nowhere to be found. I asked a friend to drive me where I had stopped the night before. My car was still there but nothing else was found. I called my phone several times using my friend's cell and each time there was an automatic pick-up. Each time I heard a weird humming noise, like a light saber and occasionally a beep. During the fourth call, it cut and all I got was the operator voice telling me the number was not assigned. After that day, I had several dreams of a global takeover, more than 6 to be exact. This incident is truly chilling and disturbing and I've questioned our reality and my existence ever since. This is a true story. Please believe me. This incident happened to me. Please e-mail me if you want to see the pictures I drew of the sphere and the creature: [cms/tg/pid] The creature warned me of the year 2065. The Alien Abduction Files: The Most Startling Cases of Human Alien Contact Ever Reported Children Of The Greys Secret Life: Firsthand, Documented Accounts of Ufo Abductions Join Eric Altman, Lon Strickler and Sean Forker each Sunday at 8 PM ET as we go Beyond the Edge! Call toll free 1-877-677-2858 during the live broadcast Tune in each week for a new and exciting podcast 'Phantoms & Monsters: Cryptid Encounters' Don't have a Kindle device? No problem... Free Reading Apps: Your Kindle purchase can be sent automatically to your Android, iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7 device. DOWNLOAD A 'FREE APP' HERE! Click ad to order tickets and for directions Works on maverick science, unexplained mysteries, unorthodox theories, strange talents, and unexpected discoveries. Please check out their excellent and diverse catalog "The latest news from beyond the mainstream" Join Ben & Aaron for their weekly podcasts! Check out Mysterious Universe Plus+ all access format! Click to submit a sighting report or encounter Free shipping - Bonded dealer - PCI certified
Posted by: Loren Coleman on June 7th, 2006 Jon Downes has announced that his Center for Fortean Zoology will attempt to track down recent accounts of “dragons” or monitor lizards in West Africa. In early July 2006, a six-person team from the North Devon-based UK group is travelling to Gambia to investigate these folktales. They may find the trail a little cold. Back on June 12, 1983, 15-year-old amateur naturalist Owen Burnham discovered the fresh carcass of a strange beast on the remote Bungalow Beach in Gambia. The stranded dead cryptid was around 15 feet long and looked like a cross between a crocodile and a dolphin. Owen Burnham is today an accomplished wildlife photographer and author on African biology. Realizing that it was something unknown to science, Owen, a missionary’s son, made detailed sketches of the creature. He and his family then buried it in the hot sand above the tide line, hoping that the dry sand would preserve the body. Click image for full-size version Owen made a detailed map. But the Burnhams never re-discovered the site, and the identity of the cryptid has been a hotly debated topic in cryptozoology for years, many considering it an unknown beaked whale, a misidentified dolphin, or an unknown reptile. The Centre for Fortean Zoology has a copy of the map and intends to try to find, dig up, and examine the cryptid’s body. The group also plans to track down the source of the stories of a swamp-dwelling dragon known as Ninki-nanka. The 30-feet-long beast is said to lurk in deep riverbank holes and emerge into the swamps at night. In this way, it overlaps with the reported behavior of the Cameroon-Congolese reports of Mokele-mbembe. As recently as the early 1990s, Ninki-nanka allegedly is reported to have killed people. Cryptozoologist Richard Freeman thinks Ninki-nanka may be a giant, semi-aquatic monitor lizard. Related to the celebrated Komodo dragon, the African reptile would be three times as long, perhaps as big as a very large crocodile. The team hopes to interview witnesses and venture into the deep mangrove swamps on the trail of the beast. Click image for full-size version The team members are, as pictured, left to right below: Suzi Marsh, computer specialist; Dr. Chris Clark, engineer; Chris Moiser, biologist and team leader; Lisa Dowley, first aid and security expert; Oll Lewis, ecologist; and Richard Freeman, cryptozoologist. The expedition’s progress can be charted on the CFZ website. Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013.
The Mysterious Cryptid Relics of Japan Japan is home to thousands of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines too numerous to list. These shrines and temples are renowned by tourists from all over the world, who come to enjoy their serene beauty and cultural heritage. They can be found everywhere, from deep in the remote mountains, to craggy coastlines, to wedged between skyscrapers and crowded shopping streets, bizarrely melding the modern with the ancient. Practically every municipality in Japan has at least one temple or shrine, with historical cities such as Kyoto boasting several thousand. More than just places of tranquil beauty or places of worship, the shrines and temples of Japan are also often places tasked with the housing of sacred relics. These can be important historical artifacts, irreplaceable national treasure, or priceless items of cultural heritage, yet on occasion there can be far stranger things locked away from the bustling tourists. Some temples and shrines in Japan have become known for harboring the remains of bizarre creatures, monsters, and supposedly long extinct animals, all of which potentially hold great crypozoological significance. What mysteries can we find past the rock gardens, ornate gates, and within the lacquered wood halls of these ancient temples? Here we will look at some of these cryptid relics that have found their way to Japan’s temples and shrines. Many of the alleged remains of strange creatures are of cryptids that have strong folkloric ties. One such creature is the legendary Kappa of Japan’s waterways. One of the most well known cryptids of Japan, the Kappa is a mysterious, bipedal water dwelling creature said to inhabit Japan’s rivers and streams. They are typically described as being the size of a child of 6 to 10 years of age and resembling a cross between a turtle, monkey, and lizard. Kappa are often depicted as having a shell on their backs, similar to a turtle’s, and having a beak like mouth. Some reports have made mention of patchy, scraggly hair covering the body. Several temples in Japan are purported to have the remains of Kappa. Zuiryūji temple in Osaka, Japan, is one such place, thought to have a full Kappa mummy which it reportedly came into its possession in 1682. The mummy is around 70 centimeters long and looks vaguely humanoid. It has thin arms, a mouth full of needle like teeth, and a crown of scraggly hair atop its head. The alleged Kappa is not on public display, and it is not uncommon to have requests to view it denied. Another temple somewhat well-known for its Kappa remains is Sogen-ji, located in the Asakusa area of Tokyo, a popular and crowded area known for its various temples and historical attractions that attract droves of tourists from all over the world. The area around Sogen-ji is steeped in Kappa lore, and is said to have once been infested by the creatures. Kappa were known to be mischievous and even downright hostile on occasion, so the temple is said to have been built to appease them. Sogen-ji is so entwined with Kappa folklore that it is often referred to as “Kappa Dera,” or “Kappa Temple.” Within Sosen-ji’s grounds one can find statues, murals, and elaborate drawings of Kappa, as well as piles of cucumber, said to be the Kappa’s favorite food, left as offerings by guests. Of course the main attraction is the supposed Kappa hand, encased in glass within one of the temple’s halls. The hand is mummified and cut off at the wrist, with bone exposed. The hand has long, bony fingers that end in claws. It is not clear what the exact origins of the hand are, and it is often dismissed as a mere mummified monkey hand, yet since no one is allowed to handle the relic it is hard to say for sure. Another area with strong Kappa lore is the city of Tono, located in Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. Like the Sosen-ji temple area, Tono has long been said to be inhabited by Kappa and it is thought they still can be found in the area to this day. The city boasts a few temples purported to be in the possession of various mummified Kappa remains, some that are reportedly hundreds of years old. Other creatures well known from Japanese folklore are the Tengu and Raijū. The Tengu are legendary winged, avian humanoids that were seen as protectors of the mountains. The creatures were often sighted in feudal Japan, where they were seen as almost godlike entities with magical powers such as telepathy and shape shifting. Many people of the time considered the Tengu to be very real, and shogun were even said to have the creatures moved out of areas before important visits due to their often mischievous or aggressive behavior. In addition to such stories, there are various relics concerning Tengu contained within temples. There is a scroll at a temple in Shizuoka prefecture which allegedly contains a written apology penned by a Tengu. It is told that the creature was captured in the 17th century by the high priest of the temple and forced to write the apology after harassing travelers in the area. The Hachinohe Museum in Aomori prefecture houses the alleged mummified remains of a Tengu. The skull of these remains is humanoid, while the body is covered with feathers and the feet are like that of a bird. Another temple in Saitama prefecture keeps what is said to be the talon of a Tengu, while still another supposedly has the beaked skull of one. Another creature of legend with such remains is the Raijū, or literally “Thunder Beast,” who were said to be the mighty servants of the Shinto god of thunder. These creatures were most often described as looking something like a badger, weasel, cat, or fox, although they were sometimes said to look like a wolf or monkey as well, often with wings or multiple tails. They are quite often depicted as being wreathed in crackling lightning, and their voices were the boom of thunder. During storms, these creatures would become very agitated, frantically dashing about and leaping from tree to tree, tearing up the bark in the process with their formidable claws. In Japanese folklore, it was said that trees scored by lighting had been the work of Raijū claws. They were also known to swoop down and slash at passerby. Occasionally living specimens were captured and displayed. One such Raijū allegedly fell into a well in Izumo province, where it became hopelessly entangled in ropes and was captured alive. The creature was subsequently exhibited within a cage of brass in the court of the Tenjin temple. The animal was said to resemble a badger, yet with a longer tail and oversized claws. When the weather was clear, the Raijū was quite docile, sleeping quietly in its cage most of the time. However, during storms it would become a ferocious, hissing beast, and its eyes were said to flicker and flash as if filled with lightning. The creature refused to eat or drink during its captivity and eventually died. Its body is said to have been preserved and kept on the premises for some time before they were reportedly destroyed in a fire. Besides this account of a living specimen, there are some other temples said to have the mummified remains of Raijū. One such mummy is kept at Yuzanji temple in Iwate prefecture. The