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The Florida Everglades
The Skunk Ape or Myakka Ape is a bipedal humanoid, possibly a Bigfoot, reported in the South Eastern United States, most notably in the Florida Everglades.
It has black fur and glowing red eyes, unusual for most primates because most primates lack a tapetum lucidum, a layer of tissue behind the retina that reflects light.
The Skunk Ape's most obvious character is its terrible odor, which gives it its name.
Sightings And Photographs
The first ever sightings of the Skunk Ape were reported throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In autumn of 1974, many reports were filed in Dade County, Florida.
Twenty-six years later, in the autumn of 2000, the police of Sarasota County, Florida received a letter from an anonymous woman. With the letter were two attached photographs of what the woman said was an escaped orangutan who had been stealing apples from her back porch for three nights. These photos were later found to be taken near the Myakka River. After the images were released to the public, cryptid enthusiasts dubbed the creature in the photograph the "Myakka Skunk Ape."
Most sightings of the Skunk Ape, like Bigfoot sightings, can be dismissed as black bear sightings. It is entirely possible for a black bear to stand upright, making it appear like another animal entirely. Bears are also known to rummage through garbage bins, which could possibly explain the smell so associated with this creature.
In Popular Culture
In December 2007 (season 1, episode 9), an episode of MonsterQuest was made about the skunk ape. The episode was entitled "Swamp Beast."
- The "Myakka Skunk Ape" photograph was primarily researched by renowned cryptozoologist Loren Coleman.
- There is an official Skunk Ape headquarters in Ochopee, Florida.
- In autumn of 2012, Skunk Ape expert David Shealy appeared in a documentary about Skunk Apes on the Travel Channel. |
ABC show butchers bigcat episode
The video quality improves after about 1 minute.
So the ABC gets someone called Tim Bull..who calls himself "tym the yowie man" for some ridiculous reason.Tym chases sound bites..not cats.
And for balance..the ABC gets a scientist who knows even less than Tim Bull...if thats possible.
Tim said "black sometimes sandy..colour is not consistent"
What the hell does that mean..they are either brown or black..thats consistent.
peter mawson the zoologist knows nothing about the phenomena
There is secondary evidence like scat and hair reports and spoor reports.
Mawsons arguments against the animals is that there are none killed on the roads.
How many dogs or dingoes do you see as road kill in the bush.
Now..if large cats are a thousand times less common than these animals..how many animals would you see.
Regarding lack of skeletons..How many koala skeltons do people find in the bush...if these large felids are not as prolfic as koalas ...ergo..
No shot animals..How many pumas are shot without trained bloodhounds.?
How many are tracked without the benefit of tracking in snow.
Regarding lack of dung being supplied for possible id as a cat.
This is a mendacious suggestion...the chance of finding fresh dung...where the intestinal lining of the predator animal not degrading for DNA/species ID is nearly zero.
And who is going to do this test and do they have MT dna target markers of the big cat species for easy cross checking..not in Australia they dont.
Tim claims to have been been looking for 10 years for circus crash stories and found nothing.
What about CIRCUS ESCAPES....??????????
We have about 6 circus escape stories,most with photos of shot/tranquilised big cats.
We found those after about 2 years..
And..funnily enough..the still frame of the small female puma that was shot that was used in the story ..was of an escaped puma from a Circus..in Australia.
Why did they forget to mention that.
Regarding the"mange mite" which causes "stripes,patches,short haired etc " reports.
99.9999 % of reports of cryptid felids do not report any of those characteristics..but what the hell..who wants facts to get in the way..
Tim said "there is .1% chance they really are out there"
Tim Bull(TYM) must have "forgotten" that he had seen the cat.
In Tim's booklet "The adventures of Tim the yowie man" .
"ABCs-They are definitley out there.........in the Brindabella mountains,near Canberra, that I caught my only glimpse of an ABC.Until I saw it with my own eyes, I had always doubted its existence.But now,after seeing the panther like creature crouched behind a tree on the Brindabella road ,I have no doubts that ABCs are out there.."Page 50
Well done ABC on doing such a crummy and mendacious job on such an interesting subject....you really aimed for the lowest common denominator....and then shot lower... |
There was an alleged sighting of Barrier Brewing Company SaazSquash, a new, ale-like cryptid purported to inhabit Park Slope and encompassing neighborhoods within Brooklyn, at Bar Great Harry on Saturday, 11/5.
Unfortunately, no photographic evidence of SaazSquash was obtained.
Or was it?
Official SaazSquash description:
SaazSquash – 7.7% abv.
The antithesis to the all too common pumpkin-pie-in-a-glass beers. SaazSquash is an autumnal spiced ale brewed with raw butternut squash, dried ginger, clover honey, and Sichuan peppercorns, and finished off with German Saaz hops.
The ginger provides a strong spicy aroma and adds a pronounced bitter bite along with the peppery German hops that cuts through the richness of the squash and malts, while the peppercorns add a distinct earthiness and a faint cooling sensation to the tip of your tongue from special compounds contained within the kernels. The honey provides a subtle sweetness to the aroma but the sugars are almost entirely fermented out by our house yeast, leaving the beer with a high ABV but a dry, crisp finish. If sweet, pumpkin pie ales aren’t your cup of beer, then say hello to SaazSquash.
Pairs well with moose tongue, beaver tail, and brobdingnagian forest creatures. |
|Veterinarian Melba Ketchum|
North American is all aflutter with speculation, and many people are treating her press release as a scientific announcement. It is not. Until the actual paper with the recorded methodology and results is peer reviewed and published in a scientific journal, it's all just hype. I would dearly love for this news to be factual and prove definitively that our hairy friend not only exists but is tied closely to human dna. I'm not dancing in the streets just yet.
The statement that something cryptid had sex and reproduced with a human female is the stuff of fantasy fiction. I suppose it COULD happen, but often enough to breed a population? Are we talking Sasquatch and Eve here? The probability of contamination by a human is high. The chain of custody and collection methods have not been released. Dr. Ketchum's study is going to have to pass this crucial litmus test.
Additionally, virtually no "real" scientists release a teaser about what is to come. They peer review, and they publish, or at the very least have a contract to publish, all findings. My fervent hope is simply that Dr. Ketchum is naive and inexperienced. My fear is that she's media hungry.
Then there is the problem of the Better Business Bureau's rating of Dr. Ketchum's lab. To be fair, most of the 16 complaints in the past 6 years have been about not providing the services promised. There doesn't seem to be allegations of fraud. However, this sort of baggage on the lab purporting to make historically significant announcements is problematic at best. Combine that with Dr. Ketchum's purchase of the Erickson Project and the red flags pop up like pennants at a hockey game.
I want this to be true. I also want everyone to stop acting like it is already proven.
(and that is my rant for today) |
ABC: Alien Big Cats - the mysterious "panthers" and "pumas" which seem to pop up everywhere, with special reference to Australia.
ABSM: This was Ivan T. Sanderson's acronym for Abominable Snowmen - such as bigfoot, yetis, yowies etc.
NG: New Guinea
SS: Sea Serpents - also includes lake monsters.
Initially, I decided to translate a number of articles, mostly French, for the benefit of English speaking readers.
Thylacines in Indonesian New Guinea? The Tasmanian tiger is known to have once lived in New Guinea, and a friend found this Indonesian newspaper article for me about living "tigers" in the Indonesian half of the island.
Thylacines in Indonesian New Guinea - Further Evidence.
Mythical Beings of Madagascar. Purely mythical, but they are still interesting.
Unknown African Pygmies? The "bush dwarfs" of the Central African Republic appear more human than animal, and there have even been witnesses.
The Creatures of the Caucasus. A translation of Dr Koffmann's long article in French about the manlike animals of the Caucasus. It consists of four interlinked parts, the first providing the background, the second and third detailed eyewitness accounts, and the fourth an analysis. A definitive article on the subject.
The Yeti of Pakistan. The definitive study of the bar-manu: the name of the yeti in far north Pakistan, by a man who spoke the local language. This is a two part article, the first providing the background, and the second some very close encounters by eye witnesses.
More on the Chitral Yeti. This follows up the previous article. I managed to find the complete document, and translate several more eye witness accounts.
The Wild Man of the Pyrenees. An article concerning creatures similar to those of the Caucasus, but in the mountains between Spain and France.
The Barcelona Satyr, 1760. Perhaps a "wild man" on display.
A Photo of the Wild Man of the Pyrenees?
The Search for the Wild Man of the Pyrenees.
Here I go through the old newspapers for the original accounts of some classic Australian cases.
The Whistling, Neck-Spouting Bunyip. It appears absolutely bizarre, but there may be a simple explanation.
A Trove of Bunyips. A collection of reports from old newspapers.
At Last, the Double-Headed Bunyip of Tuckerbil Swamp!
A Trove of Sea Serpents. 1902 off Victoria, and 1930 off New South Wales
The Year of the Sea Serpents, 1934. For several months they turned up all along the coast of Australia.
More Forgotten Sea Serpent Sightings
The Nemesis Sea Serpent of 1900
The "Tresco" Sea Serpent of 1903
The Great North Queensland Tiger Hunt of 1923. This throws light on some of the old anecdotes.
More on the Queensland Marsupial Tiger
The Wonthaggi "Monster". It roamed the vicinity of this Victorian town in 1955 to 1957. Was it a dog, a cat, or something else?
Alien Big Cats in New Guinea. This is a remarkable story told to me by a family friend.
Snarls from the Tea-Tree. This is a review of a book on big cat lore in Victoria.
The Cryptids of Mount Tamborine. There were black panthers, all right, but it was the small, striped thing which really intrigued me.
The Trouble with Eye Witnesses. Provides examples about the reliability, or lack of such, of eye witnesses.
Big Black Cats in Southeast Queensland. From my personal files.
More Big Black Cats in Southeast Queensland.
Still More Big Cats in Southeast Queensland.
Big Cats in North Queensland
More Big Cats in Far North Queensland
Another Queensland "Black Panther"
What Terrifies a Congo Pygmy? It would be easy to write off the Esamba as a mythological demon, except that a white resident experienced it.
What Was That Big Fish? Seen from a beach in southeast Queensland.
Carnivorous Plants in Central America? Three strange, if dubious, stories.
A "National Geographic" Cryptid. You find cryptozoological reports in the most unlikely places. This one turned up in a very well respected magazine.
The Weird Little Visitor to Gayndah. Also absolutely bizarre, but with no simple explanation.
Journal of Cryptozoology, volume 2. A review.
Journal of Cryptozoology, volume 3
Strange Striped Animals in North Queensland
A Thylacine in North Queensland?
Thylacine Fever in the Wonthaggi District
"The Tasmanian Tiger: Extinct or Extant?" - a Review
Footprints in the Sand
Up de Graff and the Giant Anacondas
Big Birds Do Fly. Two "thunderbird" sightings in the U.S.
Sea Serpents (and Lake Monsters)
An Extraordinary Underwater Sea Serpent. Seen from a diving bell.
My Coworker's Sea Serpent
Thoughts on the Lake Labynkyr Monster. A radio station asked my opinion on this matter, so I might as well share it with you as well.
Another Deception Bay Sea Serpent. Quite different from the more famous one a few years later.
Lake Monsters - What They Aren't. A discussion of some misconceptions
Really Gigantic Squid. In this I analyse the evidence for giant squid much larger than those officially recognized. See Part 1 and Part 2.
Tales of the Australian Bigfoot. Some unpublished reports I have collected.
More Tales of the Australian Bigfoot.
Littlefoot in Australia? Are they juvenile yowies, or "little hairy men"? |
When we think of cryptozoology, we usually think of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster, creatures that are - let's face it - probably legendary. But some cryptids are real: just ask the platypus, okapi, and giant squid.
Of course, all of those are former cryptids - they've long since been "officially" discovered. But the fact is that all these creatures were not so long ago considered the stuff of myths and hoaxes by serious zoologists, and that something like the platypus was considered just as unlikely as Sasquatch. These are all real creatures that, at least for a moment, blurred the line between zoology and cryptozoology.
You might want to argue that, while the animals on this list were certainly once cryptids, they belong in a different category from the likes of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, both of which are massively unlikely to exist and clearly the stuff of fringe theory and pseudoscience. And while I would generally agree with that assertion, I'd still have to say - have you looked at a platypus recently? Never has a real animal more completely looked like the work of a hoaxer, and not a particularly imaginative hoaxer at that.
The platypus is a venomous, egg-laying mammal with the bill of a duck, the feet of an otter, and the tail of a beaver. If you were a European naturalist in the 18th or 19th century, wouldn't the sane reaction to receiving the corpse of such a creature from its supposed home in Australia be to say that it was a practical joke? While describing a carcass of the creature for the journal Nature's Miscellany in 1799, the well-respected English zoologist George Shaw began and ended his description with the acknowledgment that this might just be a crazy hoax:
Of all the Mammalia yet known it seems the most extraordinary in its conformation; exhibiting the perfect resemblance of the beak of a Duck engrafted on the head of a quadruped. So accurate is the similitude that, at first view, it naturally excites the idea of some deceptive preparation by artificial means: the very epidermis, proportion, features, manner of opening, and other particulars of the beak of a shoveler, or other broad-bill species of duck, presenting themselves to the view: nor is it without the most minute and rigid examination that we can persuade ourselves of its being the real beak or snout of a quadruped...
On a subject so extraordinary as the present, a degree of skepticism is not only pardonable, but laudable; and I ought perhaps to to acknowledge that I almost doubt the testimony of my own eyes with respect to the structure of this animal's beak; yet must confess that I can perceive no appearance of any deceptive preparation; and the edges of the rictus, the insertion, and when tried by the test of maceration in water, so as to render every part completely moveable seem perfectly natural; nor can the most accurate examination of expert anatomists discover any deception in this particular."
Shaw was, it seems, basically convinced that the platypus was real, but he also was obviously trying to cover himself in case it turned out he had been hoodwinked. According to the famous surgeon Robert Knox, Shaw's contemporaries were less charitable, with many writing the thing off as a forgery made by Chinese sailors, who had earlier perpetrated a similar hoax with a supposed mermaid. It wouldn't be until nearly a century after Shaw's time that the platypus's existence was definitively confirmed, and it endures as the ultimate proof that nothing is too ridiculous to be real.
The platypus took a long time to gain zoological acceptance because it was so unlike any other animal and because its Australian habitat was so isolated from the European scientific community, which until the early 20th century had near exclusive domain over which animals were "real" and which were "fake." The okapi, on the other hand, was something rather different. Its central African habitat was well-known to European explorers, and it looked very much like some sort of zebra or donkey (although, as it happens, its closest relative is actually the giraffe). Surely zoologists couldn't have missed something like that during all their expeditions?
And yet it wasn't until 1901 that the okapi was officially described. There are a few reasons for this. Their natural habitat (which today is entirely confined to the Democratic Republic of the Congo) is in incredibly dense forest, and they are generally quiet, solitary animals. No other African animal of even remotely comparable size is quite so completely isolated from human experience, and that's why it evaded detection for so long.
To be fair, the indigenous Africans were definitely aware of its existence before 1901, but even then it appears that their interactions with it were limited, and their knowledge of the okapi came more from hoof marks and tracks than direct contact. Sir Henry Stanley - most famous for asking, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" - provided the first European description of the okapi during his travels in the region in 1890, but he could offer no conclusive evidence of such a beast. It wouldn't be until 1901 that the zoologist and imperial official Sir Harry Johnston, with a lot of help from native inhabitants, was able to get his hands on an okapi skull and a couple skins, and it was with this evidence that the creature's existence as at last confirmed.
The Giant Squid
If you're looking to hide a gigantic, undiscovered beast, then really you need to put it in the ocean (and no, a Scottish lake will not work as a substitute). While some jungles are dense and remote enough to hide something like the okapi, only the ocean depths could hide something of the magnitude of the giant squid. This aquatic monster, along with its even bigger cousin the colossal squid, can grow to well over forty feet long, and yet more than two thousand years elapsed between its first sighting and its confirmation as an actual species.
Reports of the giant squid go all the way back to Aristotle, and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder offers a reasonably accurate description of a giant squid in Natural History. In what has to be a first for ancient writers, Pliny actually manages to underestimate the size of the beast, saying it's only about thirty feet long. The giant squid also might be the inspiration for any number of mythological monsters, including the Kraken of Norse mythology, the Scylla of Greek mythology, and the Lusca of Caribbean folklore.
The problem with the giant (and colossal) squid is that the ocean is a very big place, and they don't generally hang out near the surface, which is where humans tend to be (what with all the oxygen). That automatically limits how much humans could know about the creatures, and early zoologists were faced with the unenviable task of distinguishing legitimate reports from wild tales of sea serpents and monsters from the deep. Squid specimens would sometimes wash ashore, but these were rarely complete carcasses, and they tended to rot so quickly that it was difficult to say anything about them with certainty.
In fact, several early squid carcasses were interpreted not as beasts at all, but rather as mermen. In a context like that, where science and superstition so freely intermixed, it's not hard to understand why the squid remained mysterious for so long. The first confirmed discovery of a giant squid carcass came in the 1870s, but it wouldn't be until the past decade that zoologists were able to take photos of a live specimen.
The Trouble With Real Cryptids
There are plenty of other now famous animals that began as cryptids. The komodo dragon of Borneo was not accepted by the European zoological community until 1910, while the mountain gorilla remained unknown until two of them were shot in 1902. Both of these species come from highly isolated areas - one of the mountain gorilla's natural habitats is actually called the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - and their discoveries probably share credit for inspiring pop culture's most famous depiction of cryptozoology, King Kong.
If we examine these case of real cryptids, a few patterns emerge. These are all creatures that live in extremely isolated parts of the world. These are generally areas that don't just discourage human exploration, but almost make the task fundamentally impossible, like the ocean depths or extremely dense forests. Most of these are either solitary creatures or otherwise display behaviors that make them naturally averse to interacting with humans. While more fantastical cryptids like the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot are generally said to be solitary - there's really no way around that, since we've never seen them - they are supposedly located in fairly well-explored, well-understood areas that would not be able to support a large, undiscovered species.
I hesitate to say that we will never discover any more cryptids on the scale of the giant squid or the okapi, but we're fast running out of places to look. The ocean may well have some reasonably large species that remain undiscovered, but they're likely to be more along the lines of the four foot long coelacanth than the forty foot long giant squid.
Still, all these animals are an important reminder that tons of species begin as the stuff of cryptozoology before passing into the official ranks of zoology. Unless you restrict your definition of cryptozoology to only include the pseudoscientific search for the Yeti or Bigfoot - which we would argue is a pointlessly narrow definition - then what cryptozoology really deals with are animals who are known only through anecdotal evidence and rumored sightings. As all these creatures demonstrate, there are plenty of animals for which the legends were absolutely true.
Platypus: the extraordinary story of how a curious creature baffled the world by Ann Moyal
"More on the mainstreamification of cryptozoology: former cryptids and hypothetical cryptids" by Darren Naish
A Gallery of Cryptozoological Alumni
This summer, io9 is going cryptozoological. We're offering a $2000 bounty to the person who sends us the best authentic photo or video of a "cryptid," or mystery animal. And that's just the beginning of Cryptid Summer. More » |
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Yokai are Japanese spirits that range from harmless to monstrous. Some dwell in the woods, some dwell among the clouds, and some (like the Umibozu ) dwell underwater. The Umibozu resembles a gigantic mound of black flesh -- smooth and hairless like a shaven head. This trait gives the yokai its name, which translates to "sea monk". Unlike its namesake, the Umibozu is far from harmless. It menaces ships that pass nearby, rising from the sea without warning. It will then wreck the helpless vessel, dragging all onboard to a watery grave.
Thankfully, attacks by the Umibozu can be avoided. Usually, the yokai remains submerged, and might not attack unless provoked. While sailing, it is best not to speak its name -- a surefire way of summoning it forth. If an Umibozu does attack, it may not sink its target directly. Sometimes, it will ask for a barrel, which it will fill with water and use to flood the ship. If an Umibozu makes such a request, give it a barrel filled with holes -- the creature will be unable to collect water, and will leave in frustration. This beast, evidently, is not one of the smartest yokai.
Through the years, many explanations have been proposed for the Umibozu legend. These range from natural phenomena like rogue waves and storm clouds to living beings -- like sea turtles and jellyfish. The theory I find most believable equates the Umibozu to a large octopus. The heads of these creatures look extremely similar, with a saclike structure and bulging eyes. Furthermore, the Umibozu's torso bears long, scrawny limbs -- which greatly resemble octopus tentacles.
Read more about the Umibozu:
Image (public domain) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Kuwana_-_The_sailor_Tokuso_and_the_sea_monster.jpg
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Himalayas are home to the Yeti, one of Earth's most famous cryptids. But the western part of this mountain range once contained a lesser-known beast. This aquatic creature, known as the Buru, dwelled in the river valleys of eastern India. According to locals, it has been extinct for decades, but lived recently enough to be clearly remembered.
The Buru, it is said, was a reptilian creature between ten and fifteen feet long. It had a long neck and forked tongue, along with claw-like feet well adapted for digging. The beast had fish-like skin, a rounded tail and a flat snout behind which lay its eyes. For a time, the Buru coexisted with the Indian inhabitants of its valleys. But eventually, it came to be seen as dangerous, and the species was exterminated. The marshes where it dwelled were drained, and its watery homes were filled with boulders. No Buru has been seen since.
To most cryptozoologists, the Buru's traits suggested an aquatic monitor lizard. Some of these lizards, like the Komodo dragon, can exceed ten feet in length -- and prehistoric varieties like Megalania grew even larger. Furthermore, fossil monitors lived in India, meaning that finding one in the region wouldn't be improbable. The downside of the monitor theory is that these lizards don't live in the water. Some of them can swim fairly well, but the Buru was said to spend most of its time submerged. Monitors are terrestrial reptiles; they need to warm themselves in the sun and hunt land-dwelling prey. These energy requirements would be more profound, not less, in a gigantic species -- making an aquatic variant unlikely.
Another possibility is that that the Buru was a crocodilian. Crocodiles spend much more time in the water than monitor lizards, and are generally far larger. They also share the Buru's flat snout, rounded tail and claws. Further evidence comes from the Buru's name -- which can also mean "crocodile" in the native languages. The crocodile theory would seem a fairly good fit, but one piece of evidence undermines it. The Buru, it is said, could hardly leave the water -- while crocodiles do so on a regular basis. These cryptids, after their marshes were drained, remained buried in the mud at the bottom. In a crocodile's marsh was drained, it could easily move around and hunt on the shore.
This odd discrepancy inspired Karl Shuker, a noted cryptozoologist, to pose another theory. He proposes that the Buru was a gigantic species of lungfish. These fish have skin resembling the Buru's, along with eyes at the back of a long, flattened snout. They lack long necks or a forked tongue, but spend virtually all their time in water -- unlike any other Buru-candidate. Personally, I don't think this the best of matches. Lungfishes don't grow close to the Buru's size, and none are found in Asia whatsoever. Besides, nobody would be in danger from a giant lungfish -- these creatures are absolutely harmless. Personally, I favor the crocodilian explanation.
Read more about the Buru:
Image (public domain, of a swimming water monitor) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Flickr_-_don_macauley_-_Varanus_salvator.jpg
Monday, March 10, 2014
According to legends, something massive dwells beneath the forests of Brazil. It bores enormous tunnels through the soil, large enough for a child to walk through. It uproots trees, destroys crops and leaves water-filled ditches in its wake. Natives call it the Minhocao -- and its nature has been discussed for over a century. Granted, little evidence for the beast has been found since the 1800s. But the stories alone give us much to work with, and allow us to deduce its identity.
The traditional description of the Minhocao resembles a giant worm. Legends detail a gigantic serpentine beast, dozens of feet long and covered in black scales. The Minhocao, it is said, has two stalk-like tentacles portruding from its head -- but it lacks eyes altogether. This amalgamation of features is rather confusing. Several creatures share a few of these traits, but none exhibit all of them.
Let's look at some possible candidates for the Minhocao's identity. One, suggested by cryptozoologist Karl Shuker, is the caecilian. These wormlike amphibians are capable of burrowing, and can be found throughout South America. They sometimes have a scaly appearance, and on occasion have head-tentacles -- but caecilians are relatively small in size. The largest is not five feet long, certainly incapable of making massive tunnels. These biggest of these creatures are no thicker than a human arm. Legless lizards and blind snakes, while they also share traits of the Minhocao, are unlikely for the same reason.
Bernard Heuvelmans, the father of cryptozoology, had a far different theory -- and it's the one I find most probable. He believed that the Minhocao was a prehistoric armadillo relative called the glyptodont, and that the stories of its appearance were entirely fanciful. Unlike snakes or caecilians, glyptodonts (if they burrowed at all) could make monster-sized tunnels. Furthermore, their fossils are found in South America, and the Amazon is relatively unexplored. There's plenty of habitat in which they could dwell, despite the improbability of their survival. Now, I don't generally advocate for prehistoric cryptids, and I'm not saying I believe in this one. But this fossil animal is the best Minhocao candidate yet suggested.
Read more about the Minhocao:
Image (public domain) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Minhocao.png
Sunday, March 9, 2014
In 2008, shortly after BeastPedia began its five-year hiatus, a strange carcass washed up near Montauk, NY. It was clearly a decaying mammal, with visible paws and patches of grey hair. But what exactly was it? Photographs of the beast, circulated on the internet, caused rampant speculation. Some thought the creature an alien, some thought it a cryptid, and some thought it a genetic experiment. An animal research center, they pointed out, was only a few miles away. What if one of the subjects had escaped?
The creature, as it turned out, was nothing so exotic. It was a decomposing raccoon, rendered near-unrecognizable by the forces of the tides. Several posts ago, I mentioned taphonomy -- the study of how living things decay. This is another mystery solved by that useful science. Let's look at the carcass in detail, examining it step by step, until we can bring the "monster" back to life.
First of all, we know this creature was a mammal. There are patches of fur clinging to its hide, which clearly isn't reptilian. A second photo shows visible testicles, and the creature's dentition is visibly mammal-like. So are its ears, its toes, the position of its legs, and virtually everything else we can see. How big was it? A fly on the carcass' back gives us a sense of scale -- and tells us it was about the size of a dog.
Thus far, we know we're dealing with a mid-sized North American mammal -- and a carnivore, based on the shape of the teeth. This leaves us only a few options, including dogs, cats and raccoons. The Montauk Monster looks like none of these -- but only because it's decomposed. When a body floats in water, it rapidly bloats and begins to lose its hair. That's what has happened here, and what makes the creature look so deformed. The second thing to decompose is the snout -- which contains plenty of soft tissues. When these fall apart, the premaxillary bones are exposed, producing the monster's "beak."
What identifies the Montauk Monster as a raccoon (as opposed to a dog or cat) is the shape of its teeth. All families of mammals have fairly unique dentition, which can be told apart by an expert. Skull shape is a major indicator of taxonomy, and to a mammalogist, this carcass screams "raccoon."