mummy looks very much like a cat, only misshapen and with longer legs. It was allegedly received in the 1960s as a donation from a parishioner, although the exact origin of the mummy is not known. Another similar looking Raijū mummy is kept at Saishoji temple in Niigata prefecture. Another bizarre relic is the teeth of a supposed sea serpent kept at a temple along the rugged coast of Western Japan. Legend has it that a priest was strolling along the beach contemplating matters of faith when he came across a large, terrifying sea creature, described as “a dragon,” washed up on the beach. The priest took this as a sign of sorts, and wanted to acquire the beast for the temple, yet it was much too large to take back with him so he removed some of the teeth instead. The priest then took his prize back to the temple where the “dragon teeth” supposedly remain to this day, although apparently not available for viewing by the public. Still other temples and shrines in Japan hold the remains of other very famous Japanese cryptids. One temple in Okayama prefecture has what is said to be a preserved specimen of a tsuchinoko, which is a type of cryptid snake believed to inhabit the remote mountains of Japan. The tsuchinoko resembles a viper, but with a bulging body thicker than the head. It is reported to make a wide range of vocalizations and is known for its unusual methods of locomotion, such as jumping or even rolling along like a wheel. It is such a popular cryptid in Japan that some rural areas hold regular tsuchinoko hunts and offer sizeable rewards for a specimen. Another cryptid in Japan is a creature that actually is known to have existed. The supposedly extinct Honshu wolf was the world’s smallest species of wolf, standing just a little over a foot at the shoulder. They were once common throughout their former range of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku Islands, and were often worshipped as forest protectors. Sadly, their numbers declined due to rabies and hunting brought upon by changing attitudes towards the wolves. The last Honshu wolf is widely believed to have died in 1905, although they are still reportedly sighted in many isolated regions to this day. However, in 1994, one shrine in Tottori prefecture was found to possess a specimen of the Honshu wolf that is thought to have possibly died as recently as the 1950s. If these remains are the real deal, then it would significantly push back the accepted extinction date and give more fuel to the idea that the wolves could still survive somewhere in the mountains of Japan. Unfortunately, the remains are considered sacred by the shrine, and as such requests to test them have been denied. Even more remains can be found throughout the temples and shrines of Japan. Mermaids, demons, and two-headed monsters also count among some of the more fantastical and bizarre examples of these. What all of these cases have in common is that they offer the tantalizing possibility of something all cryptozoologists strive for, which is concrete physical evidence. What would we find if we were to be allowed access to these remains with our modern DNA testing techniques? Would we find the proof we are looking for, or the creative taxidermy many claim these remains really are? Would we not learn something either way? Unfortunately, these remains are considered sacred relics and not available for our attempts at answers. Many of them are locked away and not even available for viewing, let alone proper scientific analysis. As much as we would like to crack open these mysteries and pull away the curtains of uncertainty, it seems that some mysteries will forever be out of our grasp. In the case of these mysterious temples of Japan, it seems that we must resign ourselves to being satisfied with their architectural magnificence and historical value, while only allowing our curiosity to approach further as we wonder at and ponder what mysteries may lie beyond their doors.
Get past the first gate in Awakening in Regular or Hardcore difficulty Scan the five Obelisks in the first area. Now control the Vanguard drone and destroy the Obelisks. The trophy will unlock once all of the Obelisks have been destroyed. A Bridge To Somewhere Extend the bridge in Awakening in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. You will have to scan and destroy another five Obelisks similar to how you did it in the first area. Proceed and you will be tasked with scanning 3 more Obelisks. The bridge will extend once these 3 Obelisks have been scanned and the trophy will unlock. Escape Awakening for the first time in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. Cross the bridge and you will end up in a temple. You will now have to protect consoles from a hoard of cryptid. Once this part is complete, remove the Cortex from the room and carry it all the way to the beginning of the map. You will have 5 minutes to make it back to the beginning. Gates will impede your path. Set the Cortex on the ground and kill the cryptid. Each cryptid you kill will charge the Cortex. Once it is full, activate the Cortex to kill all nearby cryptid and to lower the gate. Keep doing this until you reach the extraction zone and successfully escape. Video guide showing how to escape "Awakening" Twice The Fun Escape Awakening using two Relics in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. In order to equip Relics, you will need to prestige at least once in Extinction Mode. You will gain an additional Relic slot every time you prestige, but this trophy only requires you to have two Relics active at once. You can choose which Relic you want to equip in the Loadout Menu, before a game begins. It does not matter which Relics you choose to use but there are a few that stand out, and as long as you are playing with other characters it won't impact your gameplay too much. Do Less Damage - You will only do about 2/3 of the damage you would normally do. This Relic is probably the best one to use if you are playing with a group because your teammates will more than make up for your decreased damage output. Smaller Wallet - You can only carry half the amount of money that you normally would, and you earn 25% less cash from all sources. Mortal - You have no class and none of the bonuses that come with classes. You're just a regular dude. Again, having other players around will make having this relic just a small inconvenience. Limited Ammo - Weapon pickups and ammo refills will give you less ammo, which sounds harder than it really it is. I recommend using this relic if you are playing solo. Complete all Challenges and escape Awakening in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. No doubt the hardest trophy to earn in this DLC. A challenge is presented to you each time you begin to scan an Obelisk in "Awakening." You will earn a skill point for each challenge you complete before the Obelisk is scanned. In order to unlock this trophy, you need to complete every challenge that you come across and then go on to successfully escape. It will take a coordinated group of players to complete all challenges and if that's not possible then you may want to try going for this trophy solo. If you played the default Extinction map or any of the other DLC maps at all then you will be very familiar with challenges and how to complete them. Find all of the Intel in Awakening. The hidden intel in "Awakening" can be put into three categories: Cutscenes, Encrypted Intel, and Classified Intel. - All you have to do is complete "Awakening" to unlock all cutscenes. - These are randomly found in search boxes. Look all around the level for these search boxes and press to open them. If an intel was inside, it will now be on the ground. Press to pick it up. The intel looks like a smartphone. If you are playing with other players, only the player that picks up the intel will get credit for picking it up. There are 3 Classified Intel that you need to find. - They look like laptops and are found in specific places. There are 3 encrypted intel: 1 can be found in the first area, 1 can be found in the second area, and the last intel can be found in the final room. Video guide showing locations of all intel Kill a Gargoyle with the Vanguard in Awakening in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. The Gargoyle is one of a few new cryptids in "Awakening." It is a flying beast that shoots players with small projectiles. The Vanguard is basically a remote-controlled Vulture and you will find one at the end of each area in "Awakening." Walk up to the laptop and press to start piloting the Vanguard. Now wait until a Gargoyle appears and blast it out of the sky. Video guide showing how to operate a Vanguard and how to kill a Gargoyle with it Complete the Egg-Stra XP challenge and then scan an obelisk in the Invasion DLC package. Each new multiplayer map in this DLC contains a hidden alien hive. You need to find and shoot all four of these hives to complete the Egg-Stra XP challenge. This challenge must be completed in public matches . A prompt will appear at the top-left of your screen the moment you shoot each hive. After you have shot all four hives, enter Extinction Mode and scan one obelisk. You do not have to be the one to plant the drill - you just have to be present for the obelisk's scanning. - Head to the cemetery. You will see stone shelves with pottery. Go to the shelf next to the fence is shoot the red/white pot in the middle. The hive is behind the pot. - Get on the deck of the boat and look through the holes in the floor for the hive. - Go to the square room at the top of the map. Look at the back of the room beyond the fire and you will barely see the hive in the distance to the left of the torn red banner. You may need a powerful scope on your weapon in order to see it. - Head to the southeast corner of the map and walk up the steps that are just outside the blue and green building. Now turn 180 degrees and look slightly to your left. The hive is next to the base of a tree. After destroying all four hives, start an Extinction session and scan one obelisk on "Awakening." The trophy will unlock after that. Video guide showing hive locations Like A Glove Kill 5 cryptids with the Ark attachment equipped to every compatible weapon in Awakening in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. The ARK is a weapon attachment that can be found on the ground of the new Extinction map "Awakening." It will greatly increase the power of your weapon. In order to unlock this trophy, you must attach it to every compatible weapon and kill 5 cryptids with each weapon. There are 12 weapons that you will need to buy/find for this trophy. This must be done in a single game in order to unlock this trophy. This may be easiest to do solo if you can't play with friends willing to help you get this trophy. The ARK will transfer to every weapon you pick up so you only need to acquire one attachment. List of Weapons - Maverick assault rifle - Tac 12 shotgun - VKS sniper rifle - Remington A5 assault rifle - IA-2 semi-auto rifle - Ameli LMG - K7 SMG - Ripper SMG - MK14 EBR semi-auto rifle - Chain SAW LMG - USR sniper rifle - Bulldog shotgun Escape Awakening with each of the four classes in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. This trophy requires you to complete "Awakening" while playing as each of the 4 classes in Extinction. To clarify, you need to beat "Awakening" four times and play as a different class each time. The classes are Tank, Weapons Specialist, Medic, and Engineer. The game will not keep track of your trophy progress so you will have to remember yourself.
Bigfoot has been caught after days of terrorizing the Internet and quite possibly scaring the bejeezus out of little old ladies and unsuspecting kids in the soggy Southeast Alaska town of Ketchikan, sources revealed over the weekend. Sasquatch was found -- where else? -- at a bar, enjoying a cold beer after a few days on the loose in the misty rainforests down around those parts. A Ketchikan man emailed Dispatch that he'd heard tales that Mr. Foot stopped in for a sudsy cold one at none other than the Arctic Bar & Liquor Store on Water Street. Turns out, though, where one mystery was solved another may have begun. He did say that this photo appeared about the same time that a YouTube video surfaced last week of Bigfoot lurking about near Ketchikan. Watch the video and you'll catch a shadowy figure sneaking through the heavy brush. "It was about 40 yards from the road!" the user Putua76 posted on YouTube. "Not sure if it knew I was there or not, because the noise of flowing water from the stream. It seemed to travel fast! It made my hair stand up!!" That particular vision of the ape-like cryptid said to haunt the Pacific Northwest for generations was actually someone dressed up in a costume (and on stilts), according to Bob Weinstein, who lives in Ketchikan, Alaska's most southerly city and the state's fifth most populated. Weinstein wasn't sure whether Bigfoot had resurfaced just in time for summer tourism season, or if some crafty local was having some fun. Ketchikan is known for its thriving arts and crafts scene, including an annual party called the Wearable Art show that's been going on for some 25 years. The legendary Wild Booger of the North might also be a corporate gimmick, Weinstein suggested, noting that some sort of weird, white inflatable dome had been lately thrown up near one of Ketchikan's cruise ship berths. The cruise ship industry had devised some strange "entertainment" and Weinstein said he wouldn't be surprised if old Booger wasn't part of the plan to peddle Alaskana--for a premium. Perhaps so, perhaps not. Bigfoot has been thought to live along the North American Pacific coast for a long time, although most detectives would tell you Ketchikan's a bit far north for him to be roaming about. Most sightings originate between northern California and Puget Sound. For more Alaska Bigfoot sightings, checkout the database at the Bigfoot Field Researchers. At any rate, his (or her) legend certainly predates any of the commercial cruise lines like Holland America or Princess that have been calling on Ketchikan the last couple of decades. "He's got nothing to do with the Arctic other than he's visiting like many others" this time of year, Weinstein said, referring to the bar, not the region, though both might hold true. Contact Eric Christopher Adams at eric(at)alaskadispatch.com
October is an interesting and busy month at Guthrie Memorial Library. Halloween is fast approaching and If you like scary stories, an adult display featuring books that are sure to be chilling or creepy are there for the taking. Check them out. Halloween books are on display in the children's and teen areas as well. The Library will be closing at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, due to the Hanover Halloween Parade disbanding at our location. Join us at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, in the Hormel Reading Room for a meet and greet with local young adult author, Brina Courtney. Courtney will discuss and read excerpts from her books, "Reveal" which is part of the paranormal series, "Cryptid Tales," as well as from her popular contemporary novellas, "Their Promise" and "Move. Monday SunStyle Books Page - Library Notes - Library Logo " All three books will be available for purchase and can be signed by the author. Something new is taking place on Oct. 22 in the John D. Bare Center. A Book Clubber group is being formed to promote an exchange of ideas. If you are a part of a book group and would like to energize your club, feel free to join us. Finally, you are invited to return at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, for the program "After Katrina," presented by Dale Gordon. Gordon is a native Hanoverian and has been a member of First United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, where he is part of the "volunteer in mission" team. Gordon has volunteered his time and efforts over the course of eight mission trips, three of which were in the Gulf Coast area. He helped rebuild private homes in the ravaged area affected by Katrina, and will present a slide show of the rebuilding efforts, both past and ongoing. The program will be held in the John D. Bare Center. We hope you can attend the event covering this eye-opening story. The following items have recently been received at Guthrie Memorial Library: "The Hand-me-down Doll," by Steven Kroll and "Little Lost Tiger," by Jonathan London. (Honor - Pat Fuhrman) "The Big Something," by Patricia Reilly Giff; "Fancy Nancy; Fancy Day in Room 1-A," by Jane O'Connor; "Miracle Melts Down," by Rosemary Wells; and "Splat the Cat: the Name of the Game," by Rob Scotton. (Honor - Jackson William and Emma Michelle Prin) Juvenile music compact disc "Veggietales: Hosanna!" (Honor - Jackson William and Emma Michelle Prin) "Veggietales: Growing Generous Kids!" and "Veggietales: It's a Meaningful Life." (Honor - Jackson William and Emma Michelle Prin) "The Bell Messenger," by Robert Cornuke; "Dawn Comes Early," by Margaret Brownley; "Fairer than Morning," by Rosslyn Elliott; "The Surrender," by Gilbert Morris; "The Sword," by Gilbert Morris; and "The Witness," by Sharon Ewell Foster. (Perpetual Honor and Memorial - David F. Humbert Sr.) "A Fatal Debt," by John Gapper. (Perpetual Memorial - Max L. Marlow) "Gold," by Chris Cleave. (Perpetual Memorial - Merle A. Miller) "False Pretenses," by Kathy Herman. (Perpetual Memorial - Hartranft Stockham) "Something New," by Dianne Christner. (Perpetual Memorial - Ellen Gene Wolff) "Crossing the Borders of Time," by Leslie Maitland. (Memorial - Stephanie R. (Beretsky) Avazian) "Crazy for Crab," by Fred Thompson and "Cronkite," by Douglas Brinkley. (Memorial - Charles Broseker) "Hypertension and You," by Samuel J. Mann, M.D. (Perpetual Memorial - Glenn and Rita Frey) "The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2013," by Gen and Kelly Tanabe. (Honor - Erin Smith) Adult books on compact disc "Queen Elizabeth II; Her Life in Our Times," by Sarah Bradford. (Perpetual Memorial - Leroy W. and Dorothy F. Berkheimer) "Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Imperative," by Eric Van Lustbader. (Perpetual Memorial - Elise Bradnick) "Summerland," by Elin Hilderbrand. (Perpetual Memorial - Viola K. Matthews) "Alpha," by Greg Rucka. (Perpetual Memorial - Anna G. Myers) "Tumbleweeds," by Leila Meecham. (Perpetual Memorial - Virginia E. Sweigart) "Cop to Corpse," by Peter Lovesey. (Perpetual Memorial - Ellen Gene Wolff)