Read more about the Montauk Monster:
Image (public domain) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/RhodeislandMonster.jpg
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Most cryptids have never been caught on video. Many have never been photographed. A handful have never even been witnessed -- their presence is inferred from physical evidence or second-hand tales. But there is only one cryptid that has never been seen at all. It's called the Bloop, and it's the first ever "acoustic cryptid." Our only knowledge of this creature, if a creature at all, is the sound that it makes.
The Bloop was first documented by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. For decades, they had been monitoring the sounds of the sea -- recording and documenting everything their microphones picked up. Most of these sounds were identifiable, such as whale calls and submarine engines. But one of them was not. Dubbed "the Bloop", it was phenomenally loud, and came from the deep Pacific. The noise was clearly not man-made in origin, and did not match common oceanographic events. So what was it?
One scientist at the NOAA attributed the sound to a massive animal. Its sonic profile, he said, did not fit anything geological. It was most likely a living being, due to the specific frequency alterations found within the sound. If this were the case, the Bloop would have to be a new species. And it would be something unlike all known sea creatures. Blue whales are the loudest animals in the ocean, but the Bloop dwarfed the volume and the depth of their songs. One scientist estimated, based on sonic force alone, that the Bloop would have to be 250 feet long.
For years the Bloop went unexplained, the subject of rampant speculation. But finally, in 2013, NOAA scientists announced that the mystery had been solved. The Bloop, they said, was not organic at all. In fact, it was the sound produced by massive icequakes. These quakes (scientifically called "cryoseisms") are caused by stress fractures in massive blocks of ice. When they finally split apart, their soundforms are identical to the Bloop -- which was merely such an icequake on a massive scale. I'll admit I'm disappointed that the Bloop isn't organic. But would you really want to swim with a 250-foot monster?
Read more about the Bloop, and listen to it at the first link below!
Image (public domain) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Bloop.jpg
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
In the mountains of California, so the legend goes, there once lived truly massive salamanders. According to one witness, who popularized the cryptid in the 1920s, they could grow up to nine feet in length -- smaller speciens measured five. These reports spawned great interest even among mainstream scientists. Several expeditions were launched between the 1940s and the 1960s, all hoping to prove the creature's existence.
Though several sightings took place during this period, no expedition returned with physical evidence. Even fairly exhaustive searches failed to turn up giant salamanders -- though small ones were found in abudance. Since the mid-20th century, this cryptid has been witnessed only scarcely, and few hold out hope for its existence. If such a creature ever lived, by now it may be extinct.
Now, my posts always take a rational tone -- and that means I do lots of debunking. But in this case, I think our cryptid deserves a second look. Personally, I don't think large salamanders are ridiculous, and there are plenty of reasons why. First of all, the Trinity Alps are great salamander territory. Plenty of species live in the region, including one (Dicamptodon) that grows to a foot in length. The climate of the Trinity Alps is also ideal. It strongly resembles that of Japan -- where the world's second-largest amphibian dwells.
I'm talking about the Japanese giant salamander -- a species five feet in length. Its Chinese cousin can grow even longer, into the range of the Trinity Alps giants. Yes, these creatures live thousands of miles from California -- but their biological family is very widespread. In fact, a close relative of the giant salamanders lives right here in America. It's called the hellbender, and it's our largest native amphibian, at almost two feet in length. This is a lot smaller than the Trinity Alps cryptid, but still quite impressive.
Now we have a possible scenario. What if a member of the giant salamander family, which does exist in America, grew to massive size? It's certainly possible, as such gigantism already exists in similar climates. The lack of sightings is troublesome, and I'm not sure the Trinity Alps really houses such a monster. But I don't think giant salamanders are impossible, especially in Asia and western America. Don't get your hopes up, but don't write this one off!
Read more about the Trinity Alps Salamander:
Image (public domain, picturing a Chinese giant salamander) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/2009_Andrias_davidianus.JPG
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "lake monster?" If you're anything like me, you think of a Nessie-like creature. It lives in a deep, remote lake; it's large and mysterious; it's reptilian, and probably serpentlike. Igopogo defies virtually all of these expectations. Lake Simcoe's native cryptid is an unusual beast -- small, mammalian and remarkably close to civilization.
A monster in Lake Simcoe has been reported for centuries -- tales of the beast date back to Huron legend. But modern sightings began just decades ago, peaking during the '60s and '70s. By this point, several other lake monsters had risen to global prominence. While Nessie was the most famous, it was Ogopogo (a fellow Canadian) which gave the Simcoe Monster its name. Locally, it is also known as Kempenfelt Kelly and Beaverton Bessie.
As I said, Igopogo is a fairly strange lake monster. The easy accessibility of Lake Simcoe is odd enough -- it's only an hour north of Toronto. But that's just the beginning. Igopogo, according to witnesses, sounds nothing like your classic "sea serpent." One (likely hoaxed) photo shows a multi-humped creature-- but few other sources describe it this way. Generally, it is cited as small and doglike, about nine to twelve feet in length. The beast is usually seen in the water, but is occasionally said to bask on shore.
The most famous Igopogo sighting was actually recorded on video. While racing hydroplanes, an unnamed witness was shocked to see the beast emerge right in front of him. Cryptozoologist John Kirk believes the creature in the video is a pinniped -- a relative of the seals and sea lions. These animals do seem a good match for the Simcoe cryptid. The largest of them can reach twenty feet in length -- making Igopogo seem modest by comparison. There are also plenty of seals in Canada, making the explanation parsimonious.
The seal theory has one major downside -- Lake Simcoe is hundreds of miles inland. Seals live on the coast, not in lakes -- and it's easy to wonder how one could end up there. Theoretically, one could travel through the river system and migrate short distances across land. But what could motivate it to do so? And why would seals do this in sufficient numbers to establish a population? Furthermore, if there were seals living in Simcoe, surely they would be seen more often. All mammals have to surface for air, and though Lake Simcoe is large, it's not exactly remote. It's hard to believe seals could live there and remain undetected.
Read more about Igopogo:
Image (public domain and probably hoaxed) from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Igopogo.jpg
Monday, March 3, 2014
The Hugag is a "fearsome critter" of the Great Lakes region. Superficially resembling a moose, this hairy quadruped can weigh in excess of three tons. It has toes instead of hooves, and a long, horselike tail. But there all comparison to normal creatures must end. The Hugag has a number of bizarre traits not seen in other mammals. For one, its head is completely bald -- though the rest of its body is shaggy. For another, its ears are corrugated like the tail of an Anhinga. The purpose of these features is completely unknown.
The Hugag's strangeness does not end there. Also unusual is the animal's upper lip -- which is swollen to such proportions that it hangs near the ground. This lip is used to scrape needles and twigs off of pine trees. The Hugag eats some of these needles, while covering itself with others in place of hair. These needles are held in place by pine-sap, which oozes from the Hugag's pores.
This beast's most unusual feature is the jointlessness of its legs. All four are completely rigid, unable to bend in any direction. The Hugag is thus an extremely awkward traveler, rocking back and forth as it waddles through the forest. If it ever lay down, the Hugag could not stand again -- and so it is forced to sleep standing up. To accomplish this, it leans against one of the pine trees off which it feeds.
Hunters, noticing this habit, developed a method to hunt the creature. They would pay attention to which trees the Hugag frequented -- identifiable due to their lack of pine-needles and bent posture. These trees would be sawed partially in half, so that they remained standing but were extremely unstable. When the Hugag next leaned against one of these trees, trunk and animal would both crash to the ground. The hunters, lying in wait, would then slaughter the helpless beast.
Read more about the Hugag:
Image (public domain) from http://www.fearsomecreaturesofthelumberwoods.com/images/hugag.jpg
Sunday, March 2, 2014
I've posted about several folkloric creatures in the last few days. Many of these "fearsome critters" were jokes, but others were used to explain everyday phenomena. Today, we cover the Funeral Mountain Terrashot -- which provides an example of folk etymology. It was invented, so it seems, to explain the name of California's Funeral Range. And its story is about as bizarre as you'll see on this blog.
The Funeral Mountain Terrashot resembles a living coffin. It waddles around the mountains on four stumpy legs, wobbling precariously from side to side. It is easy for the beast to tip over -- though as we'll see, that's the least of its traveling problems. Normally, the Terrashot dwells in peace, gathering and breeding in alpine meadows. But when its population grows sufficiently large, the creature's migratory instincts set in. At this point, the entire Terrashot clan leaves the mountains, trundling in a single-file line across the desert.
These migrations, unfortunately, are very short-lived. When a Terrashot touches the desert's hot sands, it begins to swell uncontrollably. Eventually, it explodes like a shotgun shell in a cloud of brimstone. Even after seeing the death of their leader, the other Terrashots march on like lemmings. One after the other, each creature detonates, punching a grave-shaped hole into the sand.
Supposedly some mormons witnessed this abortive migration and named the Funeral Range after the phenomenon. No Terrashots have been seen since; perhaps the last of them were struck by fatal wanderlust. Only their name lives on -- or so the story goes.
Read more about the Funeral Mountain Terrashot:
Image (public domain) from http://www.fearsomecreaturesofthelumberwoods.com/images/terrashot.jpg
Saturday, March 1, 2014
This week's been a slow one on BeastPedia -- I've been extremely busy, and haven't been able to write as much as I'd have liked. It was much to my surprise, then, when yesterday's post resulted in more views than I'v ever seen on this blog. I guess you all like fearsome critters! As an apology for my slack posting, I'll send a couple more your way before moving back to cryptids. Today, I bring you the Axehandle Hound.
Thousands of years ago, humans domesticated the wolf-- more or less by accident. Wolves skirted the edges of our campfires, picking up scraps of meat and feeding on our garbage. Over the centuries, they lost their fear of humankind and became fairly easy to tame. The result was man's best friend -- the household dog. The Axehandle Hound, according to lumberjack folktales, got its start the same way. This doglike critter frequents the edges of logging camps in search of food to steal.
But there's one big difference between this creature and the wolf. Wolves feed on meat, but Axehandle Hounds eats... wait for it... axe handles. This makes them a great nuisance for lumberjacks, whose tools the critters would destroy. Axehandle Hounds are said to prefer the Peavey brand, and detest handles made of red oak. This latter quirk is a handy one. A foolish lumberjack, so the story goes, once domesticated a Hound. But he had lost his leg in a logging accident, and used a wooden axe-handle to replace it. His pet continually gnawed on the thing, until he fed it a piece of red oak and it ran away.
The story of the Axehandle Hound is a strange one, full of inside references to lumberjack culture. Clearly, it was invented to explain the loss of axe handles -- an extremely common event. After all, they were made of wood and their heads fell off easily. When dropped on the ground, they were nearly indistinguishable from any other stick in the forest. Why do Axehandle Hounds prefer the Peavey brand? Because lumberjacks did, regarding it as superior and using it with great frequency. Since more Peavey axes were used, more Peavey axe-handles were lost. According to joking woodsmen, it must have been the hound.
Red oak handles, on the other hand, were largely regarded as useless. A lumberjack spent hours every day working with his axe -- it was his main tool and source of livelihood. The quality of that axe was thus very important, and a weak handle simply would not do. Red oak was an "inferior" wood -- theoretically, it wasn't strong enough to bear an axe head. Handles made of this material were therefore spurned.
Read more about the Axehandle Hound:
Image (public domain) from http://www.lumberwoods.com/images/axehandlehound_small.png |
Because apparently sharks, jellyfish, sting rays, electric eels, fire corral, lion fish, sea snakes, stone fish, octopus, and squid are just not enough to keep some people out of the water, author Hunter Shea has come up with yet another nasty creature of the briny deep. His creation, the Chimaera fish (aka Ghost Shark), isn’t entirely fictional but let’s hope to Poseidon these things never actually become a hundred percent real.
Hunter specializes in monsters and cryptids. In “Swamp Monster Massacre” he takes on the legendary Big Foot\Skunk Ape. In “The Montauk Monster” we get to meet his version of well, the Montauk Monster, a pseudo-cryptid that first washed up on the shores of Montauk, NY back in 2008. Ghosts become deadly in Island of the Forbidden and zombies of all shapes and sizes populate the streets of Yonkers, and maybe even the world, in Tortures of the Damned.
For “They Rise” Hunter Shea takes us deep sea fishing off the coast of Florida. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but things go bad fast when the fish at the end of the line ends up eating, instead of begin eaten by, the fishermen. What appears to be an isolated incident soon turns into an aquatic nightmare as it’s discovered these apparently extinct prehistoric fish have grown to gargantuan proportions with appetites to match. And there’s not just a few, but thousands of them! Human flesh rates high on their menu to the point of ramming and capsizing boats and jumping on decks to get to whoever is foolish enough to stand out there.
For a book of only 150 pages, “They Rise” packs in a lot of information, intrigue, blood and guts gore action, and suspense. Hunter Shea does not disappoint in the plot department at all and I enjoyed almost everything about this book. My only disappointment was central core character development. I didn’t feel like I got to know them as well as I would have liked and that left my sense of caring about what happened to them somewhat lacking. From reading several of his lengthier books, I know Hunter can do this quite well. “They Rise” would have benefited from a similar treatment.
Despite that, an overall enjoyable and fast-paced read. I’d maybe not suggest it for anyone who plans on doing any deep sea diving or ocean fishing in those warm, southern seas this summer. I know I won’t be and despite this creature being primarily fictional, I’m still going to add the Chimaera fish to my fast-growing list of reasons not to swim in those sorts of places just to be safe.
Be sure to check out all of Hunter’s twisted world at: https://huntershea.com/
3 out of 5 ravens. |
The black panther
is the common name for a black specimen (a melanistic
variant) of any of several species of cats. Zoologically speaking, the term panther
is synonymous with
. The genus name Panthera
a taxonomic category that contains all the species of a particular group of
felids. In North America, the term panther
is commonly used for the
Cougar; in Latin America it is most often used to mean a Jaguar. Elsewhere in
the world it refers to the Leopard (originally individual animals with longer
tails were deemed panthers and others were leopards; it is a common
misconception that the term panther necessarily refers a melanistic individual).
Comment "Me too. I have property at exit 81 and have had a big black cat that looked like the pink panther walk past me. I had a firearm and a big dog. I had no intention of harming it. ........"
Have your say
Melanism is most common in the Jaguar (Panthera onca) - where it is due
to a dominant gene mutation - and the Leopard (Panthera pardus) - where
it is due to a recessive gene mutation. Close examination of one of these black
cats will show that the typical markings are still there, and are simply hidden
by the surplus of the black pigment melanin. Cats with melanism can co-exist
with litter mates that do not have this condition. In cats that hunt mainly at
night the condition is not detrimental. White panthers also exist, these being
albino or leucistic individuals of the same three species.
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It is probable that melanism is a favourable evolutionary mutation with a
selective advantage under certain conditions for its possessor, since it is more
commonly found in regions of dense forest, where light levels are lower.
Melanism can also be linked to beneficial mutations in the immune system.
|Are black panthers supposed to be in south
georgia, several have been seen in this area, fifty miles west of
If you think you know the answer
let us know in the have your say box below
These are the most common form of black panther in captivity and have been
selectively bred for decades as exhibits or exotic pets (this inbreeding for the
sake of appearance has adversely affected temperament). They are smaller and
more lightly built than leopards. The spotted pattern is still visible on black
leopards, especially from certain angles where the effect is that of printed
silk. Skin color is a mixture of blue black gray and purple with rosettes. A
black panther (leopard) is able to hunt and kill animals outweighing them by
more than 1,350 pounds but this is rare because of competition from tigers and
Black leopards are reported from most densely-forested areas in south-western
China, Burma, Assam and Nepal; from Travancore and other parts of southern India
and are said to be common in Java and the southern part of the Malay Peninsula
where they may be more numerous than spotted leopards. They are less common in
tropical Africa, but have been reported from Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia), the
forests of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares. One was recorded by Peter
Turnbull-Kemp in the equatorial forest of Cameroon.
Adult black panthers (leopards) are more temperamental (nervous or vicious)
than their spotted counterparts. It is a myth that their mothers often reject
them at a young age because of their colour. In actuality, they are more
temperamental because they have been inbred to preserve the coloration. The poor
temperament has been bred into the strain as a side-effect of inbreeding. It is
this poor temperament that leads to problems of maternal care in captivity as
the proximity of humans stresses the mother. According to Funk and Wagnalls'
Wildlife Encyclopaedia, black leopards are less fertile than normal leopards
having average litters of 1.8, compared to 2.1. This may be due to their
In the early 1980s, Glasgow Zoo, Scotland acquired a 10 year old black
leopard from Dublin Zoo, Ireland. She was exhibited for several years before
moving to Madrid Zoo, Spain. This leopard had a uniformly black coat profusely
sprinkled with white hairs as though draped with spider webs. She was therefore
nicknamed the Cobweb Panther. The condition appeared to be vitiligo and as she
aged, the white became more extensive. Since then, other Cobweb Panthers have
been reported and photographed in zoos.
In jaguars, the mutation is dominant hence black jaguars can produce both
black and spotted cubs, but spotted jaguars only produce spotted cubs when bred
together. In leopards, the mutation is recessive and some spotted leopards can
produce black cubs (if both parents carry the gene in hidden form) while black
leopards always breed true when mated together. In stuffed mounted specimens,
black leopards often fade to a rusty colour, but black jaguars fade to chocolate
brown. The black jaguar was considered a separate species by indigenous peoples.
In Harmsworth Natural History (1910), WH Hudson writes:
The jaguar is a beautiful creature, the ground-colour of the fur a rich
golden-red tan, abundantly marked with black rings, enclosing one or two small
spots within. This is the typical colouring, and it varies little in the
temperate regions; in the hot region the Indians recognise three strongly marked
varieties, which they regard as distinct species - the one described; the
smaller jaguar, less aquatic in his habits and marked with spots, not rings;
and, thirdly, the black variety. They scout the notion that their terrible
"black tiger" is a mere melanic variation, like the black leopard of the Old
World and the wild black rabbit. They regard it as wholly distinct, and affirm
that it is larger and much more dangerous than the spotted jaguar; that they
recognise it by its cry; that it belongs to the terra firma rather than to the
water-side; finally, that black pairs with black, and that the cubs are
invariably black. Nevertheless, naturalists have been obliged to make it
specifically one with Felis onca, the familiar spotted jaguar, since, when
stripped of its hide, it is found to be anatomically as much like that beast as
the black is like the spotted leopard.
The gene is incompletely dominant. Individuals with two copies of the gene
are darker (the black background colour is more dense) than individuals with
just one copy whose background colour may appear to be dark charcoal rather than
A black jaguar called Diablo has been accidentally crossed with a lioness
named Lola at Bear Creek Sanctuary, Barrie, Canada resulting in a charcoal
coloured "black jaglion" female as well as a tan coloured spotted jaglion male.
It therefore cannot be said that the melanistic gene is dominant over lion
There are no authenticated cases of truly melanistic Cougars. Black Cougars
have been reported in Kentucky, one of which had a paler belly. There have also
been reports of glossy black Cougars from Kansas and eastern Nebraska. These are
known as the North American Black Panther (NABP). None have ever been
photographed or shot in the wild, and none have been bred. There is wide
consensus among breeders and biologists that the animal does not exist and is a
cryptid. Sightings are current attributed to mistaken species identification by
non feline experts, and memetic exaggeration of size.
In his "Histoire Naturelle" (1749), Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon,
wrote of the "Black Cougar": "M. de la Borde, King’s physician at Cayenne,
informs me, that in the [South American] Continent there are three species of
rapacious animals; that the first is the jaguar, which is called the tiger; that
the second is the couguar [sic], called the red tiger, on account of the uniform
redness of his hair; that the jaguar is of the size of a large bull-dog, and
weighs about 200 pounds (90 kg); that the couguar is smaller, less dangerous,
and not so frequent in the neighbourhood of Cayenne as the jaguar; and that both
these animals take six years in acquiring their full growth. He adds, that there
is a third species in these countries, called the black tiger, of which we have
given a figure under the appellation of the black couguar."
"The head," says M. de la Borde, "is pretty similar to that of the common
cougar; but the animal has long black hair, and likewise a long tail, with
strong whiskers. He weighs not much above forty pounds. The female brings forth
her young in the hollows of old trees." This black couguar is most likely a
margay or ocelot, which are under forty pounds, live in trees, and do occur in a
Another description of a black cougar was provided by Mr Pennant: "Black
tiger, or cat, with the head black, sides, fore part of the legs, and the tail,
covered with short and very glossy hairs, of a dusky colour, sometimes spotted
with black, but generally plain: Upper lips white: At the corner of the mouth a
black spot: Long hairs above each eye, and long whiskers on the upper lip: Lower
lip, throat, belly, and the inside of the legs, whitish, or very pale
ash-colour: Paws white: Ears pointed: Grows to the size of a heifer of a year
old: Has vast strength in its limbs.-- Inhabits Brasil and Guiana: Is a cruel
and fierce beast; much dreaded by the Indians; but happily is a scarce species;"
(Pennant's Synops. of quad., p 180). According to his translator Smellie
(1781), the description was taken from two black cougars exhibited in London
some years previously.
Reported Black Cougars In the United States
In Florida, a few melanistic bobcats exist. They have been caught, and have
also apparently been mistaken for panthers. Ulmer (1941) presents photographs
and descriptions of two animals captured in Martin County in 1939 and 1940. In
the photographs, they appear black, and one of the hunters called them black.
The Academy specimen, upon close examination, is far from black. The most
heavily pigmented portions are the crown and dorsal area. In most lights these
areas appear black, but at certain angles the dorsal strip has a decidedly
mahogany tint. The mahogany colouring becomes lighter and richer on the sides.
The underparts are lightest, being almost ferruginous in color. The chin, throat
and cheeks are dark chocolate-brown, but the facial stripes can be seen clearly.
The limbs are dark mahogany. In certain lights the typical spot-pattern of the
Florida bobcat can be distinctly seen on the side, under parts and limbs. The
Bronx Park animal appears darker and the spots are not visible, although the
poor light in the quarantine cage may have been the reason.
Adult male bobcats are between 28 to 47" long (with a a short bobbed tail),
and are between 18 to 24" high at shoulder height. (Females are slightly
smaller.) Florida Cougars are between 23 to 32" at shoulder height, and between
5 to 7' including tail. Bobcats weight between 16 to 30 pounds, whereas
Florida Cougars are between 50 to 154 pounds.
Another explanation for black Cougar sightings is the Jaguarundi, a cat very
similar genetically to the Cougar, which grows around 65 cm (30 inches) with 45
cm (20 in) of tail. Their coat goes through a reddish-brown phase and a dark
grey phase. While their acknowledged natural range ends in southern Texas, a
small breeding population was introduced to Florida in the 1940's, and there are
rumours of people breeding them as pets there as well - in Central America they
are known as relatively docile pets, as far as non-domesticated animals go.
Jaguarundis hunting territory can extend to 100 km wide for males, and it's
quite possible that very small populations which rarely venture out of deep
forests are responsible for many or most of the sightings. While they are
significantly smaller than a Cougar, differently colour, and much lower to the
ground (many note a resemblance to the weasel), a little memory bias combined
with their secretive nature could explain many of the sightings in the
Another possibility are black Jaguars, who are believed to have ranged North
America in historical memory. Melanistic Jaguars aren't common in nature, and
more importantly, Jaguars themselves were hunted to near extinction in the
'60's. However, while they do not look exactly like Cougars, but they have the
requisite size, and it's conceivable that there could be, for example, a
breeding population hidden in the Louisiana bayou. The Jaguar has had several
photographically confirmed and many unconfirmed sightings in Arizona, New
Mexico, and southwest Texas, but not outside that region.
- ^ Ulmer, Jr., Fred A. 1941. Melanism in the Felidae,
with Special Reference to the Genus Lynx. Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 22, No. 3.
Me too. I have property at exit 81 and have had a big black cat
that looked like the pink panther walk past me. I had a firearm
and a big dog. I had no intention of harming it. The dog just
looked at it, and it did not seem to be worried about us. I have
seen it many times. I was wondering what it was and if it could
i have seen a big black cat @ about 3PM on I 10 going west to
California from Phoenix, Az. in 2009 it was a big black cat
about the size of a large dog and it was along side of the big
road about 50 miles before the state line ... I was thinking I
would not want to be outside of the car w/ a big black cat like
that ... then I read on the internet that big black cats are not
out in that part of the country ... who knows but i seen one ...
they are beautiful animals. there are several panthers living
around my home. i love knowing that an endangered animal lives
so close to me. people get a glance of them every once in a
while. i just love them. - Brandy
I have seen this animal in elk county Kansas, I thought I was
seeing things, it called to a mate then I seen it coming through
the second pasture of the farm, tail straight u. Plenty of game
there, deer, turkey, quail, cows
these animals are amzing! and so is this site.
i needed this information for a speech....boring. but yeah this
is awsome!!!! - trinity
I love all the facts on black panthers
i love the site you gave me a lot of information plus
it's cool real cool. villa
black panthers are th best
I love black panthers:)
im goin to an animal fancy dress club night nd im goin as a
I'm doing a research paper on the Black Panther!
I'm going to pick the black panther as my school mascot.
man they are wickkkkkkeeeddd
good site and thanks for the information about the panther for
err... dude, their WILD!!!!
black panthers are the best!!!! i would love to have one for a
pet! plus, they love to play. sooooo coool-D'Armond
my fovurite animal iz v black panther doe. he iz like well wild
doe!! hiz name iz beyonce
don't count on it jessica
i like this website a lot. i got a lot of things off this page i
Like dinosaurs, I think our posterity will study about these
animals and would be able to know about them only from study
materials. Man has become very greedy. - Chidambaram
I love all these animals! I would never like to see them
gone...and it's such a shame to know that many more breeds of
animals have died off. I wish I could do more to keep them
panthers are the most amazing animals on this planet |
Tiffany Turrill turned me on to the beastiery where every couple of weeks they explore a strange myth-beast to concept. Here's the latest one they put up. Some very interesting artists over there.
Hailing from the rivers and deep lakes of Ireland comes a monster known
as the Dobhar-chu. The name Dobhar-Chu when translated from Celtic
literally means "Water-Hound" and is sometimes confused with its close
cousin the Pooka (Puca) or "Water-horse."The Dobhar-Chu has been
described differently over time but the general consensus is that it
has a very sleek otter like appearance and an enormous dog-like head
with fins like a fish. In some versions of the myth the Dobhar-Chu has a
fish tail and shark teeth will in others it more like a huge
wiry-haired dog with webbed paws.In every version of the story
the Dobhar-chu is a nasty brute you don't want to cross paths with. A
maneater that can grow up to seven feet long the beast has been said to
overturn small boats and eat the unsuspecting fishermen inside. A
Dobhar-Chu might be hard to spot in the water, but it is easy to hear.