Giant Anaconda (Proceed with Caution!) Amazon, South America Snakes are some of the most feared creatures on earth. Long and legless, fast and flexible, they strike fear into the hearts of those unaccustomed to their presence. Like all reptiles, they are covered with scales, but unlike most lizards, snakes possess a thin, forked tongue, and along with having no true eyelids, they lack external ears. It doesn't come as a surprise, then, that most people are afraid of them, yet as a general rule, there is little to be afraid of. Not all snakes are venomous, and of the 3,000 species around the world that are, only about 15% are considered poisonous to humans. There is, however, something else to fear besides venom. The largest snakes on earth are the reticulated python and the anaconda, both of which can grow to a length of 33 feet (10m) and weigh up to as much as 550 pounds (250kg). Case in point: they may not be poisonous to you, but they can easily kill you. The focus of this article is, of course, the anaconda. In the boa family, the anaconda is a constrictor. That is, it kills its prey by squeezing. What is known as the common anaconda inhabits the rivers of northern and Amazonian South America, east of the Andes. There is also the yellow anaconda which lives in southern South America, but it is much smaller, reaching lengths of about only 10 to 13 feet (3 to 4m). Anacondas don't lay eggs as many others snakes do, instead giving birth to live young. While the anaconda is also known as the "water boa," it spends a great deal of its time basking in the sun. Here, outside of the water, it is considered less dangerous, with its weight not being as well supported (for larger specimens). Still, inside or outside of water, they will hunt, though not necessarily in the sense of pursuing their prey. Anacondas are opportunistic hunters, like the crocodile, and typically will wait for their prey to come to them. That's not to say one won't slowly advance towards you if interested, but they rather prefer the surprise attack, being content to wait patiently close by. Simply put, anacondas are ambush experts. The Giant Anaconda: Fact Or Fiction We now come to the fundamental question. How big do anacondas get? Science as we know it answers this question ... around 30 feet (though some acknowledge 37 feet). Is this answer, however, in the final analysis, the answer? Could larger anacondas, or any type snake for that matter, still be alive and well deep in the heart of South America's rainforests? Is such a notion even possible? Such a notion is quite possible, though to most experts, improbable. Regardless, some believe that anacondas surpassing 30 to 40 feet do exist out in the wild, and they first look to history for their evidence. History Of Reports Percy H. Fawcett For over a hundred years, explorers and local natives have reported various encounters with large serpents in the Amazon, the most notable of which comes from Percy H. Fawcett. An officer of the Royal Engineers, Fawcett was commissioned in 1906 to survey the Rio Abuna and Acre rivers by the Royal Geographic Society. During his explorations, he recorded the following incident: "We were drifting easily along on the sluggish current not far below the confluence of tigor and the Rio Negro when almost under the bow there appeared a triangular head and several feet of undulating body. It was a giant anaconda. I sprang for my rifle as the creature began to make its way up the bank, and hardly waiting to aim, smashed a .44 soft-nosed bullet into its spine, ten feet below the wicked head. At once there was a flurry of foam, and several heavy thumps against the boat's keel, shaking us as though we had run on a snag. "We stepped ashore and approached the creature with caution. As far as it was possible to measure, a length of 45 feet lay out of the water and 17 feet lay in the water, making it a total length of 62 feet. Its body was not thick, not more than 12 inches in diameter, but it had probably been long without food." When evaluating the legitimacy of one's testimony, history, character and overall trustworthiness must obviously be carefully considered. Fawcett was somewhat of a paradox. He was known as a scrupulous, matter-of-fact military man who recorded events exactly as they occurred ... or, at least, as he saw them. Yet, he was also characterized as a dreamer, leading expeditions in search of lost jungle cities of wealth unimaginable. If we think about it, however, these two descriptions don't necessarily contradict one another. Being a dreamer does not automatically make one any less down-to-earth or detailed in what actual events occur in their lives. In fact, Fawcett encountered and recorded other snakes of reasonable size during his explorations, including a 7-foot long poisonous "Bush Master" that nearly killed his companion. In any case, though Fawcett's team did not have an actual measuring device with them, he estimated the snake to be roughly 62 feet in length and a foot in diameter. Giving him a healthy 10 foot margin for error, the snake would still have been far larger than any specimen measured today. Unfortunately, because the gigantic snake was too large and heavy for he and his men to carry out of the jungles, they were forced to leave it behind. Of course, this story is the subject of ridicule to most zoologists, especially when considering the ratio of length to width. Surely such a long snake would have been thicker, even if it had been "long without food." In the end, Fawcett either blatantly lied or told the truth. He's known as the "Father of Cryptozoology", whose research in the field of cryptozoology was described by one critic as "based on rigorous dedication to scientific method and scholarship" and whose findings were "respected throughout the scientific community." He is Bernard Heuvelmans (1916-2001), famous author of the book On The Track Of Unknown Animals, which has sold over a million copies in various translations and editions. Heuvelmans himself claimed to see the giant anaconda while with a group of Frenchmen and Brazilians, and recorded his encounter in the following: "We saw the snake asleep in a large patch of grass. We immediately opened fire upon it. It tried to make off all in convulsions but we caught up with it and finished it off. Only then did we realize how enormous it was. When we walked around the whole length of its body it seemed like it would never end. What struck me was its enormous head, a triangle about 24 inches by 20. We had no instruments to measure the beast, but we took an arms length of string and measured it about one meter by placing it on a man's shoulder and extending it to his fingertips. We measured the snake several times and each time we got a length of 25 strings. The creature was well over 23 meters (75 feet) long." Again, nothing more than hearsay to the scientific community, who are only interested in tangible evidence (understandably). He claimed to have had two encounters with the beast, the first being on May 22, 1922, near the town of Obidos on the Rio Negro on the Amazon River. Father Victor Heinz saw what appeared to be an enormous snake in the water, likely the anaconda, whose visible portion was at least 80 feet long and as thick as an oil drum. His second encountered occurred in 1929 at the mouth of the Rio Piaba, near Alemquer. Below the surface of the water, two bluish lights appeared, which he at first mistook for the lights of a steamer. Later he was told that the sucuriju (giant anaconda) lived their, and that he had seen the snake's eyes. It's interesting to note that other reports mention blue, glowing eyes as well. There are a number of other encounters that could be touched upon, but most are far too general and lack acceptable documentation. Some, in fact, even give claim to specimens of up to 120 feet in length. Photos also exist, but none reveal anything conclusive. The giant anaconda, therefore, still remains a hidden animal, best known as a cryptid. Of all cryptids, however, the giant anaconda is arguably the most likely to be a reality. When speaking of the largest possible size of the anaconda, one passage in Heuvelmans book, On The Track Of Unknown Animals, is of particular interest: "American herpetologist Thomas Barbour, the great Brazilian expert Dr. Afranio do Amaral of the Institute at Butantan, and Dr. Jose Candido de Melo of the Rio de Janeiro Zoo all agree on forty-five feet." Such reveals that not all experts believe the anaconda's maximum size to be 30-37 feet. A 45-foot snake would indeed be a large snake, and would certainly qualify one for the label giant anaconda. So, in a real sense, the giant anaconda does exist; we seemingly just have to find it. But until we do, whether she be 80 feet, 60 feet, or 40 feet, we'll still always be left to wonder whether or not she's really, really out there. An avid lover of nature, former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt examines a large anaconda.
From Black Vault User: OddDuck This is another cryptid people have seen and there are multiple pictures of. This creature is a bazaar one to say the least. Unfortunately it is also too decayed to see what it truly is. My own thoughts are that maybe this is a creature that was around with the … 425 days ago At 830pm on Tuesday I passed by my window and noticed that a green orb-like object shot into the sky at a speed that I hadnt seen before. I had seen the same type of craft last week and weeks before that in the same direction. The craft shot up into the sky, hovered around, changed colors, turned th… 441 days ago Original Caption Released with Image: This image of Eros, taken from the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft on May 1, 2000, is among the first to be returned from "low orbit." Between May and August, the spacecraft will orbit at altitudes near 50 kilometers (31 miles) or less. This will be the prime period … 5247 days ago I have been researching the Moon and Mars for many years. It has already been proven that NASA covers strange areas with blurry blocks or out of focus images. There are also numerous X marking on the Moon's surface. At first I thought it was markings on the film but this is not the case. 115 days ago I witnessed a streak of light that passed directly over the roof of my house, 1 mile from the Licky hills in Birmingham South. The sighting occurred in the early hours of the morning , it appeared to be heading west. It was similar in general appearance to a star wars-type… 3003 days ago By Jenalyn VillamarinEighth grade student Thidarat Boonlee created internet buzz with her photograph of an unidentified flying object (UFO) hovering over Sawang Dindaeng School in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. The photograph was taken during the outdoor activities of the school in celebration of their Sp… 634 days ago Video is below By Hayley Dixon, The Telegraph Staff at one of Britain's oldest pubs, rumoured to be haunted by an aristocrat executed during the Civil War, believe they have caught a ghost on CCTV.The footage, which appears to show a shadowy figure flickering into view by the bar, was filmed at Ye… 250 days ago The woman in black is a old legend in our home town the one photo is edited but i still have the first photo ..we got asked to conduct a study on the grounds. This evp you are going to hear is a baby cry we think. Upon getting the evp we looked back on the history and found out a baby died on the… 2104 days ago UFO entity attacks Ohio driver By: Raymond SamuelsWe often hear about people sighting UFOs and even alien life forms. In fact, many mainstream media have also reported such sightings. Prominent personalities, like NASA scientist and Apollo 14 pilot Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Aeronautical Engineer and NASA… 714 days ago By Brian Vike Location Information: Adak is an island midway along the Aleutian Island chain southwest of mainland Alaska at 177 degrees west. At 52 degrees north it is not exactly arctic, nor is it temperate; but it is nearly always buffeted by cold, wet winds. Most of the wind is generated by… 14173 days ago The Berwyn Mountain Incident, widely referred to as the 'Welsh Roswell' is, next to the Rendlesham Forest Incident of 1980, (referred to as the British Roswell) the world famous and most well known British UFO crash story to date. However, due to the research of Andy J. Roberts , it is widely… 14881 days ago There was no attached description to this video. It is archived on The Black Vault for research. It is believed to have been taken circa February 2013. 627 days ago UFO Sightings Daily Note: This is an intriguing video and it has a chat area attached to a live cam. This cam catches everything that passes between it and the moon, from birds, planes, all the way to fleets of UFOs. Look at the enlargement above. These UFOs are moving faster than any bird, balloon … 184 days ago Here is the picture of my parents tombstone taken in 2009 shortly after my dad passed away. Mom passed in 1992. The stone has been in place since 1992. The picture was taken with a cell phone by a young male relative. He was alone at the grave site. I have been troubled by this picture from the mome… 2120 days ago UFO Activity Hovers around the International Space Station By: The Canadian A recent video of a brown coloured orb seen near the Earth’s Orbit on the International Space Station on the 16th of November was launched on YouTube by Streetcap1. The International Space Station on a daily basis recei… 704 days ago RUSSIAN NAVY DECLASSIFIES ITS ALIEN UNDERWATER ENCOUNTERS USO’s: Unidentified Submerged Objects or Underwater-UFOs or UFOs leaving water or entering water are an underreported phenomenon. The Russian navy has declassified its records of encounters with unidentified objects technologically surpassi… 334 days ago Two unidentified flying Objects (UFO) were spotted glowing in the skies of Hessdalen, Norway on Wednesday. A video uploaded by a YouTube user who goes by the name "Streetcap1" showed two glowing objects lying stationery in the sky. The user has given a description about the UFO sighting and claime… 587 days ago An unidentified metal sphere has plunged from the sky on unsuspecting villagers in northern Brazil, causing an uproar. According to eyewitnesses, the UFO weighs about 50 kilograms and measures roughly one meter in diameter. The sphere fell on Wednesday in a village of Riacho dos Poços in Brazi… 972 days ago During Saturday's German Cup final at Olympic Stadium in Berlin between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, television cameras picked up a ghost-like figure on the pitch. 158 days ago Published: 4:06 AM 12/21/2011 Kirkland, Washington - 12-01-11 Shape: Triangle - Duration: 30 minutes Triangle shaped object with 3 circular lights and beams coming down spotted over Seattle, WA. Around 1:30 AM, my husband and I went outside. I noticed a very bright light in the sky and studied … 1055 days ago 101-120 of 899
\|Cryptozoology, BioForteana, Zoological Oddities, Unusual Natural History\| BioFortean Review Book Review Moa Sightings, Volumes 1-3 Reviewed by Chad Arment (7/28/10) Given the growing number of cryptozoology books recently published that give brief overviews of regional sightings, it was a surprise to come across a set of books that focuses on one specific cryptid in a relatively small area (New Zealand). I was a little leery of paying for the set, which is not cheap, even though each volume has almost 450 pages in it. After all, how much can you really say about moa sightings? And, I'll admit, the author's website (he set up Paua Press) did not fill me with confidence. Having received the volumes, my primary question is: Is it better to call this the most important cryptozoology book of the year, or the last decade? Without a doubt, it is the most extensive. The author has packed three volumes with data from historical records, witness interviews, maps, and photos (in full color wherever possible) regarding the possible survival of the supposed extinct moas. He presents the evidence (both pro and con) without pushing his own interpretation, though noting that he favors a staggered extinction model, with the possibility of some late survivors in remote areas. This set belongs in the library of every serious cryptozoology researcher. Unfortunately, the high cost (NZ$70 + shipping per volume) will probably limit its distribution. The pricing is certainly reasonable, given it is from a small press (probably small print run), and is casebound with jackets, in full color. At the very least, I'd like to see several sets placed in North American and European university libraries for enthusiasts able to access them. I don't know how likely that is to happen, however. There are some minor quirks with the books (e.g., pagination is a bit odd), but overall it is easy to see that this is a well-presented set that should be an example for every cryptozoology researcher (particularly those of us who publish our own works). I don't know Mr. Spittle's background, so I don't know if he has an interest in other New Zealand cryptids. If so, I would love to see similar volumes on other mystery animals from that region. This sort of work is so much more valuable to cryptozoology than the often opinion-based texts we see too often. For those who would consider ordering this set, my suggestion would be to look for it on AbeBooks.com, as there is a New Zealand bookseller who carries it, and may offer a better deal on shipping. I ordered my set through him, and received it very quickly. \|Cryptozoology and BioFortean Book Reviews:\|
It seems odd to blog from Canada about a case in Wales! That’s what this is, though—the saga of the Sarich Skill. This partial skull was found on a beach in South Wales and sent to me for further study. The fellow who found it simply was hoping for identification. We were most grateful to receive this gift, as it gives an opportunity to investigate and to learn basic forensic identification methods. The first thing we looked at was the general shape. The skull has been photographed and measured from all angles. At first glance, it appears to be a goat, but as it weighs 0.4kg (400 grams) and horn tip to horn tip is only 12.5 cm, that may not be the case. If there was a jawbone and a few teeth, the positive identification would be much easier. Additionally, since the skull probably spent a great deal of time in the water, its weight is likely affected by sediment and fossilization. A normal goat skull weighs about 400 grams with organs and flesh intact and without horns. Is it a goat? The angle of the horns and the flat space between them counter indicates most breeds of goats. This small size makes us reluctant to label it bovine—a bovine species mature enough to have horns should be much larger. A sheep perhaps? The eye sockets of a sheep face sideways and the orbital sockets on this specimen do not appear to. Forward facing eyes are a characteristic of a predator; binocular vision helps focus on the prey. Sheep horns do tend to be separated by a flat space as is present on this skull. Specialists from several Canadian Universities have examined the skull and to date it remains unidentified. Mr. Sarich has donated the skull for further study and for use in educational events regarding cryptozoology. It might well be a goat or a sheep. Right now, as an unknown animal, the Sarich Skull is our very own cryptid.
Flamingos are naturally white. Their diet of brine shrimp and algae turns them pink. It's an all-new 5-day trivia hunt, with an all-new set of puzzles, prizes, and collaborators! First, the prizes: In addition to the usual $100 and $50 gift certificates to our store for the fir Most of us in the US are familiar with the cryptid Sasquatch (or Bigfoot) and its Asian counterpart the Yeti (or Abominable Snowman). The answer to today's Brain Game may not be as simple as it might appear. I was researching a post about murder ballads -- a fascinating musical genre all its own -- when I happened to discover an even more rareified subgenre of murder ballad: the serial killer song. Jake Bronstein set the world record for longest whisper chain, passing a message through 59 people. I keep coming across musicians who have appeared on Sesame Street (usually singing the Alphabet Song), and the performances are uniformly awesome. All-Star invites and MVP awards are nice, but you haven't really made it as an athlete until you've written an autobiography detailing your rise to athletic glory. If you've been reading the Quick 10s for a while, you know that I have a fascination with horror movies and Halloween and all things creepy. Make room in your t-shirt drawer, because today we've added three new shirts to the mental_floss store: "I'd Give My Right Arm To Be Ambidextrous," "Thomas Aquinas: The Origin The names of some of our favorite TV characters have undergone behind-the-scenes changes for a variety of reasons, from politics to legal issues to shows on competing networks. We've linked to this site before, but they deserve another plug. There, I Fixed It: jury rigging at its best. If it weren't pouring right now, I might try the soda bottle/hose trick. Schizophrenia baffles most; people often associate the disease with a loose conglomeration of symptoms such as hearing voices and hallucinations. It is with much trepidation that I send this blog to you via Morse Code from Mystery Island. I'm terribly concerned that scientific genius Dr. "¢ Just how cool are cucumbers? Their inner temperature can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside air, hence the title phrase. Eunuchs, or castrated men, have played an important part in many cultures throughout the world since ancient times.