Emitting a loud shriek that sounds like the scream of a young woman as
it draws close to its victims.Half-Dog and Half-fish this
monster had its last reported sighting in 2003 but it's legacy continues
in Irish folklore and the enthusiasm of cryptid hunters everywhere. |
Alleged Bigfoot Hairs Go Through DNA Testing
Several hairs allegedly from a yeti were analyzed by scientists in a bid to trace the origins of the elusive cryptid.
Oxford geneticist Bryan Sykes, who made headlines last year for starting the DNA testing on alleged yeti hairs, recovered the samples from the Himalayas. Sykes believes that the Yeti or Bigfoot may belong to an extinct species of polar bears that lived around 40,000 years ago.
Following his theory, he went on to recover several strands of animal hair believed to have originated from the cryptozoological as part of his ongoing project. Sykes, along with several scientists are aiming to solve the mystery behind the creature once and for all by tracing back its origins.
The project took a yearlong of effort to analyze every sample collected by different monster hunting groups and fringe-science researchers known as cryptozoologists. Sykes’ findings were finally published in this week’s issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Academy B.
According to DNA testing, the hair samples he got came from cows, bears, porcupines, horses and an assortment of other mundane species. The project may have reached a roadblock but Sykes is adamant that the outcome of the DNA tests do not disprove the existence of the mysterious creature.
In an interview by NBC News, Sykes says,
“I don’t think this finishes the Bigfoot myth at all,” adding that, “What it does do is show that there is a way for Bigfoot enthusiasts to go back out into the forest and get the real thing.” He finished the interview by saying “The logical step, is we need a live ‘Yeti.’”
True to his words, the geneticist is now preparing for an expedition to the Himalayas. The trip, which will start next year, is aimed at finding live specimens of the elusive polar bear species and getting the creature’s DNA. |
Eevee Catastrophe is the tenth chapter of Zak Saturday's Immortal Love Life. It was first published on January 10, 2016.
Wow. Just wow.
I kissed Zak, again, and he kissed me. I could just scream my head off!
Ok. I’m going a little crazy. But I can’t believe that this is happening, and this soon. I mean, I’ve only known him for about two weeks now. In some ways, this could be bad, but it’s not.
Every time me and Zak see each other there’s always this little spark between us, and it’s been that way ever since we met.
Maybe we’ll get married someday. Ok. I am definitely getting way in over my head.
My mom says that I shouldn’t think that I might marry a guy until I’ve dated him for at least a year, so I’m going to take her advice on that and try to think of something else.
Maybe we’ll have a couple kids. I mean, umm . . . augh. Why is it so damn hard?
I hope I don’t become like those girls at school who think that they’re going to marry their boyfriends whom they just got together with, or their secret crushes, and write his last name next to their first name.
Oooo . . . I wonder how that would sound. Sarah—no. Don’t even think about it.
Maybe if I get some breakfast that’ll help clear my head. So I got out of bed, got dressed, grabbed my sword and scabbard, buckled it around my waist, and left the room.
On my way out, I ran right into Zack—literally—and we both fell to the ground with me on top of him.
“Hey,” he complained. “Watch where you’re going.”
“Sorry,” I told him. “I didn’t expect you to walk by just as I came out the door.”
“Yeah. Same here.”
We both laughed. I stood up from on top of him and held out my hand to him, which he grabbed, and I pulled him up from the floor.
“So, what happened with you and Zak last night?” Zack asked with a mischievous smile on his face.
I blushed. “I’ll tell you later. Right now, I need to clear my head.”
We headed toward the kitchen.
On the way there, we ran into Zak, not literally this time. And, of course, he was wearing his usual clothing with his sword and the claw at his side.
“Good morning, Zak,” I said, blushing again.
“Good morning, Sarah,” he replied, also with a blush.
“Did you sleep alright?”
“I slept great. You?”
“Good. I’m glad.”
I smiled at him, and he smile back. We probably would’ve stared like that for a while if my twin brother hadn’t interrupted.
“What am I, chop liver?” Zack said.
I gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry, Zack.”
“That’s ok. I was actually expecting it.”
I rolled my eyes at him, then turned back to Zak. “We’re going to get some breakfast. Wanna come?”
“Sure,” he replied.
He stood beside me and we continued walking.
Having them both walking on either side of me made me think that they were my body guards, which they kind of were. At least, Zack, anyway.
He’s always protected me from bullies and vice versa. I’d say we’re both pretty lucky to have each other’s back.
“Did you tell him?” Zak whispered to me.
“Not yet,” I whispered back.
“You’re actually going to tell him?”
“Well, just the fact that he’s your brother. I mean, it’s kind of weird.”
“Uh, you two do know that I have super hearing, right?” Zack asked, interrupting our conversation.
I rolled my eyes at him again. “Yes. I do, anyway. But can’t you control it?”
“Yes. But I can still hear you two talking to each other without it.”
We finally got to the kitchen, and once we entered it, we noticed Doc and Drew standing near the counter, enjoying a cup of coffee.
“’Morning, Mom and Dad,” Zak said.
“Good morning, Zak,” Drew said. “And Sarah and Zack. How about you three take a seat?”
We sat down across from them.
“Now, Zak,” Doc started, looking serious. “Your mother and I decided on what punishment to give you for what you did last night . . .”
Ok. Long story short. Zak’s punishment is no TV for a week and some other things, but he didn’t seem to really care that much. But why would he?
I held up my index finger. “What about us?”
“We’ll let your mother decide on that,” Drew said.
I nodded. “Ok.”
“You’ll let their mother decide on what?” my mom asked.
She entered the room, followed by the animals, with Pikachu on her shoulders, as usual.
“Hi, Mom,” I said.
“Hi, Sarah, and hello to the rest of you,” she said. “Now what do you guys mean by ‘We’ll let your mother decide on that’? Decide on what?”
“Our punishment,” Zack said simply.
“Your punishment for what? What did you two do?”
I looked at Zack and we both came to a silent agreement.
“How about we talk about this in private?” I suggested.
“Ok,” Mom said.
Zack and I stood up from our seats, but just before we left the room, I leaned toward Zak. “I’ll meet you outside as soon as I’m done talking to my mom, ok?” I whispered in his ear.
He nodded. “Ok.”
I left the room with my family and we headed down the hallway toward the living room.
Zack and I took turns explaining what happened last night along the way. I decided to leave out the part about me and Zak for now. After we finished, Mom couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ok, well, I don’t really blame you two for helping Zak get rid of him,” she said.
“You don’t?” Zack and I asked, even though we weren’t really surprised.
“No. I’ve always told you two that you don’t have to tolerate someone you don’t like if you don’t want to, especially if that person is pissing you off.”
Zack and I laughed.
We remember a couple times where someone pissed off Mom (most of the time it was our dad), and she gave that person a piece of her mind. (Not literally, of course. Here’s a little advice: don’t ever make our mom mad or you’re gonna get it.)
“So we’re not punished?” I asked.
“Have I ever really punished you before?” Mom replied with another question.
“Then there you go.”
“Ok. Thanks. I think,” Zack said. He turned to me. “So, Sarah, how about you tell us what happened with you and Zak last night?”
He had that mischievous smile on his face again.
“What’s he talking about?” Mom asked me.
I told them every single detail about it, even the couple make out sessions, which was really weird, but they seemed to like it a little bit.
“Wow, Sarah,” Toto said.
I blushed. “I know.
“Good for you,” Honey said.
“Way to go,” Kika said.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Does this mean that you and Zak are dating now?” Chewie asked.
“Umm, I don’t know. I guess so.”
“You’re a hypocrite,” Zack said.
I glared at him. “Shut up.”
“Well, you kind of are.”
“I kind of am, yes.”
“Wait, Zack,” Mom said. “Why are you calling her a hypocrite?”
He looked at me to explain.
I looked at Mom. “I wrote a song about this kind of situation, and in the chorus one line says ‘’Cause I don’t want to fall in love’”
You heard me right. I write songs. It’s kind of my hobby, and I love doing it.
“Oh, ok,” Mom said. “But it doesn’t mean you get to call her that, Zack. I mean, it’s just a song.”
I glared at her. “It’s not just a song. Every song I write means something. I don’t write them just to write them. I write them based on what’s going on in my life or how I feel about something. Every song has a story behind it. At least, every one of my songs do.”
Ok. That may have come out harsher than I meant it to.
“I know,” Mom said calmly. “You’ve told me that a million times before.”
“And I will tell you it a million times again,” I said.
“I’m sure you will. But, Sarah, why would you write a song with the lyrics ‘I don’t want to fall in love’? Why don’t you want to fall in love?”
“Well, for starters, the next line after that is ‘If I ever did that, I think I’d have a heart attack.’”
“Are you having one right now?”
“An emotional one, yes.”
Mom laughed. “Ok. But is that really the only reason you don’t want to fall in love? I mean, falling in love can be a great thing if it’s with the right person.”
“Yeah. At least until you get your heart broken for the first time,” I said.
“Well, I suppose that’s true,” Mom, sounding kind of sad.
“How many times has your heart been broken?”
“And how many times have you fallen in love?”
“Two, technically, three times.”
“Can you describe the other two for us a little bit?” I asked.
“Well, the first one I didn’t really like that much,” Mom said. “I was actually thinking of breaking up with him a few times, because I didn’t like the way he talked to me half the time, so I don’t know why I cared so much when he did it first.”
“Maybe it was because of how he did it,” Amber said.
“Yeah, that’s probably why.”
“How did he break up with you?” I asked.
Mom waved aside the question. “I don’t want to talk about it. But anyway, the second time I fell in love was actually the best time of my life, no offense to your dad.”
“That is, until, he broke your heart?” I asked.
“’Til you broke his heart?” Zack asked.
“No. Our relationship didn’t end that way. It was actually taken away from us.”
Zack and I were confused, but Pikachu and the animals seemed to know exactly what she was talking about, because they gave Mom worried and comforting looks.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I—I can’t talk about it,” Mom said, looking sad.
A look I recognized. I had a feeling I knew who she was talking about.
“Wait,” I said. “Are you talking about that ‘friend’ of yours that Kika and Honey told me about?”
Mom looked surprised, then turned toward Kika and Honey. “You two told her about him?”
“We didn’t tell her his name,” Kika said defensively.
“Yeah,” Honey agreed. “And that he was only your friend.”
“Well, she doesn’t seem to think that he was just my friend,” Mom said.
“Was he?” I asked.
“But you loved him?”
“Yes. In a friendly way.”
“Then why won’t you tell us his name?”
“Because it hurts to say it.”
“Why? Because he didn’t feel the same way about you as you did for him?”
“I said that our love was taken away from us, didn’t I?”
“So he was more that just your friend.”
Mom gritted her teeth. “You either shut up or I’m going to electrocute you.”
Her fists were burning with electricity.
I didn't believe my mom would ever hurt me. Unless I really piss her off, which I am doing right now, and, as I mentioned earlier, you don’t ever want to make her mad or you’re gonna regret it, so I shut up.
She tries to be a good convincing liar, but she doesn’t always succeed.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “You’ve been doing this for the past couple years and it’s just really annoying.”
“It’s ok,” Mom said, not sounding angry anymore. “But I have a right to keep my past a secret if I want to.”
“But I tell you all my secrets.”
“That’s because you want to, not because you have to. There are certain things that you, as my daughter should tell me, and other, less serious things that you don’t necessarily need to tell me either. But I don’t have to do the same with you unless I want to, ok?”
I nodded. I looked down at the floor, feeling guilty about what I just did.
Mom noticed my guilt and looked guilty herself.
“So, you don’t want to fall in love?” she asked me.
I laughed a little bit and looked up at her. “It was meant to be a love song. Not the opposite of one.”
“Oh, yeah, right,” Zack said. “You really think that the first two verses of that song is something you would say in a love song?”
“Well, no, not exactly.”
“Did you write it like ‘I don’t want to fall in love, but I’ll make the exception for you?’” Mom asked.
We all laughed.
“Kind of. Yeah,” I admitted. “But not in those exact words, of course.”
“Can I hear it?” Mom asked.
“I haven’t worked on the music for it yet. Besides, I told Zak that I would meet him outside after I was done here. So can I go?”
Mom nodded. “Go ahead. Are you giving him a sword lesson?”
“Maybe. But first I was thinking of showing him my Pokémon. And speaking of which, I better go get them. See you all later.”
“See ya,” Zack said.
I waved goodbye, then I ran toward my room to get my Pokémon. Or should I say Poké balls, since that’s where they really were. I keep my Poké balls in a purple bag that’s as big as a handbag, but it’s more like a Walkman with a strap that I can buckle around my waist, which I did.
I headed outside to go meet Zak. He was sitting on a log in our usual place when we have our lessons. When he noticed me, he smiled, and I smiled back.
“Hi,” I said once I was just a couple feet from him, then I sat down next to him on the log.
“Hi,” Zak said. “So how did things go with your mom? Are you grounded?”
I shook my head. “No. Our mom doesn’t really blame us for doing that, and she probably would’ve done something similar too.”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Wow. Your mom’s a cool mom.”
“Please don’t say that,” I said, a little too insistently.
“Well, our mom let’s us do things that most parents would never let their kids do, and one time we told a girl about those things and that girl thought our mom was also pretty cool, and she told her mom about it, and her mom told her not to ever speak to me or Zack again.”
“Why?” Zak asked.
“Because her mother thought that we were bad influences. So, one thing led to another, and the girl was mad at her mother, and she said that she wished her mom was like our mom, which, of course, made things worse. Her mom talked to our mom and told her that she was an irresponsible parent who puts her kids in danger, and a lot more happened after that. So the girl moved away and we never heard from her again.”
I let that sink in for a moment. Thinking of that girl again kind if hurt.
“Wow,” was all Zak said.
But, really, what do you say to something like that?
I nodded. “Yeah. After that our mom told us not to tell anyone what she lets us do or something like that could happen again. Now do you understand why I don’t want you to say that our mom is cool?”
He nodded. “Yeah. But just because I think your mom’s cool, doesn’t mean I wish she was my mom. I love my parents, and at times they’re cool themselves, but even when they’re not, I still wouldn’t want to trade either of them for any other parents in the world.”
When I heard him say those words, I couldn’t help but smile. I mean, those are probably the best things you can say in a situation like that, and Zak just came up with them so quickly. It’s amazing.
He always seems to know exactly what to say and when to say it—well, sometimes—and I like that about him.
“What?” Zak asked me, noticing the way I was smiling at him.
I gave a hug.
“What?” he asked again, smiling a little bit himself.
I pulled away a little bit. “That is so sweet. You obviously really love your parents, and it’s really cute.”
“Umm, thanks,” he said. “But I don’t just love my parents. I also love my pets, my brothers, Fiskerton, Komodo, and Zon.”
“I can tell you do.”
I gave him a kiss.
“So, Zak,” I said. “I was wondering if maybe you would like to meet my Pokémon?”
“Sure,” he said. “How many do you have?”
“Umm, thirteen. But I only have eleven of them with me right now. The other two are at home.”
He nodded. “Ok.”
I grabbed the bag from around my waist, pulled out three Poké balls, enlarged them, threw them up in the air, and out came Charizard, Plusle, and Latias.
I grabbed Zak’s hand and pulled him over to meet them. Plusle jumped onto my shoulder like she always does when I let her out of her out.
“Zak, this is Plusle,” I introduced. “Plusle, meet Zak.”
“Hi, Plusle,” he greeted her, and she greeted him back with a wave of her hand, or paw.
“She’s an electric type, so she mostly uses electricity.”
I nodded. “Yes. And you’ve already met Charizard and Latias, the fire/flying and dragon/psychic type.”
“They’re really cool.”
Charizard growled at Zak, and he looked like he was about to attack him.
“Charizard, don’t,” I told him.
He stopped, but continued to glare at Zak.
I turned to him. “Sorry. Charizard tends to get jealous when he sees me around other boys.”
“Does he have a crush on you?” Zak asked.
“Umm, yeah. You could say that.”
I grabbed their Poké balls and returned them to theirs. I put them back in the bag and grabbed out the other eight, threw them in the air, and out came the eight evolved forms of Eevee.
They greeted me like dogs by jumping at me. I gestured for all of them to form a line in front of me and Zak, which they did.
“Zak, this is the rest of my Pokémon,” I said. “The Eevee team.”
“Cool,” he said.
I pointed to each of them while telling their names and type one at a time. “This is Espeon, a psychic type; Jolteon, an electric; Vaporeon, a water; Flareon, a fire; Leafon, a grass; Glaceon, an ice; Sylveon, a fairy; and Umbreon, a dark. Guys, this is Zak.”
They all greeted him the same as they did me, which I thought was cute.
“They’re all very friendly,” I said.
“Obviously,” Zak said as he petted them, then laughed when they jumped on him.
I laughed too, then joined them.
Zak tried to stand up, but the Eevees just kept knocking him back down. Eventually he was able to stand up, but when he tried to get out of the center of their circle, all hell broke loose.
Jolten suddenly howled in pain, then used Thunderbolt, which shocked every one of us and caused a chain reaction with the other eevees, and they, too, started to use their own powers.
“Stop, guys! It was an accident.” I tried telling them, but they all ignored me.
Worse thing about this: me and Zak were in the middle of it all.
Zak pulled me out of the way when Flareon used Flamethrower; then Glaceon with Ice Beam. We made it to the edge of the woods where we were least likely to be hit with any of their attacks.
“Why did Jolteon howl in pain like that?” I asked, sounding a little scared.
Zak looked worried. “I think I accidentally stepped on its tail.”
“Jolteon is the only one that doesn’t have a tail. You must’ve stepped on her paw. Either way, it was an accident. I gotta find a way to stop them from continuing to hurt each other.” I thought for a moment. “Maybe I should put them back in their Poké Balls.”
I moved my hand to my waist where my bag was, but it wasn’t there.
“Where’s my bag?” I asked.
Zak pointed over to it.
It was lying on the ground about forty feet away. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the chaos. I had to get to it.
“Stay here,” I told Zak.
I started heading for it, but Zak put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “Sarah, it’s too risky.”
“What other choice do we have?”
He stayed silent.
I looked him over and noticed something hanging from his belt that could be helpful. “The claw. Do you think you can slingshot it over to my bag and bring it back to us?”
“I can try,” he said.
He grabbed it, aimed it, pressed the button on it, and it shot over to my bag.
The good news: the claw made it to the bag and grabbed on to it. The bad news: Jolteon’s Thunderbolt hit it, climbing up the cable back toward the base.
“Drop it!” I told Zak.
I knocked it out of his hand and pushed him away just in time before the Thunderbolt got to the other end and electrocuted him.
Surprisingly, my bag didn’t seem to be damaged in any way. I wish I could say the same for the claw. It burned when the electricity hit it, so all that was left of it was a pile of ash.
The look on Zak’s face was priceless.
He looked about ready to cry (boy, he was way too attached to his, now burned, claw), which I would’ve found funny if I wasn’t horrified at my Pokémon trying to kill each other.
I needed to stop them and only Mom would know how.
Zak was still staring at his burned claw.
“Pull it together, Zak,” I told him. “We need to get my mom. Do you know any other way to get inside your house?”
He shook out of his daze, then nodded. “Yeah. Follow me.”
He led to the other side of the house and I noticed another door. I grabbed his hand and we bolted inside.
We ran through a few hallways, but I’m not sure where my mom could be. We went down another hallway, but stopped when we noticed some animals were fighting with each other.
“Komodo?” he asked. “What kind of cryptids are those? Or are they Pokémon too?”
Komodo was having a fight with two black dogs.
I knew who they were, but I don’t know why he let them out in a place they weren’t familiar with and didn’t keep an eye on them since they’re known to be vicious with other animals.
“Pokémon,” I said. “My twin brother’s, to be exact. Come on. We’ll save Komodo too. Komodo, turn invisible!”
He didn’t seem to hear me. I’m gonna kill Zack if they kill him.
We continued down the hallway toward the living room.
Hopefully, my mom was there. And thank God, she was, and so were Zak’s parents, and the animals.
“Mom, I need help,” I said.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I told her about the eevees and how Zak accidentally stepped on Jolteon’s paw, causing him to use Thunderbolt, shocking the other eevees and making them go berserk.
Mom nodded. “Ok.”
Zack ran into the room, out of breath. “Mom, do you know where—”
“Down the hall,” I interrupted, pointing in that direction.
He didn’t even ask how I knew what he was going to ask. “Thanks.” And down the hall he went.
“What was that about?” Mom asked me.
“On the way here, we saw Mightyena and Houndoom with Komodo,” I explained. “And it did not look friendly.”
Mom sighed. “Ok. You guys should train your Pokémon just a little better.”
She was probably right about that.
She stood up from the couch where she was sitting. “Alright. Let’s go stop your Pokémon from continuing to kill each other.” She turned toward Pikachu, who was sitting on the back of the couch. “Pikachu, I’m going to need your help with this.”
“Pika,” she said, which probably meant “Ok.”
She jumped onto Mom’s shoulder.
“Where are the eevees?” Mom asked.
We led her outside to the place where they were. They were still fighting with each other.
“Pikachu,” Mom said. “You know what to do.”
Pikachu jumped off her shoulder and stood about ten feet from us. She used her electricity, releasing it all around her, hitting every one of the eevees.
All of them stopped their attacks and collapsed.
Well, all of them except Jolteon, since his special ability is Volt Absorb, and Leafon too, since electric types don’t work well against grass, but they stopped attacking.
“Eevees, come here, please,” Mom called them.
They came toward her and sat align in front of her.
“You guys are all friends,” Mom told them. “And just because one of you used your power on all of you accidentally, doesn’t mean you get to attack back. Now promise me that neither of you will ever cause something like this to happen again, ok?”
All the eevees, except for Jolteon, said something, then nodded.
Jolteon said something, then looked accusingly at Zak.
“I know he did,” Mom told him. “But it was an accident, Jolteon.”
Jolteon didn’t seem to care that it was accident, so he just snorted and turned his head away.
Mom sighed, then turned toward me. “Sarah, put them back in their Poké balls, please.”
Leafon went to pick up my bag and brought it to me.
I gladly took it. “Thank you, Leafeon.”
I returned all of them to their Poké balls.
“Stubborn Pokémon,” Mom said.
“Jolteon is known to be like that,” I said.
“I know. But does he have to be that way?”
I just shrugged.
Pikachu climbed back onto Mom’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Pikachu,” Mom told her.
Mom turned back toward me and Zak. “Well, you two have fun.”
“Wait, Mom,” I said. “Before you go, can you fix Zak’s claw for me?” I gestured to the pile of ash near the tree.
“Of course,” she said.
She held out her hand and summoned the ash to her. She turned it back into the claw and handed it to Zak, who looked very relieved that he got his baby back. That’s right. I called it his baby, because that’s how he seems to treat it.
“Thank you, Raylee,” he said. Then he hung it back on his belt.
“You’re very welcome,” Mom said. “I’ll see you guys later.”
She and Pikachu headed inside.
I turned to Zak. “Zak, I’m really sorry about the way my Pokémon were acting.”
“It’s ok, Sarah. You don’t have to apologize. It wasn’t your fault. So, your brother has Pokémon too?”
“Well, if I do, he does too.”
“How many does he have?”
“Four less than you?”
“Yeah. I like really cute Pokémon.”
“What kind of Pokémon does he have?”
“Most of them are dogs. He really likes dogs. Six dogs, three of them are special kinds of dog Pokémon, and his other three are like the first three of mine that I showed you. Minun, which is Plusle’s brother. Latios, Latias’ brother. And he also has his own Charizard.”
“Is it related to yours?” Zak asked.
“No. They’re just friends,” I said
“Ok. So what do you want to do now?”
“How about we go inside?”
We walked inside and went toward the living room.
It’s funny how the day ends so quickly, even though it feels like it just started. Outside, the sun was about to set.
When we got to the living room, everybody was just sitting around chatting with each other. I noticed Komodo and Zack sitting near the window, and I ran toward them. I looked over Komodo, but he didn’t seem to be burned or injured at all.
“He’s not hurt,” Zack said.
“He better not be,” I said. “Why did you let them out of their Poké balls? You know how they are.”
“I know. I was training with them. They noticed Komodo and chased him.”
Komodo bumped his head against my hand.
I was going to rub his hand when I noticed that both of my hands were glowing bright red.
My eyes widened, then I turned to my mom. “Umm, Mom?”
“Well, it’s about time,” she said. “Do you know what that means?”
“That my powers have activated?”
She nodded. “Yes. Do you want to try one right now?”
“Ok. Which element do you want to learn first?”
I thought about for a moment. My hands were still glowing red, so I thought of an element that is that color. “Fire.”
“Alright,” Mom said. “Now hold out your hand. Close your eyes and think of anything involving fire. Then imagine all of that fire in the palm of your hand.”
I did as she told me and closed my eyes. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard to think of fire.
I just thought of the times I’ve seen Zack use his fire powers, then the tip of Charizard’s tail and his and Flareon’s Flamethrower, and imagined it all in my hand.
When I opened my hand it was completely covered in flames, and it didn’t burn my hand one bit. I flicked my hand and the fire went out.
“Cool,” I said.
“The more you do it, the more easier it’ll be to summon,” Zack said.
I nodded. Of course it’ll become easier to use my powers eventually.
“We can start tomorrow,” Mom said.
“Ok,” I said.
These past few days have been really great (minus the eevees trying to kill each other). First, Zak becomes my boyfriend; and second, my powers finally activated.
I couldn’t wait to learn how to use them tomorrow.
Unfortunately, Sarah might not be able to learn her powers right away tomorrow.
My mom and dad announced that we were going to go find a cryptid tomorrow in Africa, so we decided to spend the night in the airship while it takes us there.
It was almost 11:30 pm Eastern Time and everybody was probably asleep by now.
I was lying in bed and was wide awake. I knew a new episode of Weird World was about to come on, so I had already decided a while ago that I would get up and watch it.
I woke up Komodo, who sleeps on the foot of my bed every single night, and he likes watching that show too.
“Come on, Komodo,” I told him.
He got down from the bed and followed me out the door, turning himself invisible in the process.
Before heading to the control room where the TV was, I went to Sarah’s room, thinking that maybe she might want to watch it with me.
When I entered the room, Sarah was sound asleep on the bed. She looks really cute even when she sleeps. I almost hated myself for waking her up.
“Sarah,” I whispered in her ear. “Sarah.”
She groaned a little bit before she finally opened her eyes.
She was surprised to see me, then sighed in relief. “Zak, what the hell are you doing in here? I almost sliced your head off.” I noticed her sword was lying on the bed next to her and she was gripping the hilt of it.
“It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve almost done just that,” I muttered. “You sleep with your sword?”
“Hey, you never know when something might happen,” she said defensively. “At least this way, I’m prepared for anything.” She had a good point there. “Now why the hell did you wake me up?”