Myth animals, although most are imaginary animals that can not prove its existence, but there are some animals that are based on reality. Cryptid is a term used to refer to a creature whose existence raised by various witnesses and events but most of them can not be accepted existence, even this cryptid creatures have come into our minds and imagination as imagining they exist and are all around us as if the cat and dogs living our kitchen garden. Yacumama.A lot of people are afraid of snakes especially for the people in South America, they are frightened of snakes possibility of getting worse by the presence of animal stories giant anaconda myth of South America. Peruvian people refer to it as Yacu-Mama (Mother of the Water / Water Authority). A normal Anaconda can grow up to 6 meters, but some people who believe in the existence of the giant Anaconda Anaconda stated that the giant has a length of up to 50 meters or more. Back to the past time of the first European adventurer to explore South America and Amazon in particular they often hear stories of local people about the story of the giant Anaconda but even so until now there has never been anyone who could prove the existence of the creepy animals. Even environmental conservation bodies to wild beasts promised a reward of U.S. $ 50,000 for living species are found. In the year 2009 two men who are father and son who came from Belfast, Ireland claimed that they managed to record and photograph the existence of the giant snake but experts still do not believe in the existence of Yacumama or the giant anaconda. Akkorokamui.In Japan it is called Akkorokamui animals, whereas in Europe were called as Kraken and the other hemisphere simply known as giant squid. However any animal myth name and call this one remains a frightening specter even more so to the sailors, just imagine you are sailing in the ocean and suddenly there slowly large tentacles crawl your ship, pull and drag your ships to the bottom of the sea and crew before making a meal. At this time, we know that the story of the giant killer creature's tentacles are many stories and fairy tales are not real, but the ocean is a vast area with a depth that is not widely explored, who knows there is a depth of savage monster lurking and waiting to be found. Regarding his own squid experts believe there is one species that colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) can reach a size of 12-14 feet when reaching adulthood, but until now the squid is only found in the small size and immature. Giant Vampire Bat (Giant Blood-sucking bats).Madagascar has a call society "Fangalabolo" or spreader terror fly at night to call an animal which has a wing span of up to 1.5 meters. In some other cultures in the world, appearing as a giant bat creature myth. In Cameroon they refer to it as Olatiau, while in Indonesia in some cultures having people call-Bati and A-hool which is a hybrid between humans and bats. But perhaps the scariest among all the stories is the story of a giant bat blood drinker who can only survive from drinking large amounts of blood even suck human blood. Just as the story of a giant octopus, there is some truth behind the legend of a giant bat, There are fossil remains of a giant vampire bat species Desmodus named draculae, who reportedly lived in the Pleistocene era. There is something interesting about the existence of a giant vampire bat Desmodus similar appearance draculae reported that about 300 years ago, moreover, some scientists think that there is the possibility of large creatures were still alive at this time, waiting for their presence was detected in the tropical rainforest America South is still much yet to be explored. This is really a scary thought for a candidate explorer or explorer. Yeti.A Zoology, Dr. Biswamoy Bisway are currently examining the structure of the layers of the scalp is touted layer Yeti scalp. Yeti is probably the most famous cryptid of all time, being that between being and not, as many believe it but none have concrete evidence that explains the existence of this creature. Yeti or a giant snowman has graced many researchers thought animal and also the public more than a half century. An expert Antroplogy named H Siiger believes that the Yeti is just part of the mythology of the Himalayas since the days of pre-Buddhism. This creepy about these animals is not only the size is quite large, but the shape and its form is scary and some superstition that accompany its existence, such as stating that seeing these creatures means a sign of death of the person. When climbing high mountains in the Himalayas become popular since the 20th century a growing number of claims from people who claimed to see the apparition Yeti creature or at least the travel lanes. Even credible witnesses because their credibility Sir Edmund Hillary and the Tenzing Norgay were recorded as the first person to reach the summit of Mt Everest, reported that they saw the footprints giant. But then the thought arises Hillary skeptical stating that they could be wrong perceptions and misidentified, it could have been a trace of other wildlife such as bears or monkeys footprints large. But the expedition to find the legendary creature is still continuing to this day. Hodag.In contrast to other cryptid, no truth behind the story of a strange creature dubbed the Hodag. Hodag is a fraudulent act and fictitious person named Eugene Shepard 19th century. Shepard claimed to have managed to capture the Hodag, a monster in a very strange embodiment, has a head like the shape of a frog, the grinning face resemble an elephant, short legs and thick but has huge claws while the back of a dinosaur-like body and has a long tail which in the end tail shaped like a spear. Even a local newspaper in Wisconsin in 1893 fooled by the act of Shepard and carries news about the arrest of a strange animal in Rhinelander, Winsconsin. Even mentioned that the Hodag is a wild creature so strongly that they should kill him by using dynamite. It seems a hoax perpetrated by Eugene Shepard is running pretty well until finally a group of scientists from the Smithsonian Instute conduct an examination of the animal creation was only Shepard. However this creature has become a symbol of the city of Rhinelander. Black Shuck.For centuries phantom black dog of East Anglia has made people fear, the creature known as Black Shuck is derived from the word Scucca, Old English to the devil. If this is true it means that when seeing creatures is a bad sign. Is true because local residents stated that if you are making eye contact with the creatures you will see the glowing red eyes of Shuck then you will fall ill and soon you will die. Based on local stories that can be sized Shuck like a normal dog to a larger size than the horse, and sometimes these creatures appear without having the head. No one can explain where the beginning of the story of Black Shuck, but this one seems cryptid is one cryptid that is born purely based on fantasy or perhaps even an excessive imagination. Bunyip.Long before the arrival of Europeans to inhabit the continent of Australia, the Aborigines have stories about monsters that inhabit the marshes and ponds of water silently lurking and waiting to pounce on prey that want to swamp them. No description is appropriate to describe this one but the monster this creature called the Bunyip. Based on a 19th century book about Aborigines, stated that the tribe could not explain in detail the shape and characteristics of these creatures, but they agreed and described as something scary and creepy. Modern explanation of the myth of these creatures, most likely originating from a giant marsupial which is probably already extinct. An animal skull at the Australian Museum in Sydney is likely Bunyip and attracts most of the visitors who come there. But experts are skeptical of the claim that the skull is a skull possibility of a calf or foal disabilities. The Beast of Bladenboro (Beast of Bladenboro creature).There are allegations that the wild creatures of Bladenboro is Cougar, but a story about mythical creatures originate from public fears Bladenboro, North Carolina to scour the city streets at night, while the hunters were deployed to the forests around the city to catch an animal ( creatures) blood sucking. News about these creatures came from the testimony of a farmer saw his dog being dragged by an animal such as a cat tangible large in size, and which make it become more and more strange for the local community, about 2 days after the report of the farmer, also found the carcasses of two dogs and two The dogs seem to have run out of blood sucked by something. Not long after there were also attacks on two other dogs. It is already more than enough to create panic in the town and encourage journalists from all regions in the U.S. to cover the news about the mysterious beast that performs a series of attacks on animals. Instead of hunting this mysterious creature, hunting has strayed into a massacre against the Bobcats (jungle cat) who hunted blindly on suspicion of being the culprit. But eventually as well as Hodag, news about The Beast of Bladenboro this is an issue that is rolled out by the mayor, where the mayor wants the town to get attention and encouragement in order to develop forward. However this issue has led to large-scale massacres of the bobcat while the mysterious death of the dogs in the city could have been caused by wild animals were starving. Jersey Devil.Sketches depicting cryptid does not look creepy even impressed because of the amusing hodgepodge has a pair of tiny legs, hoof mammals but has wings like bat wings, and has a forked tail like a reptile and creature of the head and body of mammals. But unlike the Hodag and The Beast of Bladenboro who terrorize a small town, dubbed the cryptid animals Jersey Devil to scare up almost the entire population of a major city such as New Jersey. Creature had a face like a dog, like a body of a kangaroo, bat wings, a pair of hands and feet have claws like a hoof quadruped mammals, and has a forked tail. But among all of the details