“To see if maybe you wanted to watch Weird World with me,” I replied.
“Oh, ok. But why?”
“Just to see if you like it or not.”
“Aren’t you grounded from watching TV?”
“This wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve broken my punishment.”
“That I believe. Alright.”
She pushed the covers off of herself and climbed out of bed. I took her hand and we left the room.
“Let’s go check on my parents before we head to the control room,” I said.
“What about Zack?” Sarah asked.
“What about him?”
“Hey, if I’m gonna watch this then he is too. You go check on your parents while I go get him and we’ll meet you there, ok?”
“Ok. Try not to fall asleep.”
She glared at me, then went down the hallway. I went down the other way.
I heard my parents in the back of the airship. I sneaked closer toward the entrance. Mom and Dad were having a late night combat practice. They probably wouldn’t hear us watching TV.
I was about to go back when a thought occurred to me: Where’s Komodo?
“You still with me, Komodo?” I whispered.
He appeared right in front of me and licked my face.
“Good boy. Get ready . . . now.”
We ran toward the control room.
Sarah and Zack were already there, waiting for me, and so were Zon and Fiskerton.
“I hate you right now,” Zack told me.
I just laughed. “You two really like your sleep. And Sarah was the one that wanted to wake you up, not me.”
“Yeah, but since you woke her up, she woke me up, so it’s really your fault.”
“Alright, guys,” Sarah said, stepping between us. “Let’s just watch this damn show so that we all can go back to bed.”
“Fine,” Zack said.
I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, then I sat down on the only chair in there. Sarah sat on the armrest of it, and Zack just sat on the floor.
Fisk hung down from the ceiling.
“Hey, Fisk,” I said. “Got the popcorn?”
He produced a bag of it in his hand. Is this sufficient?
I put my hand over his mouth. “Quiet. Dad would kill me if he knew we were up here watching this.”
The episode started and I cheered. “Here we go.”
A few minutes into the show, Sarah almost fell over, but I caught her.
“Are you alright?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Yeah. I’m just really tired.”
“How about you sit on my lap?”
That seemed to wake her up fully. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. It’s ok.”
She sat down on my lap carefully and nervously, then leaned against me while I wrapped an around her waist and pulled her closer.
We turned back to the TV screen.
Argost was talking about some kingdom named Kumari Kandam and how it sank into the depths of the Indian Ocean, kind of like Atlantis.
“You woke me up to watch this crap?” Sarah asked me.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m guessing you don’t like it?”
“It’s just so . . . weird.”
“That’s probably why it’s called Weird World,” Zack said.
“Well, obviously. I just couldn’t come up with a better word.”
We watched the rest of the episode, and when it was over, I realized Sarah was asleep.
“I’ll take her back to bed,” I said.
“Ok,” Zack said, looking really tired, then left the room.
I picked Sarah up, which wasn’t easy since she was sitting on my lap, but I eventually managed and carried her to her room with Komodo following close behind.
I laid her down on her bed and pulled the covers over her.
I didn’t realize how tired I was until just then. I was worried that I was going to fall asleep before I got back to my room, which would definitely prove to Mom and Dad that I snuck out to watch TV if they found me.
So I decided to stay with Sarah for the rest of the night. That shouldn’t hurt, right?
I climbed onto the bed, went under the covers, and pulled Sarah close to me. Komodo laid on the foot of the bed, as always.
I fell asleep the instant my head hit the pillows.
Based on some of the lyrics that were given, what is the name of the song that Sarah wrote, and who sings it?
Please review here.
- Fiskerton Saturday
- Komodo Saturday
- Zon Saturday
- Pikachu Hollinger
- Shillow Hollinger
- Amber Hollinger
- Kimbia Hollinger
- Chewie Hollinger
- Toto Hollinger
- Kika Hollinger
- Honey Hollinger
- Sarah's powers activate. |
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The Nandi Bear are terrifying bear-like creature that preys on other animals that lives in Western Kenya. Some have speculated that the Nandi beast may be a giant hyena. Others have speculated that the Nandi Bear is a living Chalicothere. Legend has it that the Nandi beast feasts on its victim’s brain. The first reporting came from the 19th century. Since then, natives have been reporting stories of their sightings.
The Nahuelito is a lake monster that allegedly lives in Nahuel Huapi Lake, Patagonia, Argentina. The story and description is very similar to the Loch Ness Monster. It is said to be a serpent with large humps. Reportings were as early as the last decades of the 20th century. Like many other lake monsters around the world, the Nahuelito is said to be the plesiosaur.
The Monster of the Bray Road is from a quiet country road near Elkhorn. Sightings first occurred in 1936. The amount of sightings increased in the late 1980s to early 1990s which prompted local newspaper, The Walsworth Count Week, to cover the story. A book was written by reporter Linda Godfrey about the creature. It is described to be a werewolf.
The Mngwa is a nocturnal feline that allegedly inhabits the East African country of Tanzania. It is described to be a ferocious creature with dark fur and purported to be about the size of a donkey. Sightings of this animal can be traced back to the early 1900s. British scientific journal “Discovery” discussed this animal in an issue published in 1938. British administrator, William Hichens, claimed that numerous natives had been attacked by the Mngwa.
Minnie Quay is a ghost that allegedly haunts the eastern region of Michigan also known as Forester. Today the township is named Forester Township. The legend say that Minnie Quay was approximately 15 years old when she fell in love with a sailor whose ship was docked in Forester for business. The identity of the sailor is unknown.. Minnie was warned against pursuing an affair with the young sailor and her mother fervently disapproved. Unfortunately, the love affair did not last long as the the ship left in early spring of 1876. Heartbroken, she walked to the pier and jumped off into Lake Huron. Eyewitnesses claim that Minnie’s ghost roams the beaches of Forester in search of her lover.
Melon heads is a legend from originally from Michigan, but variations of the story also exists in Ohio and Connecticut. The Melon heads of Michigan reside around Felt Mansion and are usually sighted near Ottawa County. They are purportedly children with the condition hydrocephalus who lived in unction Insane Asylum near Felt Mansion. Legends say that when and if the children were to be physically or mentally abused, they would turn into a mutant and run away to live in the forests around the asylum. Officials claim that no such asylum existed in the county, although there had been a prison.
The Mamlambo is a mythological deity from South Africa and Zulu. It is described to be a giant serpent creature. The first reports of the mamlambo’s existence came in 1997 when South African newspapers reported on alleged sightings of a giant snake monster in the Mzintlava River near Mount Ayliff.
The monster purportedly killed at least nine people in the village. Villagers claimed that the creature was 67 feet long, with large horse-like torso, fish body, short legs, and snake neck. Its body shines with a green light in the night. The description is said to be very similar to the Mosasaur which some have purported that the mamlambo may be a living dinosaur.
The Maltese tiger is a cryptid tiger reported in the Fujijan Province of China. It is described to have blue fur with dark gray stripes. The markings are said to be strikingly beautiful. In 1910, an American missionary named Harry Caldwell claimed to have hunted a blue tiger outside of Fuzhou. He later chronicled his experience in his book Blue Tiger (1924). “The markings of the beast are strikingly beautiful. The ground colour is of a delicate shade of maltese, changing into light gray-blue on the underparts. The stripes are well defined and like those of the ordinary yellow tiger.—Caldwell, Chapman (1925)”
Lusca is a sea monster that inhabits the Carribean. It is said that the lusca may be a giant octopus, far larger than any known documented giant octopuses in world record. Many reports come from the Bahamas. The first reporting came from 1896 on the Florida coast. The latest reporting came on January 18, 2011 when an unidentified body of what appears to be a very large octopus washed ashore on Grand Bahama Island. Locals estimated that the body was approximately 20 to 30 feet long.
The Lusca is commonly believed to be over 75 feet to 200 feet long. They are also said to have the ability to change its colors.
The Loch Ness Monster is arguably the most famous cryptic in history. It inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Accounts of its description varies, although most agree on its large size. Its popularity started in 1933 when sightings were reported. To this day, there are still only minimal and controversial evidence.
Most accounts of its existence have been disproven to be hoax.
There is a darkness inside us. Some suppress it. Others dwell in it. The net is the reflection of humanity. Explore it, and you will discover all we are… both light and dark. The light can be found everywhere, but it is the dark which fascinates us. We are drawn to it. This site is a doorway to the dark… if what you find passing through here disturbs you, there is no need to return. If you can resist… |
April 21, 1977. Dover, Massachusetts, America. A quiet and rural community. 10:30 at night. Three 17-year-olds, Andy Brodie, Bill Bartlett and Mike Mazzocca are driving down Farm Street. Suddenly, Bartlett spots something silently creeping on two legs along a low wall running parallel to the road. Must be a cat. Or maybe a dog. But then his headlights glance over the creature and what he sees is unlike anything he’s ever seen before…
The creature, between three and four feet tall, turns its egg-shaped head slowly and stares at the young men with its two large, round, glassy, lidless eyes. They shine brightly like ‘two orange marbles’. It has a watermelon shaped head atop a thin neck. Its body also thin, with a bloated belly and long spindly arms and legs, plus large hands and feet. It has no hair on its peach coloured skin, skin that feels like ‘wet sandpaper’.
The creature fled. Bartlett sketched what he saw. He was the only one to see it. It frightened him. But only one and a half hours later, there was another sighting.
Midnight. 15-year-old John Baxter says goodbye to his girlfriend Cathy Cronin. Whilst walking home, he saw something approaching him. A short figure. Baxter called out but the creature did not respond. In the darkness, Baxter couldn’t see what the shadowy figure was. He took one step forward but the creature ran. Baxter gave chase, fearing the creature was a lost deformed local boy. He eventually sighted the creature leaning against a tree.
Baxter thought the body of the creature was akin to that of a monkey, except its head. It stared at Baxter, a gaze that made him feel uneasy. He decided to flee and draw what he had seen. What he drew closely resembled what Bartlett saw, including those big orange eyes.
The next day, again at midnight, 18-year-old Will Tiantor, a close friend of Bartlett, was driving 15-year-old Abby Brabham home when they saw the creature. They described it as ape-like, yet with a large head with no nose, ears or mouth. It was hairless and its skin was a light tan or beige colour. Frightened, the two drove off quickly…
This was the final encounter. Tiantor and Brabham drew what they saw and it closely resembled the two other sightings, except Tiantor was adamant the eyes were green, a discrepancy often explained by the reflection of light.
Investigators descended on Dover and concluded the sightings were not hoaxes. They agreed that there was something mysterious wandering the lands of Dover. Some think it’s a fox, a dog or even a baby moose or calf. Many locals agree the teenage witnesses are reliable, honest and upstanding citizens. They weren’t smoking or drinking. They are good people, who were not known for their pranks. And to this day, they stand by what they saw. The sightings may have only covered three separate incidents, but 38 years later, many locals still wonder what those sightings were. They still wonder if the mysterious creature is still around. The town of Dover has become famous for this demon. But whatever it is, or was, will probably forever remain a mystery.
So I’ll give this creature a 60 on my patented Cryptid-o-Meter, putting it third bottom in the list with the Lake Worth Monster still bottom and the Beast of Exmoor still holding top spot.
The Dover Demon. A fascinating cryptid indeed.
1) An artist’s impression of the Dover Demon (credit: cryptidz.wikia.com)
2) Another artist’s impression of the Dover Demon (credit: monster.wikia.com)
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How to Become a Vampire in Real Life and Why You Should Think Twice
What is a Vampire?
What makes a vampire? Is someone born that way or do they choose the vampire lifestyle? Or, do you become a vampire through some strange turn of events?
In our modern culture we seem to be in the midst of some kind of vampire golden age. Apparently there are a lot of folks out there who think vampires are pretty cool. So cool, in fact, that countless people today are seeking ways to get closer to living the vampire life.
This may be thanks in part to certain trendy pop-fiction YA novels and their corresponding motion-picture treatments. But most vampires throughout history were not brooding, angst-ridden teens with perfectly quaffed hair. Real vampires were pretty nasty characters, and turning into a vampire was, at one time, a very unfortunate life event.
How did vampires go from loathed to lauded? Stephanie Meyer wasn’t the first to fiddle with the vampire definition. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, kicked off the modern interpretation of vampires guised as charming, if somewhat enigmatic, gentlemen.
But it was Anne Rice who launched vampires into a new dimension, making them way sexier, way cooler, and somehow even more mysterious. Her 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire is perhaps the greatest vampire story ever told, sweeping through two centuries of an immortal life. The film that followed, starring Tom Cruise and a young Brad Pitt, solidified the vampire mystique.
So, fiction might make the vampire life seem exciting and unique, but on the other hand people don’t dig up someone’s casket and jam a stake through their heart without good reason. Before Twilight, before Ann Rice, and even before Dracula, the vampire legend struck fear into the hearts of people from all different cultures around the world. Is there any truth to these ancient myths, and, if so, are you sure you really want to be a vampire?
Before you answer, read on.
Real Vampire Stories and Legends
Many people cite a real historical figure as the inspiration behind the modern vampire legend. In the 15th century, in the country of Wallachia, there lived a nobleman with a particularly bad reputation and a habit of impaling his enemies on the ends of tall stakes.
Some say he even consumed their blood along with his meals. This gentleman became known as Vlad the Impaler following his death, but while he lived he was called Vlad the Third, Prince of Wallachia. His father, Vlad the Second, was known by the name Dracul, which would have made Vlad the Third Dracula.
So, there really was a real-life Dracula whom Bram Stoker based some of his character around. But Vlad the Impaler was far more menacing than Stoker’s Dracula.
The vampire legend goes much deeper: In Eastern Europe in particular the belief took a strong foothold. In 1726 a Serbian farmer named Arnold Paole passed away, only to be spotted days later wandering around his village, now sporting fangs and a thirsty look in his eyes. Hysteria ensued of course, and the villagers dug up his body only to find it had not decayed, which led to the wooden-stake vampire cure.
Such too was the case with Peter Plogojowitz, another Serbian who took on the unfortunate post-mortem accusation of vampirism. In both situations, authorities documented eye-witness accounts and supervised the unearthing and staking of the offending undead.
Real Vampires in America and Around the World
The vampire phenomenon spread to America as well. In 1892 the body of a New England woman named Mercy Brown was exhumed after two months in the ground upon accusations of vampirism. When her corpse showed no signs of decomposition, the appropriate anti-vampire actions were taken.
While these accounts represent the best-documented cases of real-world vampires, stories date back to antiquity. The Greeks and Romans both had legends of vampire-like creatures, as did the Persians, Babylonians and Hebrews. In some cases these entities are similar to the undead vampires we are accustomed to, such as the Vetala of Hindu folklore. In other cases they are demonic beings, with no earthy tether.
Even in very recent times we see the reinvention of the vampire myth in creatures like the horrifying Chupacabra.
From Europe to Africa, from South America to the British Isles, tales of vampires go back to ancient times. Could this mean the vampire phenomenon is more than a legend?
Anne Rice Talks About the Modern Vampire Fad
So How Do You Become a Vampire?
If vampires are indeed real, where do they come from? Since we can’t possibly explore every culture’s explanation for how vampires come about, let’s consider the most common Western-world definition.
While this is up for considerable debate, consensus opinion is that to become a vampire you must somehow entangling yourself with someone who is already a vampire. However it hashes out, the point is it involves an interaction with a real vampire. You can't make yourself a vampire, or simply decide you are one. You must be chosen.
Some people claim you can be born a vampire, which is a theoretically intriguing idea. This implies that vampires are another race of hominid, which means they must have evolved along a very similar line as humans, and preyed upon humans throughout history. Like Vampire Bats, they would have evolved to exist on blood instead of solid food.
This is extremely implausible, but interesting to ponder. Of course it eliminates the supernatural aspects of vampire lore.
But by most accounts the transformation from human to vampire is a supernatural occurrence. This presents several problems, not the least of which is locating an actual, real-life vampire who is able and willing to transform you. (Hint: That weird guy down at the comic book store with the pale skin who says he’s a vampire almost definitely is not.)
Certainly there are a lot of people around today who claim they are true vampires, but take a logical look at this for a moment: If you were really a vampire, how would you live your life?
Would you announce it to everyone? Would you put up a blog telling everyone about it, or brag about it in on social media? Would you tell your schoolmates, or your coworkers? Would you tell anyone?
You would be wise to be suspicious of anyone who so boldly claims to be a vampire. A vampire in today’s world would have to be among the most careful and secretive of creatures. We’re talking about an undead being that may have been around for hundreds of years, a predator of humans that probably has to do some pretty awful things to get what it needs.
Such a creature could only survive by keeping its true nature a secret, and tracking down such a thing would be almost impossible. Thus, going out at night in search of vampires would be pointless.
The odds are against it, but your one hope would be to encounter a vampire by accident. Then what?
Living the Vampire Life
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of being a vampire. Of course there are many different beliefs surrounding the natural and supernatural rules governing vampires, and you probably won’t really know what you’re in for until it’s too late. Nevertheless, the following thoughts are based around the traditional vampire stereotype:
- Lack of food options (Con): There’s only one item on the menu: blood. In the mood for a cheeseburger? Too bad. And where do you get all this blood? Taking it from humans is unethical not to mention illegal. Blood bank? No. They have their hands full supplying hospitals and don’t have the time or resources to bother with vampires. There are probably a few unscrupulous and unpleasant ways you can imagine getting it, but after a while it would all get to be quite a hassle. Remember, this is something you’re going to have to keep up until the end of time. Speaking of living forever. . .
- Immortality (Con): Living forever sounds like fun, but you’d better be careful. We humans have enough trouble keeping ourselves in one piece for 80 years or so. Can you imagine how tough it would be to avoid getting yourself seriously injured for hundreds of years? As a vampire you’ll have superhuman strength, speed and reflexes, but eventually bad luck would catch up to you and you’d end up damaging a bodypart you’re going to need for the next thousand years. Let's hope those super regenerative powers come through for you. Also, being immortal means you’ll have to stand by and watch everyone you care about grow old and pass on, over and over again.
- Aversion to sunlight (Con): Say goodbye to the beach. As a vampire you’re not going out in the sunshine ever again. Ever. Certainly there are mortal humans who don’t like to spend much time in the sun, but as an undead bloodsucker it’ll kill you. Will you have to sleep in a coffin? There seems no practical reason for this as long as you keep your sleeping quarters dark enough, but whatever makes you happy. The plus side is that you’ll have a much lesser chance of developing melanoma.
- Shape-shifting (Pro): This is one of the better reasons to be a vampire. Traditionally, vampires change into bats and flap around spying on people. Boring! We can assume you’ll be able to use your powers to transform into all kinds of different things. Have fun with it, and try to think outside the box.
- Public opinion (Pro now, Con later): Right now you might not think it would be a bad idea to let other people know if you become a vampire, but what happens in a hundred years or so when this current vampire-pop craze has long died down? In the past, letting people know you're a vampire meant a visit from a mob of angry villagers wielding torches and pitchforks, not a mob of screaming teenage girls. Historically, local communities have not been supportive of vampires living among them.
Still Want to Convert to Vampirism?
As you can see, the odds of becoming a real-life vampire are astronomically slim, and even if you do there are far more negatives to the vampire life than there are positives. But perhaps you are still interested in the vampire thing, even though you don’t feel like enduring centuries of hardship and suffering. You may be in luck!
Around the world today there are pockets of vampire culture strewn about. These people know they aren’t really undead, but they choose to exist in a way that they feel reflects the vampire lifestyle. They range widely in their beliefs, from the peaceful and deeply spiritual folks to those you really ought to stay away from.
There is nothing wrong with immersing yourself in an alternative lifestyle, as long as you do it safely and wisely and never lose sight of the line between make-believe and reality. Never engage in anything that seems unsafe or illegal, and never do anything that could bring harm to another person (including you). If you encounter people who seem like they are taking things too far, get away from them. Bottom line: Use your head, and if people seem like trouble, they probably are.
As far as becoming a real vampire, unless you get nabbed by one while you’re out for a stroll one dark night the odds aren’t in your favor. But if it happens, and you have a choice, think long and hard. That skinny kid from Twilight might make it look pretty cool, with all those pensive glances and whatnot, but the life of a real vampire is no doubt a curse, and a sentence to endless nights of sorrow.
Do you think vampires are depicted accurately in books, movies and television?
© 2012 cryptid |
In the days before “Monsters Underground” was scheduled to premiere on the cable channel Destination America — Aug. 22 — I received word from the channel’s publicist that it was a no-go, and that she’d be able to announce a new premiere time as soon as details became available.
While it certainly sounded like the show’s debut was just being delayed a little bit, whenever a program is hauled off the air at the last moment, it does make you worry.
“Monsters Underground,” as you may know from reading about it here in the Bangor Daily News, is a reality show following a team of cave-diving cryptid hunters led by Bill Brock, of Durham, Maine, and including former Portland doctor Casey Onik.
Among the fantastical creatures Brock, a longtime Bigfoot researcher, seeks out in the show are the bat-like Olitiau in Arizona and the one-eyed sloth-like Mapinguari in California.
Well, now it appears the scheduling change was a good thing for the “Monsters Underground” team. Instead of a premiere on somewhat more fringe channel Destination America, the show will debut on Thursday night on the more mainstream Discovery Channel, with two episodes to air at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., respectively.
The publicist was not able to say at this point when future episodes will air, but the channel change will result in a big jump in potential exposure for the show right off the bat. Discovery is the reportedly the second most-widely distributed cable channel in the United States — behind TBS — and reaches 409 million households worldwide.
Destination America, which is in the Discovery family of sub-channels, reaches about 60 million U.S. viewers, by comparison. Even if the move to Discovery is temporary, it should serve to create legions more fans of the show than if it premiered on just about any other channel.
On Thursday night, Buck’s Naked BBQ at 50 Wharf St. in Portland will hold a viewing party for the premieres of “Monsters Underground” and an associated “Temp Tales: Crittah Gittahz” cartoon by the guys from the well-known O’Chang Comics team. Doors open at 8 p.m. |
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Published on Sep 23, 2012
The Chupacabra or Chupacabras (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾa], from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat", literally "goat sucker") is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico (where these sightings were first reported), Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities.The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats.
Physical descriptions of the creature vary. Eyewitness sightings have been claimed as early as 1995 in Puerto Rico, and have since been reported as far north as Maine, and as far south as Chile, and even being spotted outside the Americas in countries like Russia and The Philippines. It is supposedly a heavy creature, the size of a small bear, with a row of spines reaching from the neck to the base of the tail.
Sighting reports of the Chupacabra have been disregarded as uncorroborated or lacking evidence, while most reports in northern Mexico and the southern United States have been verified as canids afflicted by mange. Biologists and wildlife management officials view the chupacabra as a contemporary legend. A new research by Benjamin Radford concluded that the description given by the original eyewitness in Puerto Rico, Madelyne Tolentino, was based on the creature Sil in the science-fiction horror film Species. The alien creature Sil is nearly identical to Tolentino's chupacabra eyewitness account and she had seen the movie before her report: "It was a creature that looked like the chupacabra, with spines on its back and all... The resemblance to the chupacabra was really impressive," Tolentino reported. Radford revealed that Tolentino "believed that the creatures and events she saw in Species were actually happening in reality in Puerto Rico at the time," and therefore concludes that "the most important chupacabra description cannot be trusted." This, Radford believes, seriously undermines the credibility of the chupacabra as a real animal.
In addition, the reports of blood-sucking by the chupacabra were never confirmed by a necropsy, the only way to conclude that the animal was drained of blood. An analysis by a veterinarian of 300 reported victims of the chupacabra found that they had not been bled dry.
Radford divided the chupacabra reports into two categories: The reports from Puerto Rico and Latin America where animals where attacked and it is supposed their blood was extracted. The reports in the United States of mammals, mostly dogs and coyotes with mange, that people call "chupacabra" due to their unusual appearance.
In late October 2010, University of Michigan biologist Barry O'Connor concluded that all of the 'chupacabras' reports in the United States were simply coyotes infected with the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei, the symptoms of which would explain most of the features of the chupacabras: they would be left with little fur, thickened skin, and rank odour. O'Connor theorized the attacks on goats occurred "because these animals are greatly weakened, they're going to have a hard time hunting. So they may be forced into attacking livestock because it's easier than running down a rabbit or a deer."
Although several witnesses came to the conclusion that the attacks could not be the work of dogs or coyotes because they had not eaten the victim, this conclusion is incorrect. Both dogs and coyotes can kill and not consume the prey, either because they are inexperienced, due to injury or difficulty in killing the prey. The prey can survive the attack and die afterwards from internal bleeding or circulatory shock. The presence of two holes in the neck, corresponding with the canine teeth, are to be expected since this is the only way that most land carnivores have to catch their prey. |
“Cryptid Command“, my latest embroidered patch set is now live on Kickstarter until October 31, 2015. The patches feature Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and Aliens/UFOs all with a fun military-themed look.
The main funding goal was reached in under 6 hours on launch day, and the campaign has since unlocked the first of many stretch goals, which include additional patches, stickers, magnets, PVC emblems and more.
Campaign pledges are funneled back into the campaign reward merchandise to offer backers more and more merchandise the higher the campaign funding gets. Pledge now and help unlock more stretch goals and get more free items with your reward!
I’ve been so busy running my “Sasquatch Brigade” campaign on Kickstarter that I nearly forgot to update this blog to let people know. The campaign fully funded in less than 18 hours, was made a Staff Pick on day one, and as we head into the final week, the campaign just surpassed 1000% funding and the $10,000 mark.
That also means that a LOT of stretch goals have been unlocked, some of which will be Kickstarter-exclusive patches. New to this campaign is the option to pick up the patches with Velcro backing, perfect for your tactical/EDC bag, short or hat. Morale patch fans are going to love this. Ten bonus items have been unlocked. You get a ridiculous amount of stuff for backing at the $25 reward level or higher.
I’ve also got a bunch of upcoming campaigns for other embroidered patch and merchandise sets to follow this one up. A ghost-themed kit, a Bigfoot/Nessie/UFO 3-patch set, more hairy ape-men (Ohio’s Grassman, Florida’s Skunk Ape, and Austalia’s Yowie), a Cthulhu/Lovecraft themed kit, and Halloween monsters. Also in the long-term plans is an extensive trading card series based on similar themes to the patches just mentioned.
Head on over to “Sasquatch Brigade” on Kickstarter and pledge now. The campaign ends Friday, June 12th, 2015 at about 3PM.
The perfectionist artist is constantly near or in that mindset where one has built up internal expectations extraordinarily high because it’s been so long between creative output. Because one hasn’t created anything in a long time, somehow the belief that the very next creation needs to somehow “make up for lost time”.
I suspect it’s yet another subconscious procrastination technique designed to hold off the feared judgment of the results. Again, the perfectionist fears results because they have come overidentify themselves with their creations. A negative judgement on the creation is seen as a negative judgment of the self. Curiously, the perfectionist never seems to place the same validity on positive feedback, nor give it equal importance. No doubt a result of the negativity bias of the brain. In other words, it’s not “you”, it’s just an artifact of how the brain works.
Yes, yet another insidious form of Resistance. But there is a solution Continue reading “Don’t Do Your Best”
One of the demons I’ve had to repeatedly face along my path of creating and sharing my artwork on a daily basis has the indifference to which the creations are received. I know that far more followers on various social media outlets see these posts than do those who interact with them (like, star, fave, etc) because other, non-art posts on those services get that kind of interaction. Not a ton, but enough to contrast that which the art gets.
As a recovering over-identifying artist, this can be a constant jab at the ego. In a way, this was one of the things I wanted to face directly with this practice. Increased production requires the relinquishment of other consumption habits. Social media was an early time-sink that I let go. You discover quickly how tenuous those connections actually were when there isn’t a mutually-flowing dopamine reward of recognition maintained. As Stephen Pressfield says in “The War of Art“, “There is no tribe”.
After a recent vacuum of response from a posted drawing, again the hurt ego reared up and attempted to begin the indignant tirade against its perceived oppressors. But a thought crept in, which slowly defused this rant. I had really been enjoying this last round of art creation. I felt at home, in a style which came easily and allowed me to create more. I knew there was something deeper going on here. Continue reading “Indifference Guru”
Recent sketch from my ongoing daily drawing practice. Psychedelic space pyramid of some sort interested to see where this leads.
Mystic Eye Pyramid 1 Sketch Art – George Coghill – Visionary Art.
I started allotting weekends for personal, non-illustration/cartooning artwork. The days fill up quickly, and I wasn’t getting to work on any of this stuff in the evenings as originally planned.
Here’s a collection of all the drawings to date. You can see more over at my personal art portfolio website. The term “visionary art” seems most appropriate to this kind of approach, so that’s what I refer to the art I create in this style as. Definitely influenced by H.R. Giger, Alex Gray and others.
More recent Halloween-themed illustration artwork I’ve been creating for my Daily Sketch practice. Be sure to follow my Coghill Cartooning blog on WordPress.com to keep up with all the Daily Sketches.
Zombie Hand Rising From Grave
Skull & Candle
Creature from the Black Lagoon
A spine-tingling collection of all the recent Halloween-themed illustration work I’ve been creating this month for my Daily Sketch practice. Be sure to follow my Coghill Cartooning blog on WordPress.com to keep up with all the Daily Sketches.
Count Dracula Vampire
Jack O’ Lantern |
MIRA, Sep 29 2015, $26.99
Over two decades ago purebred Homo sapiens slaughtered most of the Cryptid hybrids; even parents tortured and murdered their children in the genocidal frenzy. Survivors were enslaved, but a few escaped notice because they were “passing” as “normal”.
In present day Oklahoma, Delilah Morrow always assumed she is 100% human and never gave a first thought about the Cryptid. On her twenty-fifth birthday she enters Metzger’s Menagerie to watch in horror a several-thousand plus mob taunting a werewolf. Claws suddenly appear without warning as her three friends watch in horror and ask what Delilah is. Quickly incarcerated, Delilah is relocated in a menagerie, but unable to make her claws reappear even if that means a worse fate for her. Her handler Gallagher explains to Delilah her importance to her new community while encouraging her to help save her race.
The Menagerie opening act is a tremendous extremely dark urban fantasy due to Rachel Vincent’s awesome world-building erected from genocide, slavery and other human rights violations. Intrepid Delilah’s plight since she no longer passes as human and her newly found reason to live through her ordeal make for a magnificent coming of age and species awareness thriller. |
A few weekends ago, on Sunday September 27th, 2015, many of us were able to enjoy the Lunar eclipse. I was fortunate to be in an area that was cloud free and clear of any sky/light garbage in the area. The event was very entertaining, and to be honest, the beer consumed helped. While the eclipse did take up the majority of my evening that Sunday night, I did the entire time consider the Moon from the perspective of Hatybov, and how any of the literature relates to the Moon. So without further ado, let’s dig into Lunar Moon, Soviet style.
For the sake of this post, let’s assume the “horse diploma” definition of the Lunar Moon is that of a spherical rock that has been orbiting Earth from some point in time millions of years ago. It was either formed through some interplanetary collision, an offshoot of the early Earth, or formed some place else in the universe and captured by Earth’s gravity. It manages to orbit at a rate that keeps one side of the surface facing Earth, more or less, at all times whilst the Earth also rotates; it also manages to perfectly align with the Sun and Earth in order to create Lunar and Solar eclipses. The Moon is a random spherical rock that manages to randomly create some interesting phenomenon in context to observation of it from Earth. Also, the United States sent astronauts to the Lunar Moon in 1969; at this time, officially, the United States is the only country to have landed humans on the Lunar Moon’s surface.
Returning to the alleged literature of the Soviet scientist Alexander Khatib, aka Hatybov, let’s again revisit an alternate assumption of the reality of our Solar System and human existence :
We have a system of Land Management, which includes several control complex, stationary monitoring system objects (UFOs). All this is interconnected not only among themselves but also with the Sun, the Moon, the satellites of the planets. The purpose of control systems – to create biological structure fully meets the requirements of the program.
In one article titled, “Moon: The Most Unexplored Solar System Object,”, Hatybov quickly states that the moon is our UFO, that we on Earth live in sync with the lunar calendar, that the moon is the main object of adoration in the Muslim religion, and that mankind has never visited the lunar surface, or more eloquently, “the arrival of the Americans on the moon – a cartoon, filmed on Earth.” One could safely assume that if Hatybov did indeed exist, he most certainly was not a believer in the Apollo Moon Landings.
Purpose of the Lunar Moon
The Lunar Moon is a critical piece to the Ebrov Land Management System. It is both a Type I UFO that provides life support for inhabitants on the Moon and acts as a Control Complex of the Land Management Supersystem. The Lunar Moon is designed to provide life support functions on Earth; due to its proximity to the Earth, the Lunar Moon influences the gravitational field of Earth’s biosphere and the Earth’s magnetic field. Examples of lunar influence on Earth include (as stated in the Hatybova material) :
With increasing moon phases (heading into a full moon), sow plants that grow over the surface of the Earth; during decreasing moon phases, sow plants such as tubers and roots
Herbs and vegetables should be collected during periods of the full moon as the plants absorb more minerals and water from the soil during this time
The full moon affects the growth of crime and aggression in humans
Females tend to produce an egg during the same moon phase as the phase the female was born in
During waning phases of the moon, more males are born than females
Lumberjacks should cut down trees during the waning moon phase, as less moisture exists in the tree and decay is not as prevalent
Uric acid in the blood tends to fall to low levels in the body at both new and full moons
Vaccinations under the full moon are “doomed to fail”
Color vision in humans is subject to lunar periodicity
Construction of the Lunar Moon
To assist with Lunar Moon as a construct, I’ve provided two diagrams to assist in understanding the Moon from the Hatybov’s perspective. The first is, from what I can gather, a side view of the Moon; the right hand side of the circle faces the Earth; the left hand side faces away from the Earth.
The diagram and text highlights a couple of abstract concepts in respect to the Lunar Moon. Things of interest include :
Two surfaces to the Lunar Moon; an internal surface and an external surface
The side facing the earth is 184 kilometers thinner than the side not facing the Earth
The center of gravity of the Lunar Moon is not geometrically center
The surface of the Lunar Moon emits 120 lux / square meter lighting
50 – 55 % of emissions from the surface of the Lunar Moon reach Earth
There is no mention of whether or not the Lunar Moon is a sphere; for the sake of this post, I will assume that, from the perspective of an individual standing on the planet Earth, the Lunar Moon appears as a sphere in the night sky.
One could easily think Hatybov is stating that the Moon is a sphere within a sphere. However, that concept quickly breaks down when considering the fact that it is stated that the inner surface of the Lunar Moon is 1,160,000,000 square kilometers, and the external surface is 120,000,000 square kilometers. How can this be? We suddenly can begin to imagine the Lunar Moon not as a spherical rock, but as a construct that is bent in a relativistic manner. All reality is dependent on the eye of the beholder, and so is our beloved Moon.
Silly, But True? Is the Lunar Moon Essentially Tardis-like in Nature?
In order to accommodate the different square kilometers of surface area, The Lunar Moon, for the lack of a better metaphor, is similar to Dr. Who’s Tardis; the external surface area of the Tardis appears as police box to the observer outside of the Tardis. However, when the observer moves into the Tardis, the surface area of the interior is much larger to the observer than that of the external appearance. Hatybov included that idea that “an atomic clock placed on top of a skypscraper will show a different time than a similar atomic clock in the skyscraper’s basement.” The “Einstein-ian” idea is that as one moves further away from the Earth, time moves faster than time as experienced closer to the surface of the earth due to the observer’s relationship to Earth’s gravity. Again, this inclusion of atomic clocks is inferring that metric space is tied to time, and that time is dependent on the location of the observer.
Using a simple conceptualization of the Lunar Moon from a bent space time construct using conical shapes, I’ve attempted to visualize a potential diagram of the Lunar Moon.
The External Surface of the Lunar Moon
Quite bluntly, Hatybova quickly states that “nothing exists on the surface of the moon.”. The surface of the moon is formed by “a sputtering or dusting, with a subsequent warming up.” What that means, I am not certain, but the literature could be hinting that the Moon’s surface could possibly be formed by ionic formations dependent on ions with cubic structures (and prevalence of Sulfur). A sort of ionic / cubic lattice, or atomic web, that is created on the surface of the external Moon. This lattice exists at the Octave 43, and when directed toward the planet Earth, will not harm or disrupt the atmospheric lattice of Earth. Again, Hatybova was an alleged noted expert in lattice and symmetrical axis theoretics.
The Internal Surface of the Lunar Moon
Hatybov states that the “lunatics”, or aliens, work and live comfortably inside the Lunar Moon. These entities exist at Octave 64. Also of note in respect to the internal surface of the Lunar Moon are four complexes that exist on the inner surface. The complexes provide for one of several things :
Communication to/from Megrez/Sur
Communication to/from Earth
Reset of task time on Earth at Easter
All Earth complexes rebuild their watches to a new cycle
Rebuild of time includes reset of human brain cycle times
Communication to/from Sun
Communication to/from other Satellites of the Solar System
Provide autonomous life support systems for the inhabitants of the Moon
Provide life support system functions to Earth (as mentioned previously)
The four complexes each have a unique set of pyramids. Each pyramid exists in tune or balance with a unique Octave. Each Octave is tied to a specific receiver/sender of other components of the Super System and System on Earth. A graph is depicted with corresponding Octave(s) :
Things to note :
There are 4 Control Complexes on the Lunar Moon
Each Complex contains a pyramid set that generates Octave/Octave ranges
6 unique Octave ranges generate feedback to the Moon (green arrow point to blue Planet Earth)
2 unique Octave ranges generate signals to Earth (27/28 range and 21/22 range)
1 unique Octave range at 43/44 is reciprocal in nature to Earth
Possible gravitational tube/gravitation octave binding the Moon to Earth?
1 unique Octave range 53/44 generates a feedback signal to the planet Sun
1 unique Octave range at 63/44 is reciprocal in nature to the Sun
Possible gravitational tube/gravitation octave binding the Sun to the Moon?
Pyramids with no arrows attached would be relegated to providing life support systems to the Moon and to providing communication to other Satellites / Megrez
Security System of the Lunar Moon
Due to the fact that so much of the Ebrovosky Super System, and more importantly, the development and control of the human race is dependent on the function of the Lunar Moon, the Moon is protected by a Gravitation Belt that prevents meteorites from hitting the Moon’s surface.
Interestingly, the Earth is not protected by Moon unless the Moon exists in the pathway of the meteorite and the Earth. Given the fact that the Lunar Moon is stated to be the only part of the Super System in contact with Megrez, the Lunar Moon is the most important part of the Ebrovskoy Super System.
Phases and Luminosity of the Lunar Moon
The Lunar Moon is not an illuminated object; Hatybov would argue, the surface is luminous and creates light through the assistance of pyramids/facilities on the Lunar Moon, the Sun, and the Earth. Luminosity is created through “the imposition of operating frequencies produced by the Moon and Sun, as well as the position of the tube due to Earth ie the ‘shadow of the Earth.’” One could safely argue that Hatybov does not subscribe to the idea that the Sun’s light waves are reflected off of the surface of the Moon to create a lighted Moon as observed on Earth.
There are four phases of luminosity; phase I, II, III, and IV. Each phase takes 6 days, with 4, single unique days of accelerated/decelerated transitional luminosity. The chart below illustrates the concept of luminosity with the thick black line as a percentage of luminosity between 0 and 100% as a function days:
Hatybov also mentions that there are 4 unique radiation phases at 6.25 each, with 4 days of no radiation. The power of radiation is equal to 1, ¾, ½, and ¼ during each 6.25 phase. Whether or not there is a correlation between the power of radiation and luminosity, I am not able tell. The phase of radiation ultimately (I believe to be, at the very least), leads to different life support functions on both the Moon and the Earth.
In Respect to the Lunar Wave Phenomenon
As many of the readers of this post are likely aware, the concept of the Lunar Wave exists with respect to the Lunar Moon. The Lunar Wave, for all definition purposes, appears as a ripple, or wave, that moves across the surface of the Moon. The wave typically is viewed in pairs, or one after the other, and can move at different speeds. Several researchers on Youtube have captured the phenomenon, most notably Crrow777 (who first turned this blogger on to the Hatybov Enigma) and to many others, the idea of the Lunar Wave could hint at the idea that the Moon is a hologram. What does the literature of Hatybov state that could possibly account for the Lunar Wave?
The Time of a Radiation Impulse
As previously mentioned, the Lunar Moon radiates at radiation power 1, ¾, ½, and ¼ for 6.25 days each cycle. There are 4 days with no radiation. These different levels of radiation influence life support systems on Earth. This represents a 29 day cycle of a “step of change sequences of radiation.” What if at the change of radiation power (every 6.25 days), the Lunar Wave occurs? What if the Lunar Wave visually represents the transition of a new radiation power transmitted to Earth? When the Lunar Moon shifts from radiation power of 1 to radiation power ¾, is it possible the Lunar Wave occurs? If this were to be true, a Lunar Wave, once spotted, would be seen every 6.25 days, with an additional 4 days of no activity.
A Correction to the Lunar Orbit
Again, as the Lunar Moon is not native to our Solar System, the Lunar Moon creates potential conflicts with its orbit around the Earth. In order to prevent one specific problem with its introduction to our Solar System, the change in our Solar System’s albedo, the orbit of the Moon around the Earth needs to be corrected. The pyramid that is responsible for this correction exists in Complex 383, Pyramid 3831, and uses Octave 53.375. However, the use of this Octave leads to disruption or change to an upper Lunar Moon atmosphere lattice. This disruption can lead to the effect of Lunar Atmospheric Diffraction, and said diffraction can be observed from the Earth. Is it possible the Lunar Wave is essentially the use of Octave 53.375 to correct the Moon’s orbit around Earth, and the Wave is ultimately the Lunar Moon’s atmosphere being disturbed? The Hatybov research mentions that the Octave 53.375 should only be used for 4 hour periods at most; anything longer than that time period will lead to a “violation of albedo of Solar System” and lead to optical deceptions of the Solar System that violate expected assumptions of Earth’s astronomers.
Communication to the Planet Earth / Planet Earth Communication to the Lunar Moon
As evidenced in the above diagram representing Octaves and their corresponding relationships to the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth, consider the following diagram below:
If said diagram were indeed true, what if the Lunar Wave were indeed the signal of communication? If such a thing were true, the observer would need to be at the correct site on the surface of the Earth to view the Lunar Wave. This might also explain why a Lunar Wave is seen only in Houston, Texas, or Berlin, Germany, and not in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for instance.
As mentioned before, there allegedly exists an anti gravitational field around the Lunar Moon; given the fact that the Moon is the most important component of the Super System, random space debris and meteorites are not allowed to come in contact with the Moon. If this field were indeed in place, perhaps the Lunar Wave is a “ripple” or “wave” that we observe on Earth when a meteorite is discharged away from the Moon. If this were the case, observers in Texas, Germany, and Wisconsin should be able to view the Wave simultaneously.
Super System Clock Reset (and the Flat Earth Hypothesis)
The Hatybova concept hinted at in the majority of his alleged work places most things at the base of the idea of the Clock Reset. The Clock Reset – this concept ultimately is presenting a couple of very significant statements. A Clock Reset is essentially stating that :
Time / Space is not something that is fixed to some beginning point in time
The Big Bang, for instance, did not create the universe, and time has not proceeded, more or less, forward since that point of origin
Time / Space isn’t necessary influenced by gravitational density as we know it
Time / Space is fixed to the “clock” of the Ebrovskoy Super System
This implies that human, animal, plant, or other life is NOT, more or less, defined by a linear movement from the moment of birth
Life on Earth, and systems on Earth are “reset” at specific periods as designated by the SuperSystem
I recently turned 39 years old and have been “alive” for exactly 39 years of Earth life
Or have I? Have I actually been “alive” for 35 or 45 years of Earth life, wherein each specific time of the year, whether it be Easter, or some other day of the year, my internal clock is reset to the Ebrov Super System for some unknown reason?
If this is true, perhaps the Lunar Wave is the Clock Reset to planet Earth. The Lunar Wave would be captured and seen by all at specific, unique time periods throughout the course of the year (and should not be location dependent). It resets biological and other frames of reference on this planet. Whether the Ebrov are manipulating gravity or some other unknown force to enforce this reset, I am unsure. To follow through in this thought process, let’s look at the famous Hatybov Flat Earth comment…
“Since the Earth for some time was the ball, and before that was flat and in the days of Archimedes rests on 3 pillars (elephants) all that was calculated with respect to whales are automatically transferred to the ball form.”
I always thought that to be an interesting statement amongst all of the Hatybov material. Now before going all Flat Earth on you, dear readers, I’d like to mention a colleague’s wonderful thought regarding the idea of the Ebrov System. What if, he proposed, the Earth was indeed flat before the beginning of the Ebrov Intervention? Upon Ebrov influence, the Earth became spherical from the observer’s standpoint due to the parameters of the Ebrov system? If such a thing were to have happened, this could account for “circumstances” that allow for both the Flat Earth perspective and the Spherical Earth perspective. Remnants and proof that the Earth is flat are due to gravitational influences or densities that shift the perspective of the observer on the planet. At times and location, the Earth appears spherical; at other times and locations, the Earth appears flat. What if the key to the idea of “spherical Earth” is indeed do to the proximity and influence of our famous neighbor, the Lunar Moon?
Здравствуйте! (mean Hello)
To better digest the information above, allow me to summarize the Lunar Moon as hypothesized by Hatbov:
The Lunar Moon is not a natural satellite; the Earth existed without influence of the Lunar Moon through the year 18000 BC
The Lunar Moon was brought to our Solar System by the Ebrovskoy Cluster Convoy
The Lunar Moon is both a Type I UFO and component of the Super System
The Lunar Moon appears as a sphere to the observer on planet Earth
The Lunar Moon contains two surfaces and is twisted about its center of gravity
The outer surface faces Earth and gives the appearance of a sphere
The inner surface is not visible to observation on Earth and exists “inside” the outer surface
The Lunar Moon’s inner surface holds 4 complexes with a set of pyramids on each complex
Each pyramid generates or is tune with unique Octaves
8 pyramids provide for life support/atmospheric support for inhabitants on the inner surface of the moon
7 pyramids receive Octave transmission from the planet Earth
3 pyramids send Octave transmission to the Planet Earth
2 pyramid send Octave transmission from the planet Sun
8 pyramids are not specifically identified, but it can be inferred through other papers that these pyramids are tied to Megrez, the Planet Sun and other planetary satellites of our Solar System
The Lunar Moon provides life support functions to the Earth through radiation power
The Lunar Moon’s “illumination” is created by frequencies generated by the Earth, the Sun, and the position of the Earth to the Moon
Should the gravitation tube between the Earth and the Moon cease, life support functions on Earth would also cease
So let’s not mess with this tube!
I wish I could say I have summarized the majority of the work; however, there is much more to the Hatybov lunar piece that I was not able to get to or make sense of at this point. There is also some discussion regarding:
The Pyramid of Giza
The Pyramid of Giza was originally angled towards Polaris
Upon introduction of the Lunar Moon, the Pyramid’s orientation is now altered and corresponds to the constellation Megrez
The Earth’s equator to the Ecliptic has since changed with the Moon’s introduction to orbit
All devils, water spirits, goblins, and other “supernatural entities” live on the moon
The Lunar Moon, in its role to sustain life on planet Earth and adjust to changes on the planet through Earth based Complex feedback, creates a byproduct through variable frequency/Octave adjustments creating psychic, telepathic, and other psychical phenomenon observed by humanity
The Coiled Movement of Earth
Easily the most interesting but difficult to work through at this time
The Earth, Moon, and Sun are moving in a Helix shaped orbit, with the Earth moving around the Sun like a coil towards some unknown destination
Like everything else with Hatybov, the material appears incomplete. More detail is consistently referenced in “See Appendix at End” or “Refer to Book on Cold Fusion.” Sadly, such material does not appear to exist.
Bonus Section : Random Thoughts
Let’s, for the sake of this post, assume that indeed there are three specific pyramids that generate Octaves to the Planet Earth. What if, for a lack of a better hypothesis at this point in time, an Octave is associated to a specific wavelength in the Electro-Magnetic Spectrum? As mentioned before, John Keel (who I truly do believe had an approximation on this whole “Fortean phenomenon”), was very specific in pointing out that the key to all of UFO activity/cryptid activity/Fortean activity was associated in part to the EMF spectrum. As a starting point, let’s take a look at the Horse Diploma qualified EMF:
To continue along the lines of Octaves and EMF, a question arises : what if a specific Octave correlates to a specific wavelength? As a colleague of mine recommended (the one and same who mentioned the Flat Earth hypothesis above), what if a specific octave, whether it be Octave in the range of 21-22, 27-28, or 43-44 were captured and documented by filming the Lunar Moon at some wavelength, the entire Hatybov Octave catalog would be cracked. If one were able to film during its “pulsating periods” and modify the light wavelengths to the UV or IR spectrum, would there be something of significance yielded? Another layer of the onion removed? I have no idea, but I would think this to be the best place to start if one were funded and interested in the idea of a radically different concept of our Moon.
Final Thoughts (Finally)!
Sorry folks, this one was a long one (and took me a considerable amount of time to attempt to put together in some logical format.) At this time, all of this is most certainly highly fringe and theoretical. Lunar Waves, Hatybov…all things or concepts none of us were taught in school, and whether any of it is reality, no one knows. Yet at the same time, items worthy of scientific exploration (at least in the view of this simple minded blogger). As resources become more available to this blogger and the feedback of some of the most interesting minds in this fringe area of research progress, I hope to bring more results to the table. Until that point, as always, I throw this post out for feedback; negative, positive, or otherwise. |
It's Saturday, and day 22 of the Olympic relay, the torch having arrived in Cairnyan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on Thursday night by ferry from Ireland. The day before, 6/6, saw Prince Charles too in Scotland, fresh from the jubilee, symbolically opening a sheep show. (Daily Record)
Friday, the torch traversed from the Castle of St. John in Stranraer, to Glasgow, before this morning departing tall ship, Glenlee, en route Inverness via infamous Glencoe, Fort William etc., to the skirl of Scotland the Brave, performed by the Williamwood Pipe Band.
Loch Ness too was part of today's route, no sign of Nessie it appears, unlike the 22nd July 1933 when it was allegedly spotted waddling out of the water by a Mr. George Spicer, his vision -the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life" - the catalyst for the ongoing variety of myths and explanations. It seems the previous "sighting" was by Saint Columba, back in the (palindromic/ remotely double eleven) year of 565 AD (En-cryptid). Mr. Spicer's encounter on 22/7 was not reported until 13 days later - 4th August - in the Inverness Courier, the latter being a date fairly well known by Charles as it was his grandmother's (The Queen Mother) birthday. Her 33rd. It was the first time the term "monster" had been applied.
second bottom image - pertinent TV news screenshot re (Oz-low - Paradise Island) Anders Behring Breivik, "his" massacre also on 22nd July.
bottom image - Baal, from from Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire infernal, 1862 |
I've heard some people complaining recently that comic books have become too mainstream, and that they're considered "cool" now. I'm confused as to how this is something to complain about. More people reading comics means there's more money for creators, artists and publishers. It means that there are not only more from the big two (Marvel and DC), but from the indie creators as well. How is this a bad thing? Please, explain.
Anyway, with that off my chest, I finally got to read my personal favorite indie comic's second installment. For those who haven't been following Joey Esposito and Jonathan Moore's Kickstarter project, Footprints, I'm happy to announce that it was fully funded and even got picked up by publishing company, 215 Ink. You would be hard pressed to find a better example of two hard working guys living the comic book dream.
If you didn't catch my review of Footprints #1, you can find that here. When we last left Mr. Foot, his brother, Yeti had been mysteriously murdered, and he had assembled his crack team of cryptids to get to the bottom of it.
Book 2 is more of a back story book than an action book. In it, Bigfoot talks more about his brother, and why they had become estranged. It may not surprise you to learn that a woman is at the heart of that issue. The dangerously beautiful Motheresa (yes, a moth woman, with wings and antennae) comes to the Foot Bros. (that's the name of their P.I. biz) with an urgent problem, much larger in scale than anything the brothers had previously taken on. Yeti is instantly enthralled by Motheresa and is eager to help her. Foot, however, stays wary of the siren and her plea.
Some people might stop here and say something about how the "dame in distress" routine is played out, predictable and cliche. They may even venture to accuse Esposito of not being creative enough in his story. Well, they would be dead wrong. The entire point of Footprints is that it's a classic crime noir tale. While Esposito and Moore have turned the genre on its head, they haven't done that by means of the story line itself. Joey and Jon have upset the noir style by inserting cryptid creatures in as the main (and supporting) characters. The familiar style of story telling gives readers a foothold in the book. Having a familiar element in an otherwise unfamiliar world makes this book something anyone would enjoy, not just those into Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.
Let me put it this way; there are a group of people who live in my town that go out every year, searching for Bigfoot. They have Bigfoot calls, traps and all that jazz. It's not my thing. Footprints, however, is completely my thing.
As with Footprints one, Jonathan Moore has completely outdone himself as far as the artwork is concerned. The style is stark, inky and mysterious. There's something to be said about an artists who can replicate a style of drawing nearly forgotten and yet still retain his own individuality. Even in black and white, there is emotion, movement, and when there's a puddle of blood on the ground, it is most definitely blood, and not another mysterious substance. Personally, I'm amazed by artists who can communicate whatever they wish to without the use of color, just skill alone.