reported about creatures form the most frightening thing is the sound of the screams of the creatures. Many have claimed that this creature was the son of the devil 13. It seems that no creature more sinister than the Jersey Devil status for being the son of the devil 13. The story about this creature began in January in the year 1909 during the week Jersey Devil sightings seen in nearly all areas of New Jersey and even up to Pennsylvania and a few other places. In the valley of the Delaware, the newspaper reports about these creatures to make the schools are closed and people are afraid to go to work. Some of the theory states that the Jersey Devil is a genus of dinosaur remains. But whatever the creature news for one week appearance in 1909 has made many people fear in the area of New Jersey. Tree Man eaters (Man-Eating Tree).In Indonesia there may be some people who have a fear of large trees , but the reason is supernatural . But other than that is there any thing like that can make people afraid of the tree ? Like it is not no thing that makes us afraid of trees . Right! because they look beautiful , lush , green , large , as protection from the sun and even ancient people used the tree to be their home for the home as well as other animals such as birds and squirrels But make no mistake in South America there is a tree whose hobby carnivores devour human flesh in particular, it is based on a book by JW Buels titled "Land and Sea". Buels mentions in his book about carnivorous tree called Ya-te-Veo, Veo Ya-te-lived in the midst of the South American continent and is also located on the island of Madagascar. But this story seems just purely a mythical tale. A scientist named Willy Ley in 1955 in writing stating that the story of the man-eating tree is just a fictional story, but good as it is meant for nature lovers everywhere do not have to worry if they go into the forest to investigate them will be swallowed by a tree that becomes where they lean when tired. Of cryptid that it may be in this world there are many beings or animals may not be supernatural and strange looks and attractive regardless of the myth that accompanies them. In addition there might be the odd creatures or maybe even creepy out there that wait to be discovered. Thank you for reading this article. Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno. name: Bambang Sunarno. DatePublished: January 15, 2014 at 17:38 Tag ; cryptid,
The Nine Worlds. The Nine Worlds (Old Norse Níu Heimar) are the homelands of the various classes of beings that populate the pre-Christian worldview of the Norse and other Germanic peoples. They’re held in the branches and roots of the world-tree Yggdrasil. The Nine Worlds as a group are mentioned in a poem in the Poetic Edda. However, no source gives a list of exactly which worlds comprise the nine. Based on the kinds of beings found in Norse mythology and the reference to their homelands in various literary sources, however, we can compile the following tentative reconstruction: Golem. Prague reproduction of Golem In Jewish folklore, a golem (/ˈɡoʊləm/ GOH-ləm; Hebrew: גולם) is an animated anthropomorphic being, created entirely from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material (usually out of stone and clay) in Psalms and medieval writing. Unicorn. Aliens, myths, and ancient tech. 'Atlantis' All mythologies. Norse Mythology. Conspiracy Theorists. Alternative History / Independent Perspectives - Videos/Articles. Plato's Symposium. The Symposium is one of the foundational documents of Western culture and arguably the most profound analysis and celebration of love in the history of philosophy. It is also the most lavishly literary of Plato's dialogues--a virtuoso prose performance in which the author, like a playful maestro, shows off an entire repertoire of characters, ideas, contrasting viewpoints, and iridescent styles. History and Background. Robin Hood - The Facts and the Fiction - Legends, Stories, Songs. IRISH LITERATURE, MYTHOLOGY, FOLKLORE, AND DRAMA. Irish PlayographyIrish Writers OnlineStudy Ireland: Poetry - BBCIrish Women Writers - M. OckerbloomThe Irish and LiteratureLyra CelticaIreland Literature Guide2002 Irish Author RoundtablePoetry Ireland / Éigse ÉireannEarly Irish Lyric Poetry - Kuno Meyer Sonnets from Ireland - E. Blomquist Colum's Anthology of Irish Verse - Bartleby.com Medieval Celtic ManuscriptsThe Book of KellsCarmina GadelicaCELT Irish Electronic Texts. Family tree of the Greek gods. Loch Ness Monster. The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid, a creature whose existence has been suggested but is not discovered or documented by the scientific community. It is reputedly a large unknown animal that inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next. Popular interest and belief in the animal's existence has varied since it was first brought to the world's attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with minimal and much-disputed photographic material and sonar readings. Folktexts: A library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales, and mythology, page 1. Page 1 edited and/or translated by D. Greek mythology. Greek mythology is explicitly embodied in a large collection of narratives, and implicitly in Greek representational arts, such as vase-paintings and votive gifts. Greek myth attempts to explain the origins of the world, and details the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, and mythological creatures. These accounts initially were disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition; today the Greek myths are known primarily from Greek literature. Sea monster. Sea monsters are sea-dwelling mythical or legendary creatures, often believed to be of immense size. Marine monsters can take many forms, including sea dragons, sea serpents, or multi-armed beasts. They can be slimy or scaly and are often pictured threatening ships or spouting jets of water. The definition of a "monster" is subjective, and some sea monsters may have been based on scientifically accepted creatures such as whales and types of giant and colossal squid. Sightings and legends Hittite/Hurrian Mythology. The Hurrians occupied the land between the Hittites and Assyria, having descended from the mountains south of the Caspian Sea. They ruled the kingdom of Mitanni. In the late 15th century B.C. the Hittite empire's beginning is marked by an influx of Hurrian names into the royal family. Tudhalyas I (1420 B.C.) reunited Western Anatolia under Hittite rule, and retook Allepo but lost the Black Sea coast to the Kaska tribes. Myths and legends. Chinese mythology. Chinese mythology refers to those myths found in the historical geographic area of China: these include myths in Chinese and other languages, as transmitted by Han Chinese as well as other ethnic groups (of which fifty-six are officially recognized by the current administration of China). Chinese mythology includes creation myths and legends, such as myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state. As in many cultures' mythologies, Chinese mythology has in the past been believed to be, at least in part, a factual recording of history. Thus, in the study of historical Chinese culture, many of the stories that have been told regarding characters and events which have been written or told of the distant past have a double tradition: one which presents a more historicized and one which presents a more mythological version. Moai. Moai facing inland at Ahu Tongariki, restored by Chilean archaeologist Claudio Cristino in the 1990s Moai i/ˈmoʊ.aɪ/, or mo‘ai, are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people from rock on the Chilean Polynesian island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but hundreds were transported from there and set on stone platforms called ahu around the island's perimeter. Almost all moai have overly large heads three-eighths the size of the whole statue. List of mythologies. This is a list of mythologies of the world, by culture and region. Mythologies by region Africa Aztec mythology. Mictlantecuhtli (left), god of death, the lord of the Underworld and Quetzalcoatl (right), god of wisdom, life, knowledge, morning star, patron of the winds and light, the lord of the West. Together they symbolize life and death. Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths of Aztec civilization of Central Mexico. The Aztecs were Nahuatl speaking groups living in central Mexico and much of their mythology is similar to that of other Mesoamerican cultures. Fairy tale. In cultures where demons and witches are perceived as real, fairy tales may merge into legends, where the narrative is perceived both by teller and hearers as being grounded in historical truth. However, unlike legends and epics, they usually do not contain more than superficial references to religion and actual places, people, and events; they take place once upon a time rather than in actual times. Fairy tales are found in oral and in literary form. Roman mythology. Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans. "Roman mythology" may also refer to the modern study of these representations, and to the subject matter as represented in the literature and art of other cultures in any period. The Romans usually treated their traditional narratives as historical, even when these have miraculous or supernatural elements. The stories are often concerned with politics and morality, and how an individual's personal integrity relates to his or her responsibility to the community or Roman state. Heroism is an important theme. When the stories illuminate Roman religious practices, they are more concerned with ritual, augury, and institutions than with theology or cosmogony. John William Waterhouse: Comprehensive Painting Gallery. All mythologies. Mermaid. Grimm Brothers' Home Page. Anglo-Saxon paganism. Jewish folklore. Myth, Legend, Folklore, Ghosts. Mythology, folklore, and religion. World Myths and Legends in Art (Minneapolis Institute of Arts) Canaanite/Ugaritic Mythology FAQ. Japanese mythology. Irish mythology. Native American mythology.
SORT BY Relevancy I recently spent ten days filming with the FINDING BIGFOOT gang. It was a great experience and I learned many new things about night investigating. Cliff, Ranae, Matt and Bobo will be stopping in today to tell us what they're up to and share a few of their unique and favorite techniques for y'all to try in the field. The phone lines will be open for your questions. Grab a snack and a co-cola, find a cool spot and tune in!! This is going to be a FUN show!! Continuing the series of the North American Sasquatch Researcher, Nite Callers presents Michael Kain, Sasquatch Researcher from the state of Ohio. Michael Kain is 44 years old and lives in Central Ohio. Through out Michael's childhood, he experienced paranormal activity which spurred his first passion to be a paranormal investigator. Because Michael is open minded, it was not a stretch for him to believe that Sasquatch could also exist. He felt a kinship with those who had sightings especially when there was very little evidence to support the witness's encounters. When an episode of Finding Bigfoot aired on the state of Ohio, it ignited his interest in the subject and he decided to go out and look for himself where he found much possible evidence in the field. Being an avid off trail hiker, he began hiking to areas where few people ever go and obtained audio, found foot prints and limb structures. Mark and his partner Eric Tipton research year round, predominantly in the daytime. Join us as we welcome Michael Kain aka Woodland Spirit. It promises to be a very fascinating show! Michael has a face book community called the House of Enoch. 11am CST: Finding My Way With Kayla Padgett: This English/Korean Talk Show hosted by Award Winning Recording Artist, Kayla Padgett is a breath of fresh air that WOWS you with wisdom. 11am - 11:30am: One On One Girl Talk With Host: Aria Hogg Guest: Sherre Bishop is a comedian,an actor, and also a speaker on and off the air. 11:30am - 12pm: Finding My Way With Kayla Padgett Guest: Multiple Dove Award Recipient, as well as Grammy and Stellar Award nominated recording artist, Antonio Neal is set to release his new project, Welcome Home Project, on Madison Line Records, the Label where he serves as Chief Operating Officer. 12pm CST: A Voice For Our Time Radio Program Host: Charlana Kelly Featured Guest: Joanna Nunez Join host Charlana Kelly and her guest Joanna Nunez as they discuss "Purple Penguins, Pedophiles, & a Mayor Gone Wild" We find ourselves in the middle of a society spinning out of control and spiraling into deep darkness. What do we do? How do we respond? What is your part as a believer? Tune in and find out! Calls will be taken during the last segment of the program! Please dial in; (347) 850-8560 USA or (888) 201-5313 Intl. We'd love to hear from you. #TRUTHmatters #SPEAKup #BeAVoiceforOurTime Life's Issues with Lloyd Rosen and his guest Roger Laidig & Michelle Barnum Smith Roger Laidig is a native of northern Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University and also received his MSBA from Indiana University SB. He retired from his 30-year career at Laidig, Inc., a global manufacturing and construction company, as Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He is currently embarking in a part time position as an adjunct professor at Purdue School of Technology in South Bend. His desire is to create trust by interacting, listening, and then sharing lessons that life has taught him. This led him to recently write the book “Finding Purpose and Joy, It’s a Journey”. Michelle Barnum Smith is a dating coach... sort of. Really she's a 15 year Corporate Marketing veteran who applied the principles of Marketing to her OWN dating life and got married! Michelle now teaches other singles how to find love by applying marketing to their dating lives. Michelle has been featured on Forbes, Business Insider, The Examiner, ExpertBeacon.com and on several TV and Radio shows around the country. Join CryptoLogic Radio for another night of cryptid discussion with our guests Craig Woolheater and Monica Rawlins of TBRC and the hosts of CryptoCast Radio. We will be discussing the upcoming event "The Original Bigfoot Conference" as well as Craig's blog CryptoMundo, and the live show that they host together, CryptoCast. We will also touch upon their past investigations and research. Craig has appeared in and/or contributed to many television programs and documentaries such as... Travel Channel's Weird Travels, History Channel's Monster Quest, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries, and Finding Bigfoot. Monica is known as one of the original women bigfoot researchers. She has been a straight forward lady who has been steadfast on the path of truth, and keeps a skeptical eye on so called evidence. Monica has also appeared on television programs such as the History Channel's Monster Quest. In addition to Craig and Monica, our other special guest, John Kirk, is the president of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club (BCSCC). He is the author of the award-winning book 'In the Domain of the Lake Monsters', and he is one of the world’s leading cryptozoological investigators. Please join us for what is sure to be a very interesting and enjoyable show with our guests. Finding Joy around the World! Are there common characteristics in people who find joy despite the inevitable challenges life brings? What do they do? How do they think? Did they need to hit rock bottom? What was their break-through moment? Psychotherapist Kari Joys, MS researched these questions and so many more in her new book: Finding Joy Around The World: Real Life Stories of Discovering Happiness, Inner Peace and Joy [Kindle Edition] Kari specializes in working with stress, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, abuse and dysfunctional family issues,couples, marriage and divorce issues. Utilizing both individual and group counseling, Kari has helped thousands of people overcome their dysfunctional past to achieve happy, fulfilling lives. She works intuitively, using both laughter and tears to help a person overcome whatever is blocking their joy and fulfillment. Kari has led intensive personal growth workshops for the past 25 that have dramatically changed many people’s lives! She has also been instrumental in bringing the Yuen Method Wellness Trainings to Spokane, Washington. Connect with Deb at: http://www.DebScott.com Is Jesus the Promised Messiah of the Old Testament? Follow us today as we explore the Bible's Old Testament and discover proof that Jesus is the One promised by God as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Our broadcast is designed for Mandarin speakers. Find hope for living today from the past. Thank you for joining us. Please pass this link along to your Chinese friends! Special Edition by PWI Radio with Show Host Heather L. Tapia- Author, Prosperity Adviser & Empowerment Speaker Guest: Dave Douglas- Careertown.net What is Career Town? Career Town proivdes the only "Smart" Virtual Career Event platform that provides real-time interaction between job seekers and recruiters. The brains behind our "smart" platform is our expertise in pioneering high-tech and non-traditional recruiting solutions and our proprietary matching algorithm that ensures that job seekers are well matched to the positions recruiters are looking to fill. Our process is simple, efficient, and offers a personal touch with a unique focus on hiring -- all while helping to reduce the cost of recruiting. - See more at: http://www.careertown.net/get/index.html#sthash.TKzUI9GL.dpuf Start your JOBSEEKER PROFILE TODAY! Join Careertown.net and stop looking for a job- Find your next career! Are you ready to live a life filled with joy, despite the adversities you are facing? The inspirational Maria Lesetz can help show you the way! Maria is a well known Law of Attraction Happiness Coach, Motivational Speaker and founder of Lovin' Life Coaching. Maria’s passion is to teach you how to find happiness through adversity and thrive as a result of learning how to deliberately pivot your thoughts to a better feeling place in this present moment. Being happy is all about how we choose to be in the NOW. It's the gateway to improving your health, your love life, your finances, and every aspect of your life. Maria's high-energy, passion and enthusiasm for life has inspired thousands through one-on-one coaching, teleclasses, motivational speaking engagements and guest appearances on radio shows and television. Maria is also a Certified Life Coach for Doctors, assisting physicians with avoiding and managing burnout, incorporating a healthier work-life balance and improving their own overall health and happiness. With a Masters Degree in Statistics, Maria loves to "defy the odds" and will teach you how to do the same! Those “odds” only exist in your mind - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Sign up here LovinLifeNow.com for Maria Mojo Mondays to receive Maria’s Law of Attraction Inspiration every Monday, delivered directly to your inbox to set your positive vibe for the week! Upon signing up, you will receive 2 bonus gifts ($197 Value), to help you release all that worrying, feeling lighter and happier and paving the way to your greatest desires and dreams! Frontier Beyond Fear music copyrighted by Grammy award winner Larry Seyer, www.larryseyer.com, included in this podcast with his permission. Legal Eagle and the Coach with David Altenbern & Bryan Kiser and their guest Penelope Magoulianiti Penelope Magoulianiti is an author and an international speaker working with mothers and women, helping them identifying their true potential, pursuing their dreams and ambitions while at the same time finding balance between their families and careers. I am the author of the book, Women, Motherhood & Independence – A guide to Financial Freedom, Confidence and Beauty after Childbirth and the creator of the online program Create the Life you Deserve & Desire™. I have over 14 years’ experience in the Corporate World, over 6 years’ in Investment Banking and in the last two years I have been talking about my experiences and sharing my knowledge on how to create the life you deserve while still finding time to care for your family. I am a mother of two, and I know firsthand how difficult it can become struggling to balance family life with career. I am originally from Cyprus and I've spent six years living in London. Currently I am living in Limassol with my husband and two children. http://www.yourinnerease.com/ Monisha will speak about her journey of transformation, where old models of leadership broke down, leading her to claim her power more fully in her personal and professional life. Listen to her speak of the many gifts she continues to receive by redefining her notion of power and success, all by integrating her masculine and feminine styles. https://www.facebook.com/yourinnerease We help you dominate your league by finding fantasy's Most Valuable Players this season. Follow @FFMVP on Twitter for the latest news and witticisms. We answer all sit/start and trade questions. And check out www.theffmvp.com for articles, waiver wire advice, and sit/start advice. 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