While we see all the characters from book one (along with some new ones) I feel like Megalodon is the one who really shines. His part in the book is a small one, but definitely the most present; and not just because he's a giant shark who wears a mask.
Nessy's information gathering technique is to sleep with her targets. As Don's girlfriend, you can imagine how well he takes this. Unlike Nessy, Don is confined to the water, which is a constant source of frustration for him, as he's often left to guard the headquarters. The rest of the crew assume that he's alright with this, because, well, he can't really follow them on land.
We see being treated like a glorified guard dog wearing on Don in book one, but it comes to a head in book two as, at the end, he's left to guard the headquarters once more. As Foot and Nessy rush off after a disturbing phone call, Don's monster nature gets the better of him. We're left to imagine what kind of horrors come next, as Don breaks through the glass that separates him from his colleagues, looses the mask, and grins a terrible grin. I thought it quite exhilarating to see the animal nature come out of the terrible creature.
That's what the cryptid crew of Footprints is doing, after all. Fighting the nature of the beasts they are. Trying to fit in with humans who are so much more fragile than they are. I look forward to seeing which proves more lethal in the coming story; the nature of the beast, or the nature of man. In the case of Motheresa, who seems to be the villain to watch, she possesses physically and mentally the nature of both man and beast. Which of the two makes her a villain? I am eager to find out.
Those who backed the Kickstarter project, you'll be getting at the least digital versions of Footprints #1-4. For those who are just hearing about this marvelous series, go right now to your local comic book store and tell them you'd like them to order Footprints from 215 Ink. As with most indie and creator owned comic books, the writers and artists depend very heavily on their fans to get word out. You can also find more information on 215 Ink's website. If you're heading to Long Beach Comic Con, or Comikaze Expo the writer, Joey Esposito will be at 215 Ink's booth, selling and signing copies of Footprints. Stop by and tell him hello!
As always, thanks for reading. |
CHENGDU – Word has spread of the mythical creature, the “grass mud horse”, which is rumored to live in the Chinese desert. But what is it truly?
The New York Times has just published an article explaining what they believe to be the origins of the “grass mud horse”. Apparently, in protest of severe censorship, Chinese citizens “created” a list of 10 mythical creatures with names that sound similar to Chinese profanities. One of these animals is the grass mud horse, or cao ni ma.
The cao ni ma live in the Gobi Desert, where they have adapted to the harsh conditions. Their arch-nemeses are the “river crabs”, whom they do daily battle with.
Weekly World News protests this ill-informed article! It is well known the grass mud horse do indeed exist. This is clearly a conspiracy led by the Chinese government itself to fool outsiders into believing they do not have a cryptid “problem”. Footage has been shared world-wide of this mythical beast, even accompanied by the voices of children singing worship. |
There are hundreds of mysterious cryptids in the world, a mythical menagerie of barely-glimpsed monsters, lost species, and terrifying legends. But let's face it: most of them are pretty pedestrian lake monsters and Sasquatch variants. There are a few, however, that are so bizarre you kind of hope they're real. Here are our favorites.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, European explorers ventured into the jungles of West Africa and found dozens of undiscovered species like the bongo and the okapi. Along with confirmed species, they also brought back tales of bizarre beasts that they learned of only through African legends or brief glimpses along the shores of steamy jungle rivers. There are dozens such creatures, but the dingonek takes the prize as the weirdest. Called the "jungle walrus," big game hunter Edgar Beecher Bronson described it as, "fourteen or fifteen feet long, head big as that of a lioness but shaped and marked like a leopard, two long white fangs sticking down straight out of his upper jaw, back broad as a hippo, scaled like an armadillo, but colored and marked like a leopard, and a broad fin tail…Gad! but he was a hideous old haunter of a nightmare, was that beast-fish…Blast that blighter's fangs, but they looked long enough to go clean through a man."
The Flatwoods Monster
In 1952, witnesses in West Virginia headed into the woods to investigate an object in the sky, possibly a meteor. There they came upon a creature that stepped straight out of a nightmare: 10 feet tall, with a glowing red face in the shape of an ace of spades, wearing a cowl. Its body was covered in a pleated, dark green skirt, and it held out short, clawed arms. It hissed at them , causing the group to flee. They also reported an acrid smell, and witnesses later had convulsions with throat and nose irritation. This was likely a case of excited witnesses getting scared by a barn owl in a tree (the ace of spades face and clawed "arms" are a dead giveaway), then later getting so worked up about the monster that they developed the basic symptoms of hysteria. Still, it makes you wonder how you'd react if you ran into something like that at night in the woods.
One sure way to make a cryptid seem 100 times creepier is to give it human features, especially if it's on a body that really really should not have human features. Now it's not just a weird unknown animal, it's some kind of alien intelligence watching us and…waiting? Shivers.
Japan's Ningen is one of the best examples of this: picture a strange species of whale with pale white skin, humanoid arms and human-like eyes and mouth. Most of the photos of it are pretty unconvincing – frankly, they all look like Photoshops, flat out CGI fakes or just icebergs with somewhat humanoid shapes. But then there are the videos…
This South American beast is said to look like a giant black earthworm with two horns or tentacles on its head. And I mean giant: witnesses in the 1800s said it left massive trenches that diverted rivers and uprooted trees as it passed. A popular theory suggests the sightings represent a giant species of caecilian, amphibians with no legs and a segmented appearance that burrow underground and are native to South America. Seems somewhat plausible, since scientists are still discovering new caecilian species. This creature is so famous that a highway in São Paulo, the Via Elevada Presidente Artur da Costa E Silva, is nicknamed the Minhocão. "I vote for outer space. No way these are local, boys."
The Beast of Bray Road
This cryptid gets a spot on the list for a few reasons: 1). It's from Wisconsin, which just seems weird. Nothing about Wisconsin strikes terror into my heart, but apparently they have a beast. 2). It's got an awesome alliterative name. The Beast of Bray Road sounds very badass. 3). It's basically a straight-up werewolf. That seems unoriginal at first, but how many cryptid stories have the guts to just go right to "werewolf"? In truth, some of the reports from the 1980s suggest more of a Bigfoot type creature, or even just a crazed bear, but some describe a giant, upright, seemingly intelligent wolf creature. One witness saw a wolf creature with muscular arms, "jointed like a man's," holding food with its palms turned upward. The Wisconsin Werewolf!
Incidentally, the name "Beast of Bray Road" makes me think, for some reason, of the Bay City Rollers, which brings to mind an image of rollerskate wearing disco werewolves. This is turn brings me to the realization that somewhere there is a Hollywood producer utterly bereft of ideas (more than one, probably), sitting there working on 300 Part 2: 600!, or a gritty, angsty remake of My Mother the Car, when instead she could be pushing a rollerskate wearing disco werewolf project. This is why I don't believe in god.
The Lake Worth Monster
First sighted in 1969, Texas' Lake Worth Monster shares a heritage with other crazed goatmen (Maryland has a notable one). It attacked cars among other urban legend worthy behavior. If you're ever out parked in your car with your sweetie near Lake Worth, Texas, you should pretty much expect to be assaulted by a half-man, half-goat with scales and ragged clothing who may or may not hurl large objects like tires at you. There's one photo of the monster, but I don't really know what to make of it. This monster is extra awesome because of this piece aired by a local TV station that has that certain, "intern with too much time on his or her hands in the editing suite" flavor to it. Did we really need the intro explaining the other important non-goatman things that happened in 1969? Could there be a less smooth segue than Hendrix into the X-Files theme?
Scape Ore Swamp Lizard Man
Descriptions of attacks by this creature, first spotted in the late 1980s near Bishopville, South Carolina, sound like tales right out of a pulp comic book. It's a seven-foot tall reptilian humanoid that runs with alarming speed and is strong enough to seriously damage cars with its clawed hands. By some accounts, it can climb any surface with the gecko-like pads on its fingers. Reports are a bit shaky for this cryptid, mainly because a few of the sightings and pieces of evidence have been proven to be hoaxes. Is there a whole race of angry lizard men? Is it some kind of mutant?
We couldn't put Mothman on this list because we talked him recently and at great length (though he surely would have made the top 5). Instead, we'll go with the UK's Mothman analogue, Owlman. A strange, large flying creature has been sighted around Cornwall dating back to the 1970s. Two witness accounts give a clue as to the true nature of Owlman: "It was like a big owl with pointed ears, as big as a man. The eyes were red and glowing. Its feet were like pincers." "It was horrible, a nasty owl-face with big ears and big red eyes. It was covered with grey feathers. The claws in its feet were black. It flew straight up." Perhaps if it was like an owl, and had an owl face, it was an owl. It might seem odd how often Occam's Razor comes along and slices up weird paranormal entities into little owl-shaped paper dolls, but that's how science works.
This summer, io9 is going cryptozoological. We're offering a $2000 bounty to the person who sends us the best authentic photo or video of a "cryptid," or mystery animal. And that's just the beginning of Cryptid Summer. More » |
Alex Price is following his family tradition of Cryptizoology. He is living with his non-human grandparents (he has a complicated family tree), working as a zoo keeper in the reptile house and continuing his research
Of course, the zoo authorities don’t know that his research is into the breeding habits of basilisk and tracking whether the local fricken population is changing. All the while trying to juggle a relationship with the big cat keeper, Shelby while keeping all his secrets
Then people start dying - turned to stone. With his basilisks, a local gorgon population and a cockatrice running around, there are several possible culprits.
Hail! Hail the God of Scales and Silence!
Yes, every book review in this series is going to start with a homage to the Aislinn Mice who are made of utter awesome. And my main complaint about this book is there wasn’t nearly enough Aislinn mice. More of the mice!
I have to admit I went into this book with an immense amount of hostility - because the protagonist was changed from Verity to her brother Alex. And it is Change and I liked Verity so I opened this fully prepared to say how wrong and unjust and awful this is and, in the name of the mice, we must bring Verity back.
Thankfully I was wrong - or, rather I was overreacting. I liked Alex as much as I liked Verity - even though they are very different people - and I like that, that they were clearly different people with very different approaches to their family legacy (while Verity is conflicted, Alex embraces it despite the frustrations). His focus on science, breeding and studying crytpids in the wild with a focus on reptiles and amphibians is very different from Verity and her urban focus. But he was still so interesting, utterly invested, scholarly (same as Verity with a different focus) and a whole lot of fun. I am happy with Verity and Alex
I also really like how we explore their unconventional childhood and how that has affected their relations with others and the constant
But even better is Shelby the Designated Love Interest who is so many more times more interesting than Dominic. It would have been easy to make her less scholarly or educated or science based than Alex, especially since he’s the geek and she is blonde and attractive - but I love how that is definitely challenged and she is more than happy to stand toe-to-toe with him intellectually or action-wise. They work really well together, are great fun and she has a nice developed history and a clear personality. I liked her a lot.
Of course, the star of all this is the world building. The way cryptids work alongside natural world - both the non-sentient and the fully intelligent. I love the little nuggets like why cockatrice and basilisk petrify. I love the careful world building - like how a gorgon community cannot have livestock because they’ll petrify the animals. It’s little details like that that really make the world
As well as bigger elements that point to a really well detailed and carefully designed world: like the fact the Covenant, which hates all things Cryptid, basically declared war on all Australian wildlife- because Australian wildlife. Which again is an insight on Cryptozoology in different parts of the world (like the Australian concern for invasive species). It’s these details and development that make this world truly special
On top of that I love how the cryptozoology meets standard zoology and Alex’s concern that the Fricken - a feathery frog - is going to be discovered. I like that there are concerns around cryptids that doesn’t just concern how dangerous they are or people they’re killing - it adds an extra level of Cryptic management to the Price family’s mission
And then we have fun bits like the different kinds of Gryphon - I do like that a lot. These fun bits - like the Aislinn mice - just really finish it off
Of course of top of all that we also have an excellent story complete with mystery, revelations, explorations of this awesome world, chance for these characters to really show off their competence, their fun, and their development. Some excellent action without it bogging down into one long fight scene. Emotion without it feeling false or convoluted and some strong family bonds with Alex’s non-human grandparents and cousin Sarah (with her own story of healing) shining alongside the developing connection between him and Shelby. There were twists, there were fears, there was a lot of investigation, there were moral quandaries, there were explorations of different societies and different Cryptids and the weird Price priorities, and world building and lots of threats of violence no-one takes personally and it was just so much fun!
But it needed more mice.
In terms of POC we had a local Wadjet family who are south Asian being part of the story and having an arrangement with Alex (also drawing on both Indian mythology and using Indian characters to do it). I don’t know if Dee, a major character and local gorgon, Alex’s guide to Gorgon community and his assistant at the zoo was latina or not: description wise there’s no real indication but she does have a hispanic surname - which i think is from her husband who is definitely described as having bronze skin. So I would say POC we’re looking at minor characters. We have no LGBTQ characters.
This is a series that is beginning to concern me - because I’m reading them at a great rate and I rather think I’m going to run out soon. Which leaves me with the many short stories - now how many short story reviews can I really justify? But this is not allowed to end! |
What is the Loch Ness Monster? No one knows, but that hasn't stopped legions of armchair cryptozoologists from formulating one theory after another on the subject of the world's most famous lake creature.
Ok, it isn't entirely true that we don't know anything about what Nessie is – a lot of evidence indicates that the beast was born of the marriage between a compelling local legend and the imaginations of hoaxers and excitable eyewitnesses alike. The cold, murky waters of that massive lake must surely take on an ominous, mysterious quality during long Scottish nights – is it any surprise that the region generated the Greatest Fish Story Ever Told? Since the first publicized sighting in 1933, the adventurous and the curious have been trying to figure out what it is that people keep seeing in those turbid grey waters.
Theory One: Nessie is a Plesiosaur.
This theory might not seem weird because it's been around almost since the original sighting. There are even a few oddly plausible aspects of this theory. Plesiosaurs (specifically, long-necked elasmosaurs) may have been warm-blooded, which would allow one to live in the chilly loch waters. In the early 90s, a Discovery Channel expedition learned that the loch's fish population was much greater than previously known – enough to support a population of evolved plesiosaurs? Maybe.
There are two huge problems with this theory, though. The biological problem is that elasmosaurs were not physically able to raise their heads and necks above the water in the swan-like fashion virtually every photo and eyewitness account indicates. The geological problem is more severe: in between the supposed extinction of plesiosaurs and the formation of Loch Ness was a period of glaciation that left the entire region encased in ice several miles thick. And if you're about to propose some kind of Encino Man scenario, let me just stop you before you say it out loud. No, just stop.
Theory Two: Nessie is an elephant.
All of the photos of Nessie appear to show objects bearing a vague resemblance to a Loch Ness Monsterish shape, but all of them could easily be something else. There are a lot of plausible theories, like native otters or elephant seals that have been known to venture into the loch from time to time. A few scientists have proposed that the head and neck shape is actually the trunk of an elephant held aloft, with the elephant's back forming the humps of Nessie's…uh, humps. Whether the elephant photos were taken elsewhere and claimed to be from Loch Ness, or some circus elephants escaped and took a swim in a frigid Scottish loch is anyone's guess. But that's cryptozoology for you, where "swimming elephant" can seem perfectly logical.
Theory Three: Nessie is a standing wave from a boat wake.
Loch Ness is really long and narrow, plus extremely deep with sheer sides. This causes waves to do weird things sometimes. If a boat heads down the loch's center, the wake hits the sides and returns to the center to form a standing wave long after the boat has left. A lot of sightings are simply weird wakes in the middle of the loch with no wind or boats nearby, and the standing wave theory would account for these. It's a weird theory because it's so prosaic. I kind of love the idea that all this fuss is over a simple matter of fluid dynamics.
Theory Four: Nessie is tree gas.
This is my personal favorite. The idea is that the loch is surrounded by huge stands of pine trees which fall into the loch when they die. Of course, maybe they just float, and the branches sticking up look like Nessie. Fine. You can even argue that nearby lochs with pine trees have their own monster stories, while non-piney lochs will brook no such nonsense.
But we can create a much weirder theory than that. Suppose some of these logs are covered in sticky pine resin. As they decompose, they fill with gas, but the resin keeps the gases sealed inside. At some point, though, they decompose too much and the seal breaks. All that stored up, pressurized gas jets out one end of the log, propelling the log (and its Nessie-headed branches) along the surface at some speed, creating a wake and, to some witnesses, a terrifying monster. Rocket log!
Theory Five: Nessie is dead.
There are two parts to this theory, one hilarious, one tragic. In part one, a team of Yorkshire zoologists head to the loch in 1972 on a monster-hunting adventure. Locals soon direct them to a massive carcass floating in the water, which they retrieve and load into a van for further research. Alarming descriptions of the beast emerge (a bear's head, scales, claws). However, police stop the van and confiscate the corpse under a law forbidding removal of unknown creatures from Loch Ness. The stunning find is ameliorated when one of the zoologist's colleagues admits to dumping the intentionally disfigured corpse of a bull seal into the loch to fool them, never expecting the police to get involved.
In part two, Robert Rines spends several decades of his life and no small amount of money hunting the Loch Ness Monster. After seeing the beast in person in 1971, all he got for years of effort was a variety of odd sonar contacts. When even those stop showing up in the mid-2000s, Rines finally gives up. But despite the mountain of evidence against the existence of Nessie, and the fact that he himself was unable to find anything in the loch, he refuses to give up his belief in the creature's existence. Rines simply claims that it had become extinct due to global warming.
An honorable mention must go to the "Surgeon's Photo" hoax. You can see the Surgeon's Photo in black and white above. It was a major piece of evidence for years, until one of the perpetrators revealed that it was a toy submarine with a sculpted monster head on top. The best part is that the whole thing was done at the urging of a big-game hunter/adventurer named Marmaduke Wetherell, who had been humiliated in the newspapers a few years earlier by fake Nessie tracks made with a rhino foot umbrella stand. The hoaxed photo was to be his revenge. I'm surprised that they weren't foiled by a group of teenagers and their dog traveling around in a brightly colored van.
If those theories weren't weird enough for you, you can always try the five strangest theories about Sasquatch on for size.
Dow, Bob. "Veteran Loch Ness Monster Hunter Gives Up." Daily Record.
National Geographic. "Was Loch Ness Monster an Elephant?"
Museum of Hoaxes. "The Body of Nessie Found."
This summer, io9 is going cryptozoological. We're offering a $2000 bounty to the person who sends us the best authentic photo or video of a "cryptid," or mystery animal. And that's just the beginning of Cryptid Summer. More » |
Brain Pickings just shared a terrific article about speculative fiction and Neil Gaiman’s The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction that makes me want to drop everything and start reading the book immediately. In it, Gaiman explores what motivates authors to write science fiction, and what led Ray Bradbury to create his classic Fahrenheit 451.
According to Gaiman, there are “three phrases that make possible the world of writing about the world of not-yet (you can call it science fiction or speculative fiction; you can call it anything you wish) and they are simple phrases:
What if … ?
If only …
If this goes on …”
These questions are what lead writers to explore alternative and “cautionary” worlds.
They also make a pretty handy storytelling road map.
Read The Power of Cautionary Questions: Neil Gaiman on Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451,’ Why We Read, and How Speculative Storytelling Enlarges Our Humanity from Brain Pickings here.
I opened my Twitter feed this morning to find this headline from Quartz:
It’s time to get over yourself and start reading books on your iPhone
Seeing as I can’t imagine life without my iPhone – and given I’m even more attached to printed books – I was intrigued.
The post makes some good points, particularly about the convenience of always having a book on hand and the joys of digging deeper into the subject with an easy tap over to Google, but the best argument for adding some smartphone reading time to one’s routine might be personal gratification. The author of the post writes, “I feel less icky about my overall phone usage if at least some of that time is going to books.”
When the alternative is checking social media 17 times a day, using a smartphone to start in on a new novel does feel pretty great.
I was tipped off to an article today that’s really worth sharing. The Poynter Institute has published a collection of writing tips from Pulitzer Prize winners, sourced from a recent seminar hosted by the journalism school. Every one of them is a gem, but here are a few of my favorites – useful not just for journalists, but writers of all kinds.
On story structure:
“Plant the kicker — the end of a story — higher up and circle back at the end.”
On the value of observation:
“You can have something right in front of you, and you can think that you’re good at seeing things, but you miss everything.” Tom French, Indiana University’s Media School
On keeping readers on their toes:
“…At the very last sentence, I stick in a knife, just a little twist.” Leonard Pitts Jr., the Miami Herald
On finding that coveted nugget of truth that makes your story unique:
“These stories are like old houses, rambling old houses…and you have to find the secret door into your story.” Diana K. Sugg, The Baltimore Sun
You can find the full article here.
Ebooks have their perks, but there’s nothing like a gorgeous dust jacket or some lovely deckle edges to make a reader happy. With this in mind, I took a look at book covers this week for the Shutterstock blog. There’s so much design inspiration to be had from Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and Ben Marcus’s The Flame Alphabet (both great reads, too). Here are my picks for ten of the best book covers out there. What are yours?
I learned this week that my recent column on digital interactivity was ClickZ’s most-read guest post for the month of February. Thanks to all who took a look! The current state of digital interactivity is a topic worth talking about it. When I think back to the days of static banner ads, I can hardly believe they managed to engage anyone at all. Compare them to the brand experiences of today, and they’re Sony Walkmans in a world of Oculus virtual reality headsets. They may have blown our minds once, but our expectations – and our appetites – have changed.
So has the way we tell stories, as evidenced by Coke Mini’s amazing “Hulk vs. Ant-Man” narrative. Digital interactivity is making it possible for brands, businesses, authors, and academics to create incredibly meaty experiences. I can hardly wait to see what’ll be served up next.
I recently spent time in the Thousand Islands and was lucky enough to tour Singer Castle on Dark Island, the historic home built in 1905 for the Bourne family, the patriarch of which was president of the Singer Manufacturing Company. Book lovers might enjoy this peek at the home’s walnut-paneled library, which includes a hidden wall panel that leads to a secret passageway once used by servants to fetch busy readers their drinks.
And before you ask, yes! The castle contains Singers aplenty.
I’m a big fan of short stories – both writing them and reading them – so this recent Medium post by writer and educator Hannah Kowalczyk-Harper caught my eye. As we continue to spend more time on our smartphones and tablets than our desktops, short-form content is really relevant to our daily lives and in increasingly high demand. As Kowalczyk-Harper points out, though, there are many other benefits to writing short fiction, from gaining the trust of readers who might one day pick up your novel to tossing around story ideas. Take a look at the full list here, and support a new author or writer you love by picking up a short story today.
Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the 81st anniversary of the Surgeon’s Photograph, the famed falsified image that catapulted the Loch Ness Monster into the collective consciousness. Now, eight decades after one of the world’s greatest hoaxes arrived on the scene, the tech company is on the hunt for the real thing. Google recently announced that it’s enlisting the help of its Street View cameras – the same technology it has been using to map the world’s oceans – to search the Scottish freshwater lake for evidence of beloved aquatic cryptid Nessie.
As reported by The Atlantic, Google mounted its Street View equipment to a boat and coupled the resulting images with additional photos taken underwater to create a “portrait” of Loch Ness. Believers and skeptics alike can navigate the images on Google Maps and while away countless hours as laptop explorers. “Loch Ness is a lost world. But it is accessible through technology,” says Adrian Shine, a marine biologist and researcher with the Loch Ness Exhibition, in a short film about his own search for the Loch Ness Monster and the Google project.
The use of technology to harvest data and glean a deeper understanding of elusive animals is a growing trend. Camera trapping on wildlife preserves is being used by the Wildlife Conservation Society for its Wild View photo blog, as well as by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). For the past five years BBC Wildlife has been holding an annual competition for the best camera trap photographs in an effort to recognize “the role that new technology plays in our understanding of the natural world.”
Amid growing concerns about the inhabitants of the earth’s oceans, which the author of a recent study on the subject says are at risk for a “major extinction event” (journalist Elizabeth Kolbert, who wrote the remarkable Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, can attest to this), this kind of non-invasive surveillance becomes more critical than ever. Another recent study found that there are roughly 8.75 million species on earth, but that at the current rate of discovery it will take “hundreds of years” to know them all. We don’t have that kind of time. Biologists estimate that within the next century 75 percent of those species will be extinct.
There may be an unidentified creature in Loch Ness. There may not. The point is simply this: if a company as industrious as Google is willing to look, we’re on the right track toward implementing a desperately needed tech-driven strategy for animal discovery and conservation.
The Apple Watch is coming. In 24 days it will be here, and analysts say Apple could sell 1 million devices in a single weekend. Exactly how consumers will use it remains to be seen, but we can expect there to be apps, ads, and – according to The New York Times – single-sentence stories.
Yesterday, the Grey Lady announced that it’s creating “a new form of storytelling” designed to keep Apple Watch users abreast of its daily news reports. Readers will have the ability to read the stories on their iPhones, to which the watch is tethered, or save them to a reading list that can be accessed at a later time.
The Times is one of the first publishers to address the issue of content on this new screen. To date the focus has been largely on utility: the Apple Watch is being touted as a functional object that’s useful for getting calendar reminders, tracking fitness goals, unlocking hotel rooms, and receiving flight notifications. Its potential as a storytelling tool, however, should not be overlooked. Just as authors and aspiring writers have successfully tinkered with Twitter within the confines of 140 characters (this year’s #TwitterFiction festival is coming up in May), so too will they push the boundaries of a 1.5 to 1.7-inch screen. Single-sentence stories the likes of which will be told by The New York Times can just as easily be used as a vehicle for flash fiction and poetry.
We now know that The Economist will offer audio of its articles for Apple Watch users. It’s been almost a century since the debut of the six-word novel.
When it comes to storytelling on the Apple Watch, the iCloud’s the limit.
Are you using Medium? If the answer is no, the time is right to log on. A self-publishing platform created by the co-founders of Twitter in 2012, the site serves up a near-endless stream of content in such categories as culture, humor, tech, and long reads. Somehow, despite receiving 17 million visitors a month, Medium still hasn’t gone mainstream, but it’s fast becoming a go-to for excellent digital content. Already it’s being used by Barack Obama, who recently chose it as the best place to publish his State of the Union Address, along with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, publishers like Random House Penguin, and authors like Emily Gould.
Medium attracts two types: readers and writers. If you’re the former you can spend hours perusing its pages and come away feeling like you’ve gotten a dose of The New Yorker, Salon, and Wired all at once. Most of the stories you’ll find are original to the site, but some are republished from elsewhere online. Sign up for a free account using Facebook or Twitter, as that will allow you to “recommend” and follow the stories and authors that most interest you. In essence that’s like subscribing to their feed, so that Medium will show you their work as it goes live as well as help you discover other relevant content. Visiting a writer’s profile page can serve the same purpose by affording you access to his or her own recommended stories.
For the writers, Medium is an alternative to blogging that puts your work in front of a huge new audience hungry for good stories. The platform itself is a pleasure to use and produces posts with loads of visual appeal. If you’re so inclined, you can collaborate with other users by sharing your work in progress prior to publishing it on the site. You can also import stories you’ve already posted to your personal or author blog to gain access to new readers. Fiction and non-fiction authors alike are producing beautiful work and building a following of potential fans in the process. I’m particularly fond of Fred Venturini, whose stories (“Five Awesome Nuggets of Writing Advice,” “The Accidental Novelist“) offer invaluable writing advice and insight into the publishing industry.
Few of us can claim to have the time for another social site, but Medium is more than that. It’s a good book. A thought-provoking editorial. Advice to help you with your craft, delivered by a pro. It’s become the first place I go in the morning and the last place I visit online at night. And I’m a better writer for my trouble. |
more to experience on a real haunted Vacation
than most people can fit into one normal vacation
– sun, sand, ancient historic sites, secrets
of the dead and past, unique nature-based experiences
in exotic locals, and non-stop ghostly haunted
and paranormal thrills. All this sounds something
like the latest Indiana Jones Movie doesn't
But a real haunted adventure
should be just that ... shouldn't it? I'm not
saying everything you investigate is going to
be the pinnacle of what will be defined as the
most positive proof that real ghosts, or cryptids
and hauntings are real. But of course any haunted
investigation vacation should have some great
SO WHERE DO YOU GO TO
HUNT AND DOCUMENT REAL GHOSTS?
Story by Scott
To travel the world and
foreign lands to discover all that is strange
weird and paranormal in nature is my dream.
But like anything in life it all starts with
first steps. Using the internet of course to
seek out a great haunted city or local to hunt
ghosts in is the best way to start. No matter
if a location has been over saturated with investigations,
their is always a chance to confirm or find
new evidence or proof that ghosts are really
You should begin by searching
this site and others on the internet for the
best haunted web sites that can lead you to
a haunted hotspot or your dream paranormal experience.
This really helps in keeping the nightmares
out of the way and gives you some knowledge
of what your ghost filled adventure might have
in store barring any unforeseen other side interference
Stories on the internet
are filled with real and fraudulent claims of
ghost stories and paranormal experiences. But
the detective in all of us brings out the search
for the real truth behind these ghost stories
and urban myths. Always someone whether professional
or not may uncover the definitive proof that
will set scientist on their ear.
Whether your real interest
lies in UFO's, Bigfoot, Ghosts, Nessie or the
Bermuda Triangle we all can take or plan that
dream vacation from our own computers.
up a different kind of vacation' Some turned
on digital recorders to capture "electronic
voice phenomena," known to aficionados
as EVPs. Others snapped photos, seeking the
fleeting image of a spirit.
Schrader of Circle Pines and Tim Dennis of
Burnsville are leading groups as large as
220 people on trips to haunted hotels, spooky
cruise ships and, this year, an abandoned
booming paranormal vacation business didn't
happen in a vacuum. In the past three years,
TV lineups have become rich in supernatural
offerings. At the moment, at least a dozen
shows serve up ghosts, hauntings and mediums
in one form or another.
was against this backdrop that Schrader and
Dennis started their online radio show in
weekly two-hour broadcasts of "Darkness
Radio" made them celebrities among fanciers
of otherworldly mystery. The show features
interviews with the stars of the TV shows,
along with demonologists, mediums and authors.
State In America Is The Most Haunted?
The Great American Necromancer, Lisa Lee Harp
Waugh's 2009 List. Please
perceived as one of the most haunted States
in America Louisiana Tops the 2009 list. To
be sure of what this really means, The Most
Haunted Number 1 ranking information must
be considered carefully. Ghost sightings,
Paranormal locations, myths legends and ghost
hunting all come into play in the actual ranking
THESE RANKINGS ARE ACTUALLY COMPILED BY LISA
LEE HARP WAUGH OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. FROM
HER OWN INTERNET RESARCH AND SHOULD BE CONCIDERED
HER OPPINIONS ON HOW EACH STATE RANKS.
"A few Ghost Hunters are up in arms
over Waugh's ." " They believe that
their state should have ranked higher then
it did." I feel my placing of each state
is as accurate as I can get at this time."
If someone can present to me reasons and documenting
why a certain state should be higher on the
list I welcome the input." States Waugh.
" My Haunted Web Site ww.ghosthuntersofamerica.com
Email is overflowing with a few irate
letters and allot more in support of my choices."
You can contact Waugh directly by email with
questions or requests for media interviews
or public appearances at: firstname.lastname@example.org
So you dream of real
haunted thrills and chills and a amusement theme
park too. Well many cities around the world
are haunted also. Consider taking a day off
from the amusement rides and taking time to
explore a lantern lit ghost or paranormal walking
tour in America. Or travel abroad and visit
the UK's scariest places for live ghost hunts,
most scariest haunted live, and paranormal investigations.
Paranormal Tours brings the ghost world into
your world with live ghost hunting nights and
events. Paranormal Conference Travel is also
fast becoming an annual getaways for many.
Paranormal Conferences Please Visit HERE
All good vacations have
one thing in common, careful planning. Just
because you are going away on a pleasure trip
does not mean you do not have to do a little
bit of homework.
1. Involve every member of the family in the
planning stage, including children. Adults
often think they know what their children
want to see, but rarely bother to ask them.
To ensure that children feel part of the vacation,
let them help in the planning.
2. Research before
making reservations. When you pick your destination,
read up on it. Find out what there is to do
and see, where to stay, how to get around
and the best way to get there.
3. Libraries, travel
agents, and tourism organizations can also
provide abundant information.
4. If money is a concern,
make a budget and stick to it. Decide how
much you want to spend.
5. Divide that amount
by the number of days you plan to stay. Be
sure to keep a certain amount for any unexpected
6. Know what your rights
and responsibilities are as a travel consumer.
Read and understand the fine print in any
travel agreements you sign.
7. Plan a few specific
activities for your vacation. Curb any impulses
to plan for every hour of your trip, but also
do not leave the time completely unstructured.
You don't want to waste your vacation wondering
what to do.
YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT REAL GHOST AND HAUNTINGS
BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK! MORE
HERE AT GINALANIER.COM:
Do you know
what experts suggest before you book your stay
in a haunted hotel?
MOST HAUNTED HOTELS, INNS & BED & BREAKFASTS
LISTED BY STATE VISIT HERE
AROUND THE WORLD
Real de Catorce is a
ghost town, of sorts, located in the dry, rugged
mountains of central Mexico. It is a former
silver-mining town, which was once the second
richest source of silver in all of Mexico. Hidden
in the remote, vast mountains, it is easy to
picture the fabled Real de Catorce of yesteryear
with its forgotten mines, cemetery surrounded
by a high fence and picturesque chapels. It
is located at an altitude of over 9,000 feet
and was established in the late 1700s with the
opening of the first silver mines. The town
quickly prospered and became a thriving community
with a rich society, which continued until the
unrest of the early 1900s, which led to the
Mexican Revolution. Today tourism is expanding
in Real de Catorce and it is trying to move
beyond its’ “ghost town” image.
Local attractions include the Church of the
Immaculate Conception, built in 1780, which
is the focal point of the town and brings thousands
of pilgrims each year to pay homage to the patron
saint, Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4th.
This religious holiday is a weeklong event with
music, dance and processions. The Casa de la
Moneda is a three-story building that is said
to be haunted by the ghost of Don de la Maza,
who is seen moving about and counting his hoard
of silver. Outdoor recreational activities in
the mountains near Real de Catorce include horseback
riding, rock climbing, rappelling and photographic
safaris into the mountains.
There are hundreds of
hauntings on record in Canada. One recent example
is the Firkins' House in Heritage Park in Fort
Edmonton, Alberta, which haunted by the presence
of a friendly young man, the son of one of the
early owners. Another benevolent presence haunts
the Vogue Theatre Vancouver, British Columbia.
Less friendly is the ghost of an Indian Chief
seen on the Sarcee Reservation or the apparitions
of two men who appear in the Banff Springs Hotel.
Both sites are near Calgary.
Spooky Savannah, Georgia
with its rich mix of old-world charm and rough-and-tumble
past. And the number one haunted city in America
The Whitechapel / Spittalfields
area of East London has been actively settled
since Roman times. Many of the historic buildings
are built on the remains of old Roman settlements.
Throughout the Dark and Middle Ages, the East
End was a burgeoning commerce area, mostly inhabited
by Anglos and Jewish moneylenders. In Elizabethan
times the East End looked and smelled like something
right out of one of Shakespeare’s history
plays, and, in fact, the character of Falstaff
(Henry V) is said to have been based on an innkeeper
from the notorious East End. It was a place
of soldiers and prostitutes, brawls and bawdy
houses. Jack the Ripper enjoyed a brief career
as London’s most infamous serial murder
and the fact that he was never caught still
adds to the mystery surrounding him. Nevertheless,
it is thought that his horrible mutilation of
Mary Kelly was his last act of violence and
there is no evidence that Jack, whoever he may
have been, killed again after November 1888.
At the height of Rome’s
power the Coliseum represented everything that
was Imperial to the citizens of Rome. Gladiators
would fight to the death here for the amusement
of Caesar and the mobs; thousands of prisoners
of war and victims of religious persecution
met their end in the jaws of lions and tigers
in the sandy arena of the Coliseum; and even
those animals were decimated, for in its time
the Coliseum consumed tens of thousands of animals,
some reportedly driven into extinction by the
Roman lust for blood and gore. Tour guides and
visitors alike have reported cold spots, being
touched or pushed, hearing indiscernible words
whispered into their ears; security guards with
the unenviable task of securing the ancient
edifice have reported hearing the sounds of
swords clashing, of weeping in the more remote
areas, and, oddly enough most disconcerting,
the sound of ghostly animal noises such as the
roars of lions and elephants. Ghostly citizens
have been seen among the seats of the Coliseum,
and the sight of a Roman soldier standing guard,
silhouetted against the night sky, is a common
top 100 places to see a real ghost and have
a Paranormal Encounter. Please visit here!
Some of these Top 100 Most allegedly
haunted places are known for their haunted
cemeteries, houses, buildings, Roads, hotels,
& battlefields and churches. And in some
cases a city may be listed and in other spots
a haunted hot spot. Please feel free to use
this as a Paranormal Travel Guide
when planning your next haunted destination
ghost hunt or vacation. There are literally
thousands of haunted places around the world,
and this list only compiles a small number
So please read these very haunted
ghost stories and watch a real ghost video
or two. And be sure to visit our to find more
then your heart should take. This web site
is not for the squeamish. These Very real
Haunted places are sid to be the best places
to capture a real ghost on film, video, or
digital voice recorder or have a real paranormal
HAUNTED AMERICA TOURS Official
Web Site is a ghost tour information site;
our information is only as reliable as readers'
contributed ghost and haunted reports. We
assume no credit for your adventures, and
accept no liability for your misadventures.
Use common sense. Read our ghost hunting recommendations.
Before visiting any "haunted" site,
verify the location, accessibility, safety,
and other important information. Never trespass
on private and/or posted property without
permission from the proper authorities.
World's 100 Most Haunted Places
Haunted America Tours
is a Directory to the World's Most Haunted Locations.
Browse our site to learn more of what people
consider the most haunted places to investigate.
Finding out The Haunted
Always ask the staff
if there may be a special guest room that gets
more activity than others. Many Paranormal Investigators
such as Eric Monnerjahn insist you that you
call the hotel staff ahead of your haunted stay
with special requests. Especially a reported
Haunted Hotel that is not afraid of the stigma--
chances are they'll help out if they can. Ghost-chasing-hunting
is more fun if you know what you're looking
for. Also search the web. (" As if you
didn't already know that already.")
We at Haunted America
Ghost Tours have strived to provide fun and
educational paranormal investigative experiences.
Join us for candlelight, cemetery and all the
Haunted Ghost walking tours of haunted Vacation
sites Across America. Contact information for
tours, and a short bio on tours and information
to contact them or their web sites to visit.
Somewhere in america a award-winning supernatural
ghost tours happens every night. and day. Want
to add a tour to the
never ending list contact us >here<.
see out top Ten List of The Best Haunted Ghost
or Cemetery Tour to experience in Haunted America
here! These ghost tours have been voted
by you, America as the
Top Ten Most Haunted, Best Tour to see a ghost,
and Best Scariest Ghost Tours to experience
Where to go
to experience the real Paranormal Happenings!
UfO enthusiast Flock
to Roswell, New Mexico, USA, In July 1947, which
have since become the subject of intense speculation
and research. There are widely divergent views
on what actually happened, and passionate debate
about what evidence can be believed.
The United States military
maintains that what was recovered was a top-secret
research balloon that had crashed. However,
many UFO proponents believe the wreckage was
of a crashed alien craft and that the military
covered up the craft's recovery. The incident
has evolved into a widely-recognized and referenced
pop culture phenomenon, and for some, Roswell
is synonymous with UFO and likely ranks as the
most famous alleged UFO incident.
The real hunt
Bigfoot, also known as
Sasquatch, is a figure in North American folklore
said to inhabit remote forests, mainly in the
Pacific northwest region of the United States
and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Bigfoot is sometimes described as a large, hairy
bipedal hominoid, and many believe that this
animal, or its close relatives, may be found
around the world under different regional names,
such as the Yeti of Tibet and Nepal and the
Yowie of Australia.
Frame 352 from the Patterson-Gimlin film
Bigfoot is one of the
more famous examples of cryptozoology, a subject
that mainstream researchers tend to dismiss
as pseudo science because of unreliable eyewitness
accounts and a lack of solid physical evidence.
Most experts consider the Bigfoot legend to
be a combination of folklore and hoaxes, but
there are a number of authors and researchers
who do believe that the stories could be true.
SEE: The Honey
Island Swamp Monster, Bigfoot's Southern Cousin
Haunted America Tours
Museum Gallery Of Oddities
Big Easy Ghosts
and New Orleans Spirits
New Orleans its status
as a world-famous tourist destination is due
in part to its architecture, music, cuisine,
its annual Mardi Gras, and other celebrations
and festivals. The city is often referred to
as "The most unique city in America".
Haunted by the soul of Marie Laveau the Greatest
Voodoo Queen ever and tainted by tails of the
haunted mansion and Madame Delphine Lalaurie.
Located in Southeastern
Louisiana along the Mississippi River. The city
is bordered by Lake Pontchartrain to the north
and the Gulf of Mexico to the east and is coextensive
with Orleans Parish. It is named after Philippe
II, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France,
and is one of the oldest cities in the United
States. New Orleans is known for its multicultural
heritage as well as its music and cuisine and
is considered the birthplace of jazz and considered
the most Haunted City in America. With Being
Voted the best and Most Haunted City , Best
ghost Tours and Most Haunted Hot spot in America.
ALSO SEE: The
Devil Baby Is Alive And Well And Lives In New
New Orleans --- The most
haunted place in the world @GINALANIER.COM
The loch Ness
The Surgeons Photo Of
the Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness is the second-largest
Scottish loch by surface area after Loch Lomond.
At Drumnadrochit is a Loch Ness Monster exhibition
centre, which contains information on the legendary
creature. Boat cruises operate from various
locations on the loch shore, giving tourists
the chance to look for the monster. The Loch
Ness Monster is a cryptid (a legendary creature),
claimed to inhabit Scotland's Loch Ness, the
most voluminous freshwater lake in Great Britain.
The creature's "scientific" name,
chosen by the late Sir Peter Scott in Nature,
is Nessiteras rhombopteryx (Greek for "the
wonder of Ness with the diamond shaped fin").
There are as many ways
to explore our area as there are interests of
the visitors who come here. For those interested
in seeing the battlefields of Gettysburg, some
relax on an air-conditioned bus listening to
a recorded story. There are those who drive
in their own car with an auto tape tour and
others hire a Licensed Battlefield Guide to
ride with them to explain the three famous days
The hearty take the
National Park Service self-guided walking tours
or join the crowd of a park ranger led tour.
And the adventurists enjoy touring the 40 miles
of battlefield roads by bicycle or galloping
across the 5,700 acres of field by horseback.
GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD GHOST PHOTO SUBMITED
BY RANDY BERGAMO
Further understand the courage and hardships
of the soldiers by visiting our ten Civil War
related museums or take an authentic Civil War
house tour by day and a haunted ghost tour by
night. Live theater includes a personal visit
with "President Lincoln", Civil War
plays and ghost stories. Throughout the year
you can talk to the soldiers in encampments
SEE: HAUNTED BATTLEFIELDS
GHOST STORIES AND GHOST PHOTOS National
Battlefields and Military Parks of the United
Finding A Real
Chupacabra (also chupacabras,
from Spanish chupar: to suck, cabra: goat; goats
sucker) is a cryptid said to inhabit parts of
both of the Americas. It is associated particularly
with Puerto Rico (where it was first reported),
Mexico, and the Southern United States, especially
in the latter's Latin American communities of
Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. The name translates
literally from the Spanish as "goat sucker."
It comes from the creature's reported habit
of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock,
especially goats. In New Orleans they call it
OUR EL CHUPACABRA STORE FOR BOOK AND MORE HERE
> EL CHUPACABRA STORE
of the creature vary. Eyewitness sightings have
been claimed as early as 1990 in Puerto Rico,
and have since been reported as far north as
Maine, and as far south as Chile. Though some
argue that the chupacabras may be real creatures,
mainstream scientists and experts generally
contend that the chupacabra is a legendary creature,
or a type of urban legend. It is supposedly
a heavy creature, the size of a small bear,
with a row of spines reaching from the neck
to the base of the tail.
See The Real
Haunted America First!
Haunted Hikes: Spine-Tingling
Tales and Trails from North America's National
Parks (Paperback) by Andrea Lankford ....
Any guidebook can give you trail miles and directions,
but only Haunted Hikes captures all the strange
doings in your favorite back country places
with tales of ghosts spooks and strange places
Buy it here now!
Hikes: Spine-Tingling Tales and Trails from
North America's National Parks
Combining the popularity
of ghost stories with the traditional aspects
of a park trail guide, these creepy hikes lead
courageous climbers and armchair adventurers
through some of the scariest, most mysterious
places in North America. Thoroughly investigated,
yet often tongue-in-cheek, these tales behind
the trails include the chupacabra that roams
the swamps inside the Big Thicket National Preserve,
the execution-style shooting of two General
Motors executives at Crater Lake, and the pair
of disembodied legs that have been seen running
around inside the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center.
A fright factor rating is listed for each hike,
along with information on trailhead access,
maps, and hike difficulty levels. From the wheelchair
accessible to multi-day treks into the wilderness,
the included trails cover a wide range of hiking
abilities and even feature a haunted Louisiana
bayou best reached by canoe or kayak.
Lankford "OFFICIAL HAUNTED HIKE
THE TOP TEN HAUNTED HIKES
Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal National Historic Park
The Gold Mine Trail begins
at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center near
Potomac, Md., outside Washington, D.C., and
passes by the site of an explosion that killed
a miner in 1906. After the accident, spirits
known as "Tommy Knockers" were said
to haunt the dark recesses of the mine. The
mine closed two years later, after a night watchman
encountered "a ghostie-looking man with
eyes of fire and a tail 10 feet long" crawling
out of the shaft. 301-739-4200; nps.gov/choh
Yosemite National Park
A wind with a weird name
is the spooky thing here. The Miwok Indians
believed Yosemite's spectacular waterfalls were
haunted by an evil wind called Po-ho-no. The
wind, they said, entices the unwary to the roaring
brink of the falls and then pushes them off
the edge. "Which explains why the National
Park Service has fortified the falls overlooks
with so many safety railings. The topside views
have been as deadly as they are sublime,"
Lankford says. 209-372-0200; nps.gov/yose
New Jersey Pinelands
National Reserve/Wharton State Forest
"Since 1735, hundreds
have seen or heard a yellow-eyed creature with
a bat's wings, a dragon's breath and a kangaroo's
tail that, according to legend, makes the Pine
Barrens its home," Lankford says. To improve
your chances of spotting this UBE (unidentified
biological entity), she suggests hiking a section
of the Batona Trail, a 49-mile route connecting
Batsto Village and Ong's Hat. "This path
ventures deep into prime New Jersey Devil habitat."
609-894-7300; nps.gov/pine. Or609-561-0024;
Virgin Islands National
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
The idyllic Jumby Beach
and many park trails are haunted by mischievous
spirits the locals call "jumbies."
Men, they say, have the most to fear while on
the self-guided nature trail to Annaberg Sugar
Mill Ruins. "This historic plantation site
is stalked by a female jumby who is looking
for love in all the wrong places," Lankford
warns. 340-776-6201; nps.gov/viis
Mammoth Cave National
With more than 150 documented
paranormal events, Mammoth Cave is one of the
spookiest natural wonders of the world. "On
the Violet City Lantern Tour, park rangers guide
you into the cave using old-fashioned kerosene
lamps," Lankford says. "And during
such trips, rangers have reported seeing apparitions
resembling the slave guides who led visitors
into the cave before the Civil War." 270-758-2180;
Great Sand Dunes National
Park and Preserve
sandbox is also a flying saucer hotspot,"
Lankford says. Since the 1950s, visitors claim
to have seen black triangles, cigar-shaped red
orbs and multicolored lights hovering over the
park. "For the best UFO-watching, climb
to the top of 750-foot Star Dune on a moonlit
summer night," Lankford says. 719-378-6399;
Oregon Caves National
Kids will especially
enjoy the fright factor at this gem of a park.
"Tour the cave to see 'moonmilk,' which
is made by space aliens or cave gnomes, depending
on whom you ask," Lankford says. "Hike
the Big Tree Trail where, in July 2000, a psychologist
witnessed Bigfoot spying on his family. And
spend the night at the cozy yet creepy Oregon
Caves Chateau where Elizabeth, the ghost of
a jilted bride, startles guests." 541-592-2100,
ext. 262; nps.gov/orca
Grand Canyon National
Park employees have long
told stories of the North Rim's "Wailing
Woman," Lankford says. "Wearing a
white dress printed with blue flowers, she floats
along the Transept Trail between the lodge and
the campground on stormy nights ... crying and
moaning over the son and husband she lost to
the canyon." 928-638-7888; nps.gov/grca
Blue Ridge Parkway
In November 1891, 4-year-old
Ottie Powell vanished while collecting firewood
in the forest. Five months later, a hunter found
his body near Bluff Mountain, where a memorial
for Ottie can still be found. "Backpackers
say the toddler's ghost haunts the Appalachian
Trail leading to Bluff Mountain and that his
youthful spirit annoys those brave enough to
spend a night inside the Punchbowl Shelter,"
Lankford says. 828-298-0398; nps.gov/blri
Big Bend National Park
"If you hear peculiar
noises while camping in the Chisos Mountains,
you're not alone," Lankford says. Chisos
means "ghosts," and park rangers say
hikers often report hearing "things"
in the nightly winds. "Among the ghouls
wandering this desert range are a betrayed Indian
chief, a troop of long-dead Spanish warriors
and a ghost steer seeking revenge against the
cowboys who branded him with the word 'murder.'
" 432-477-2251; nps.gov/bibe
Ghost Haunted Foot on the Road.
Here is a sample of the
Haunted Vacation checklist you should follow
before you leave your own haunted house or apartment
behind. You can tailor this list to suit your
own home and community. The idea is to put it
in writing and check off each item before leaving
Let immediate neighbors,
friends and family know your departure date
and estimated return date.
If you live in a manufactured home community
like some do, give your park manager the dates
you’ll be gone and phone numbers where
you can be reached. Be sure to let management
know the name and vehicle description of any
deliveries or home/lawn caretakers that are
expected while you are gone.
Ask a couple of neighbors to keep an eye on
your home or apartment and to report suspicious
activity to the police. Arrange to give at least
one neighbor a key to the home.
If your community has a neighborhood watch group,
make sure to let them know you will be gone
for a specified time.
Stop mail, newspaper and other deliveries. Ask
neighbors to pick up any flyers or papers that
are tossed on the driveway or porch.
Also ask a neighbor
to park a car in the driveway to give the impression
someone is at home.
Notify the post office to hold mail until your
Since a thief can get into any home by removing
a window air conditioner, it’s a good
idea to fasten the unit to the sill or the window
Don’t discuss your travel plans in public
places. A stranger could overhear you, follow
you home and return when you’re on vacation.
The fewer people who know about your trip, the
safer your home will be.
Keep valuables out of sight. Small valuables
such as jewelry or cash should be stored in
a safe deposit box. If possible hide larger
valuables in an inconspicuous places so they
can’t be seen by a thief.
Place a few motion-sensitive security lights
at the rear of your home as well as lawn lights
in other dark areas. Thieves love a poorly lighted
home, so good lighting around the home is a
Consider installing an alarm system and motion
detectors. Do-it-yourself systems are available
at home supply or electronic stores. Or buy
a professionally installed system.
Trim the shrubs located near windows and entries
before you go on vacation. Burglars love to
hide behind them.
Arrange to have your lawn mowed by a landscape
service or neighbor. A poorly maintained yard
can signal thieves that the owners are gone.
Ask a neighbor to set out trash on collection
day and then retrieve the empty trash cans and
recycling bins the same day.
A few days before you leave, set and activate
timers for lights and a radio or TV to be sure
they are working properly. Don and I like to
use several electronic timers and set them so
they turn lights on and off at different times
of the day and evening.
Unplug all electrical items, except lights on
timers and radio, so they don’t get destroyed
Use up food in the refrigerator or give it to
Set your automatic sprinkler system to
water the lawn according to local watering restrictions.
Never leave a message that you are gone on vacation
on your answering machine message. It’s
like leaving an open invitation to thieves.
Close all blinds, draperies and awnings to keep
out as much sun and heat as possible.
Close and lock all windows. Easy to install
window locks are available at hardware and home
Make sure you have good locks! Good door locks
help keep thieves out. Experts recommend installing
dead bolt locks and a reinforcing strike plate
with three-inch screws.
Place security bars (or even a piece of broomstick
or a dowel) in the track of all sliding glass
doors so they can’t be opened. Don’t
forget to lock your storage shed with a heavy-duty
Be sure to turn off water valves to the washing
machine, toilets and sinks before leaving. A
neighbor of ours forgot to do this and came
home to two inches of water throughout the home
due to broken water line. Not a pretty sight.
To prevent mold and mildew, set the air conditioning
thermostat at 85 degrees. If you have a humidistat
set it at 60 percent.
Disable or turn down the ringers on phones so
unanswered rings won’t be heard from outside.
Just before you lock the front door, take one
last tour of the house to make sure everything
is as secure as you can make it.
While there is no foolproof way to protect your
home and property when you’re on vacation,
most accidents and burglaries can be avoided.
Don and I follow a vacation checklist like this
one and haven’t experienced a single problem
when we are gone. As the old saying goes, “An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
do the spirits of the dead still walk the streets?
Find out here now!
GhostWalks invites you to "take a haunted
vacation!" Discount accommodations for
our tours are provided by several area hotels,
inns, bed and breakfasts, RV Parks, and campgrounds.
Special Discount Vacation Planning Packages
called "Spook and Save" Packages are
available which offer discounts on many other
recreational venues including area caves, museums,
whitewater rafting, and parks. Please visit
the website at www.AppalachianGhostWalks.com
for more information. You can go directly to
the "Spook and Save" Discount Vacation
Planning Package page by going to http://www.AppalachianGhostWalks.com/vacationpackages.html
you and your family are looking for a really
FUN weekend, Appalachian GhostWalks can put
together a "Ghost Hunter Weekend"
Package which includes the"Ghostology",
or "Ghost Hunting" 101 class, as well
as one more of their Haunted Historic GhostWalks
and Tours located all across the Southern Appalachian
Mountain region. These can include a stay at
a haunted bed and breakfast, presentatations
in your home, or at your place of business,
birthday parties, and endless other possibilities...
of Appalachian GhostWalks haunted historic tours
operate year-round subject to availability and
advance reservations are highly recommended.
The cost is just $13 per person for a group
of four, or more people. Please call (423) 743-WALK
(9255) for more information on all of the great
ways they can help you entertain and thrill
your family, or travel companions.
P.O. Box 153, Unicoi, TN 37692 USA.
Reservations and Info: (423) 743-WALK (9255)
Please come again soon and thank you for visiting
see: Making The Most Out
Of Taking A Ghost Tour
Where do the
spirits of the dead still walk the streets?
Ghosts of Gettysburg
Candlelight Walking Tours ®
the years since the battle, stories of scores
of sightings, stranger than reality, have emerged
from the quaint houses and gentle fields in
and around the town of Gettysburg: Stories of
sightings of these soldiers, moving again in
battle lines, across the fields where they once
marched. . . and died; tales of visions through
a rip in time into the horrible scene of a Civil
War hospital; whispers of a look at men long
dead held eternally captive by duty. These apparitions
-and more- come back to remind us, in one way
or another that they are not to be forgotten
for what they did here. . . In research for
his books, Mark Nesbitt collected hundreds of
these tales of the unexplainable sightings,
entity activity or those strange echoes from
a time long gone that can mean only one thing:
Gettysburg may very well be, acre for acre,
the most haunted place in America.
Do You truly believe in real ghosts?
If you take this Ownesboros Ghost Tour you might
just become a true believer in haunting's and
the paranormal world. This Ghost walking tour
will bring you to understand some of downtown
Owensboro's reported real haunted buildings
and you might just meet a real ghost or two.
on the walking tour are Owensboro's haunted
locations, they include Trinity Center, home
of Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, the Area Museum
of Science & History, the Daviess County
Courthouse, and others. Tour starts at the Creme
Coffee house, 109 East Second Street Owensboro,
Kentucky . Please Call Ghost Tour Information
and Reservations 270-313-5596.
invites you and your family, friends, or tour
group to join us as we explore the mysteries
of our mountain heritage. Travel back in time
to visit and learn about the "People Of
The Past", strolling down Main Street in
each of Appalachia's oldest towns where you
will enjoy tantalizing mystery, legend, intrigue,
and fun family adventure.
OF GALVESTON ISLAND
in 1999 by Ghost Tours Of Galveston Creator
Dash Beardsley, Ghost Tours of Galveston IS
Galveston Island's first, foremost, and original
haunted historical walking tour. This unique
two hour tour combines history, mystery, ghost
stories and legends taking you on a journey
into Galveston's richly unknown past. The Great
Storm of 1900 hurricane and the American Civil
War Battle Of Galveston have left their rich
haunted mark stained upon the white beaches
of the Gulf shores.
of St. Augustine
in 1994 by Sandy Craig, a native resident of
St. Augustine. Sandy's heritage roots go back
400 years in St. Augustine, to the first Spanish
settlers who arrived in this ancient city. She
is of Minorcan descent, a cultural group of
people migrated from Minorca, Spain who still
inhabit St. Augustine. Maybe this explains her
interest with the old spirits of St. Augustine.
She's been know to say, "When I pass away,
I want to stay here like everyone else and have
people tell fascinating stories about why I
just can't leave this wonderful city."
Haight Walking Tour
evening journey through the local "haunts"
of San Francisco's famous Haight-Ashbury district.
Your host, a long time resident, ghost historian,
active member of The American Ghost Society
& founder of The San Francisco Ghost Society
leads this two hour walking tour and lets you
discover the many ghosts, witches and macabre
history of Haight-Ashbury. You also learn what
ghost hunters do and all about parapsychology!
Price includes a detailed guidebook with map,
flashlight and "spooky" goodie-bag
filled with tricks and treats! Come join this
unique tour and learn all about The Haight-Ashbury
like never before!
to pursuing the truth as it pertains to paranormal
phenomena and educating the public on the proper
ways of conducting a paranormal investigation.
We invite you to join us them as they journey
into paranormal realms, the likes of which few
have witnessed, and ask you…Do You Believe?
Salem's only museum featuring authentic supernatural
curios and oddities from around the world! See
a rare Vampire Killing Kit, America's only "Ghost
Gallery", Voodoo artifacts from Africa
and New Orleans, the bizarre "Feejee Mermaid",
chilling medical oddities, Voodoo and Day of
the Dead altars. You can also purchase the book
"Ghosts Among Us" by Mollie Stewart,
at our museum. and much more. Don't miss Salem's
most unusual and mysterious museum!
Tour & Show
spirited and spooky ghost tour will take you
to the haunting grounds of Bugsy Siegel, Liberace,
Redd Foxx and Elvis. Robert Allen, creator of
Haunted Vegas Tours now makes it possible to
visit such eerie sites by offering a guided
tour and show, featuring Sin City's darkest
ghostly secrets. The tour covers such sites
as the "Motel of Death," where numerous
celebrity deaths have occurred and the former
home of a Las Vegas legend whose ghost continues
to haunt despite numerous attempts to exorcise
it. The tour includes admission to the hit show
"Haunted Vegas" starring Zamora from
Ripley's TV. Saturday through Thursday - Dark
Fridays at the Greek Isles Hotel & Casino,
Las Vegas, Nevada. |
Cryptozoology (from Greek kryptos, “hidden” + zoology; literally, “study of hidden animals”) is the search for and study of animals whose existence has not been proven. The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and Loch Ness.
The Cryptozoology & Paranormal Museum in Littleton NC is dedicated to the study and display of phenomena such as:
- Bigfoot information and artifacts
- Ghost evidence and ghost investigation tools
- Local cryptid and ghost stories and evidence
- Lake and river “monsters”
- UFO stories and evidence
- Famous Fakes such as the Fiji Mermaid
Please visit our sister site: HauntedLittleton.com to find out about ghost tours and stories in Littleton, NC. |
Bryn’s world is out of kilter. Pollution is causing weird weather and diseases that her mom, a scientist, was working to fix. But Mom disappeared on a research expedition in Alaska, and now Dad has gone off to find her. At least Bryn gets some comfort from kenning with her bird—though that ability makes her weird as well.
Things get seismic strange when Bryn discovers a huge egg in a box of her mother’s stuff—and it’s hatching. What emerges is a big baby lizard, and Bryn can sense its feelings, as she can with birds.
Bryn guesses the lizard is a cryptid—an ancient species thought to be extinct. That makes it valuable to black market poachers, and maybe valuable to her mom’s work as well. Bryn is determined to keep the creature safe. But it’s not easy to secretly raise a cryptid baby, especially when it starts to flame. For what Bryn really has is a baby dragon, a dracling. The poachers will be after her for sure. But what does it mean that Bryn can ken with it? Is she meant to protect it? How far will Bryn go to save what might be the last of its kind?
Susan Fletcher is the acclaimed author of Journey of the Pale Bear; as well as the Dragon Chronicles, composed of Dragon’s Milk, Flight of the Dragon Kyn, Sign of the Dove, and Ancient, Strange, and Lovely; and the award-winning Alphabet of Dreams, Shadow Spinner, Walk Across the Sea, and Falcon in the Glass. Ms. Fletcher lives in Bryan, Texas. Visit her at Susan Fletcher.com. |
PORTLAND, Ore. –Three people in Portland saw an unknown winged creature Monday evening standing on the Interstate Bridge.
Will Davis, Hank and Susan Miller claim they were driving over the bridge in two different cars when they noticed the strange shape.
Davis, 45, is a janitor and was driving home at the time of the encounter. He says the “figure looked like an angel” and that it was sitting on top of the green structure. The Interstate Bridge, built in 1917, serves as a connection point for traffic between Portland and Vancouver over the Columbia river.
“Never seen anything like that,” says Davis. “It was sitting right there, I saw it right before I drove into the bridge. Spooky stuff. It was big, I don’t know how big but it wasn’t a bird. I saw arms and legs.”
The Millers were driving ahead of Davis and about to come out of the bridge when the creature took off. The couple claim that the animal exhibited a 12-foot wingspan.
“I was still looking back trying to find out what it was, on top of the bridge, by the mid section. It flew right in front of us, into the right side of the river,” says Susan, 29. “Hank was driving and I tell him, ‘hey, look out, what the heck is that?’ He saw it too, but I was able to see it much better than him for sure, since he was the one driving. Whatever it was, it was big. At first I thought it was a prank, or just a city worker fixing something over the bridge. I’m telling Hank ‘why would they have a worker this late in the evening? Isn’t it kind of dangerous?’ Until it began flying. I reached for my phone inside my purse but the thing wasn’t there anymore. It looked like an angel. I didn’t see its face, but I could make out a tail, even from far away. The body was black.”
“She says it was the Mothman,” interrupts Hank Miller, mocking his wife. “I laugh, but I saw it too. I saw a shape, not much to be seen honestly, but I assure you there was something flying, and it was huge. It looked like a man, a man with wings. Tons of artists in Portland…you never know.”
Sightings of unknown flying creatures are reported throughout the year. The majority of these reports are the result of misidentified birds. Owls, bats and even small planes are to blame.
In 1966, a newspaper wrote about a similar incident that happened in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The Point Pleasant Register reported that five men at a cemetery, and a few days later, two couples, witnessed the ominous red-glowing creature. It was the first time an encounter with Mothman, as this cryptid is commonly known, was recorded. It has since become a favorite topic among the supernatural community and is now part of the pop culture.
In 1975, John Keel popularized the flying humanoid on his book The Mothman Prophecies. Decades later, a film based on the book and protagonized by Richard Gere was released in Hollywood.
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Do you recognize the man in the above photo? I thought I did. I’ve seen this photograph so many times, but always thought it were a portrait of the famous UFO contactee George Adamski, or maybe George King, the founder of the Aetherius Society. It is a photo of a UFO contactee, but one I’d never heard of before. His name is Wilbert Smith and I first heard his tale at the Birmingham UFO Group meeting of the 24th of November 2011. He may well be one of UFOlogy’s greatest unsung heroes. Here’s the BUFOG website: http://bufog.blogspot.com/
My journey to the BUFOG meeting was full of friction and obstacles, usually a good omen that I’m about to have an interesting time, I think. All the trains between Oxford and Birmingham were delayed due to the wrong sort of leaves on the track or something similar and I had to change trains unexpectedly and wait for a long time at Dorridge. I’m ashamed to say that I’m not a man without prejudices and the name “Dorridge” has unfortunately always conjured up images in my head of some chuck of West Midlands suburban sprawl with crumbling red-brick factories and ugly, grey, oblong postwar office blocks. In fact Dorridge is a very clean and neat rural town and its railway station is one of the most charming I’ve ever seen; so I didn’t mind being delayed there a while before completing my journey into Birmingham, and I apologize to anyone offended by my now-eliminated misconception. The meeting ended too late for a journey home so I stayed overnight at the Travelodge in Oldbury. I settled into my room after I arrived and then headed for the venue, negotiating the treacherous roads and flicking through my A to Z at every street corner.
The BUFOG meetings are held at an elegant snooker club in a large and comfortable function room. The speaker was Andrew Johnson (See HPANWO Links), a man all regular HPANWO-readers will be familiar with, see: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2011/10/dr-judy-wood-in-brighton.html and: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2010/12/andrew-johnson-newspaper-ad.html . He often speaks at Exopolitics events, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2011/08/exopolitics-leeds-2011.html . Today he was speaking on a subject I’ve never heard him discuss before, but one of the other audience members assured me that Andrew has delivered this speech before elsewhere: Wilbert Smith. Wilbert Smith was born in 1910 in a place called Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. He worked for the Canadian Government as a superintendent of radio regulations. Unlike that other Canadian UFO buff, and also politician, the Rt Hon. Paul Hellyer MP, Smith doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page! He was however an extremely prolific and successful researcher and there are many alternative media sources dedicated him, including even an online edition of one of his books: http://www.rexresearch.com/smith/newsci~1.htm . He was director of something called Project Magnet in the 1950’s. This was an operation set up by the Canadian Government to detect the presence of UFO by searching the sky for electromagnetic anomalies. The aim was to try to work out how these objects were powered and propelled. It’s interesting that the project was set up under the premise that UFO’s were in reality products of an extraterrestrial civilization; before even the Hyneks and Klasses of this world were arguing over whether they even existed! Strangely enough in 1964 the Canadian Government issued a statement that, although Project Magnet had existed as one of their outfits, it was a henceforth going to be merely a private project administered personally by Wilbert Smith and no longer an official government operation at all! According to Andrew this is an act of "offical denial" that came about due to the amazing discoveries made by Smith and his team: confirming the presence of UFO's as real alien artifacts. Despite the project no longer being under their management, the Government allowed Smith access to the facilities to continue his work in his own time and out of his own pocket.
Wilbert Smith’s work didn’t only concern the UFO’s that appear in the sky, he also got involved in research into contactee reports and eventually had direct contact experiences himself. He worked with a woman called Frances Swan who lived very close to Betty and Barney Hill, the famous couple who are wrongly called “The first alien abductees”. Smith had a long-term and significant interaction with an extraterrestrial being whom he called “Tyla”. What was so interesting about this contact was that Tyla instructed Smith in the engineering of unknown esoteric Free Energy and antigravity propulsion systems. He discovered that spinning a disk-shaped object at high speed can induce an antigravity effect. This has been discovered since independently by Mary Bennett and David Percy, authors of the book Dark Moon, see: http://www.aulis.com/nasa3.htm . Also Evgeny Podkletnov of the University of Tampere in Finland did a similar experiment that produced a limited antigravity effect using a spinning ring: http://www.holoscience.com/news/antigravity.html Tyla described himself as a “dustman”, here to clean up the poisons produced by nuclear weapons testing on Earth and he also showed Smith a machine called the “Caduceus Coil” that could tap usable electrical power from the Earth’s magnetic field, just like Nikola Tesla did, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2011/05/nikola-tesla-as-close-as-it-gets.html . Smith also worked on something he called “The Binding Force”, the details of which can be found in his book, see the link above. According to his son Jim, Wilbert Smith was not entirely discarded by all the forces of Government. Some shadow elements kept in touch with him and often employed him in their covert UFO-based endevours; this included several “Roswells” (See: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2008/03/roswells-galore.html) and Jim, in the same way as Jesse Marcel Jr, once handled a part of the wreckage of a crashed UFO, the “Ottawa Piece”. Smith also dealt with the bodies of aliens from the crashes too.
The legacy of Wilbert Smith continued long after his death in 1962, in fact scientific investigation based on his ideas endures to the present day. One of the biggest and most powerful Military-Industrial Complex aerospace businesses, McDonnell-Douglas, at one point decided to interview UFO experiencers; properly, that it. They planned not only drop by and ask to have a chat with them over a cuppa, but to pay them good money for their time and in exchange for information. The Defence journalist and antigravity agnostic Nick Cook, relates this in his interesting, but sometimes dubious, documentary UFO's- The Secret Evidence, see: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-834605691449249469# (Here's another documentary by Nick Cook, equally slippery in it's accuracy I think, The Billion Dollar Secret: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3975546396136405829#) . Another hint at what’s really going on can be found in the strange behaviour of the Apollo astronauts since the missions which history tells us landed them on the moon. I doubt that this is true, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-went-to-godamn-moon.html , but whether you believe they really did go to the moon or not, this subject is still relevant. I doubt if any of these men will ever confess openly, but they might do quietly and partially. For instance, Neil Armstrong has made some intriguing and incriminating comments. He’s a shy and private man who has little contact with the public, but if you read between the lines of his limited public speeches you might notice something strange, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1vFEwAJZQY “Truth’s protective layers”!? What’s he talking about? I doubt very much if this is what his speech-writer told him to say. Buzz Aldrin has also said some very nebulous things on TV; here he is with Larry King: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDIXvpjnRws . The Apollo 11 crew have revealed that they did see a UFO in space when they were (apprantly) on their way to the moon. Most suspicious of all is the Apollo astronaut whom we in the UFOlogical community have come to admire and trust the most: Dr Edgar Mitchell. Mitchell was a major figure in the late Counterculture period, establishing the Institute for Noetic Sciences near Big Sur, California, the American equivalent of Glastonbury. He’s also a native of Roswell, New Mexico and professes to believe in UFO’s, supporting and agreeing with Roswell researchers who think that a UFO actually did crash there in July 1947. He’s a supporter of the Exopolitics and UFO Disclosure movements and has spoken at their famous press conferences. However Andrew is worried that he may be a shill, a government agent. Apparently the Free Energy inventor Bruce De Palma asked Mitchell’s organization to assist him develop his invention and Mitchell demanded that de Palma sell him the rights. This was not just the development lease contract which de Palma was hoping for, but basically de Palma handing over everything he’d created to Mitchell’s group and never being able to have any say in what happens to it again! De Palma wisely told him “no” at which Mitchell replied with a veiled threat. This is textbook tactics for controlled opposition; it’s happened to many Free Energy inventors sadly; even Nikola Tesla fell foul of this ruse when he got involved with JP Morgan and the Astors. The USA has a great tradition in backyard inventors, part-time amateurs who create marvels on a shoestring budget in their garden sheds, like the Wright Brothers and Thomas Edison. What can happen is that a rich financier from the world of Big Business often approaches these people and offers a “partnership” that involves the inventor selling the rights for a substantial payment. These inventors are usually very short of money and eagerly snap it up. This is most often the first step towards suppression and secrecy. As soon as the contracts are signed the “business partner” takes all the papers and prototypes with the promise to “leave it all in my capable hands. This is going to be a great success!” and that’s the last the world ever hears of it. The most interesting piece of evidence regarding Edgar Mitchell’s secret life comes from a source I don’t normally champion. I find Bart Sibrel’s methods extremely unprofessional and counterproductive, but when he ambushed Mitchell he picked up something unintentionally which many people have understood is extremely significant even if Sibrel himself is too stupid to. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTUaZl6Nyho At the end Mitchell’s son says: “Do you want to call the CIA and have them waxed?” What he means by “waxed” I’m not sure; Sibrel predictably makes a joke out of it as the end of his Astronauts Gone Wild! Film, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=487zC8qzRvA But whatever was meant by “waxed” why on Earth would Ed Mitchell be calling the CIA? Bart Sibrel’s business collapsed soon after this film came out and today he works as a lowly cabbie. Maybe that’s because he was “waxed”… then again it could be just because he’s a numpty.
Andrew is extremely suspicious of some of the leading figures in the UFO and Disclosure community, particularly Dr Steven Greer, and I share his suspicions. See: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2010/01/year-ago-dr-stephen-greer-of-disclosure.html I’ve changed my mind a bit since I made this film and have become, if anything, even more cynical of Greer than I was then. He’s done something similar to Ed Mitchell; he has attempted to legally seize the copyright of the UFO photos and footage people capture on his organized skywatches, his so-called “CE5" outings. Andrew takes heart from the fact that he sees Disclosure as something with two streams. The first is the conventional one that the Exopolitics movement is concerned with: campaigning to force governments to declassify their secret information about UFO’s. Both Andrew and I believe that this is probably impossible for reasons I’ve discussed lot recently, see: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/08/disclosure-is-here-president-admits.html However there’s a second stream of Disclosure, according to Andrew; this is the Disclosure initiated by the extraterrestrials themselves through their contact with ordinary people and their attempts to educate and reveal information to them. That’s good news because the second stream is one that the Shadow Government can do little to prevent!
The BUFOG meeting was a very good event and I’d like to thanks Dave Hodrien and the other organizers for it. And thanks to Andrew for a very interesting and entertaining lecture. After Andrew had finished speaking, Dave revealed some sad news: After much worry and speculation I can now confirm that UFO Matrix magazine has folded. I’ve bought a 2-year subscription and I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back, but really I don’t care. My main feeling of sadness comes from the fact that this was an excellent magazine that had brilliant potential, but it was launched very much against the economic tide. To add insult to injury it failed in its first year. Unfortunately Paranormal magazine has gone the same way, even though it had become quite mainstream and I saw it on sale in many railway station shops. One journal that seems omnipresent even through this Winter of Discontent is the ever-ready Fortean Times. It happens to be the publication that takes the most Skeptical line short of the openly-specialist Skeptic press, like Skeptic magazine, see: http://skeptic.org.uk/. After their disgusting coverage of the Hollie Greig scandal I’ve sworn never to read the Fortean Times again! There is an upbeat ending to this bit of bad news that Dave relayed at the meeting though: Another very informative magazine that has recently closed down UFO Data, is now available free online to download: http://www.ufo-data.co.uk/index1.htm There's plenty here to keep anybody with any interest in UFO's quiet for a while!
I slept well in my bed at the Travelodge and had a relaxing journey home in which all the trains ran on time! I’ll end this article with a speech by Wilbert Smith, in his own words: http://www.disclose.tv/viewvideo/26032/Wilbert_B_Smith___1958_Ottawa_Address
Latest HPANWO Voice articles: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-ufo-disclosure-petition.html
Latest HPANWO TV films: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/11/hate-mail.html
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
London Skeptics in the Pub- Unnatural Predators: http://london.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/797/Unnatural-Predators
I’ve been back to Skeptics in the Pub, as part of my plan to maintain as much normality in my life as possible; anyway if I wasn’t suspended I’d be on nights right now and unable to attend, so I thought I might as well make the most out of my situation and go along. See here for a previous review of a SiTP evening: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2008/09/skeptic-in-pub-15908.html (There are many others, use Search)
The SiTP venue has moved from Penderels Oak in Holborn to The Monarch Bar in Camden Town, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2010/09/bathing-into-history-part-5.html Tonight’s speaker was a Skeptress called Deborah Hyde. She is a fellow-blogger and posts under the soubriquet “Jourdemayne”; here’s her blog: http://jourdemayne.blogspot.com/ . Her blogging-name probably comes from the famous Margery Jourdemayne, a woman executed in the 15th century for witchcraft. Deborah is also joint-editor of The Skeptic magazine, along with Prof. Chris French- MBA Gold (See: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2009/09/prof-chris-french-mba-gold.html) Deborah describes herself as “obsessed” with the malign Supernatural, that is horror movie subject-matter like vampires, zombies, ghosts and ghouls. She did look a bit like a witch herself actually. She’s a tall, slender woman and was wearing an ankle-length black dress with a silver belt. One might find this odd considering she’s a Skeptic and so doesn’t believe that the Supernatural is real, but I must say I’ve noticed this before at the ASSAP Seriously Strange Conference (See: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/09/assap-seriously-strange-conference.html) A lot of the speakers at the conference also looked very similar, dressed in dark clothes with dyed hair and Gothic make-up; even the very Skeptical ones, with similar viewpoints to Deborah. It seems that a passionate interest in the Supernatural is what inspires people to dress in Supernatural-like clothing, but an actual belief that the Supernatural is real is not essential. Deborah’s main job is creating special effects and make-up for the film industry, so she takes her love of all things that go "BUMP" in the night to work every day as well. In fact she displayed some of her horribly realistic zombie masks on the projector for us to see. Deborah then explained where her research on the malign Supernatural had led her. She uses a lot of her own terminology like “unnatural predators” to describe paranormal beings that do harm to humans, like vampires, werewolves etc. She doesn’t like to use the word "vampire" outside of its historical context, which is Eastern Europe. There are many vampire-like phenomena, or “myths” as she described them, reported all over the world; but it’s very misleading to say something like: “the Malaysian vampire” or “the Mexican vampire” because they are historically very different. The whole idea of vampires has been picked up and run with by literature and film, from the aristocratic darkness of Bram Stoker’s Dracula to R-Patz and his teenage romantic activities in the Twilight saga.
By now a lot of the SiTP patrons had ordered their meals and so I noticed a few of them drop their cutlery and turn a bit green during the next part of Deborah’s speech. Where do vampires come from? According to her, what used to happen was that ignorant and superstitious villagers used to blame their problems on the unquiet dead, usually a troublesome member of the community who’d recently passed away and so they would go to the graveyard and exhume his or her coffin. To their amazement they would often find that the corpse of the deceased had not corrupted, even after several months post-mortem, and that fresh blood would be oozing from their nose and mouth. In truth this was because the people didn’t understand that there are many factors in determining how quickly a dead body decomposes, like ambient temperature. Many reports of vampirism occurred in the winter when the soil might be very chilled or even frozen solid, so preserving the body until spring when it was warm enough for the bacteria and worms etc to get to work. The blood seen coming from the body was not blood but sludge caused by the body’s internal bacteria consuming the flesh and excreting the remains out of the orifices; it’s brown in colour, not red, but in the darkness of a cemetery the difference might not have been noticed. The villagers would often then pierce the body with a wooden stake and an audible groan might be heard. This has happened to me at the hospital, and as frightening and unearthly as it might seem it doesn’t mean that the person is still alive… or even undead, but that the gas created by the bacteria bursts out through the larynx making a sound. In the set and setting of a spooky graveyard you can imagine what effect that would have on the witnesses! I do question whether this really does explain the entire vampire phenomenon though, as Deborah claims it does. This is because of the widespread nature of “unnatural predators” of this kind all over the world. Earlier in her speech she warned us only to use the word “vampire” in its proper historical context, but is it really such a misnomer to talk about vampires from other climes? I’ve done some of my own thorough and in-depth research on the subject… in other words I Wiki’ed it… and I’ve found that although vampires were popularized in the 18th century the concept of violent, blood-drinking spirits goes back to prehistoric times. It’s also found the world over from Ancient Greece to Jewish lore, from India to Africa. Also, most curious of all, we have a direct modern incarnation of this archetype, from a non-literary source: the Chupacabra of Latin America. This is a beast that is often interpreted as an alien or cryptid, but it has the same attributes as the more familiar classic vampire. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmHmnfgON4A (Not that this video is definitely genuine!) Also not all societies dispose of their dead through burial, meaning that the situation of uncorrupt, bleeding bodies being dug up out of graveyards cannot be universal. In India the Hindus very famously cremate bodies on an open pyre. In parts of Africa it’s quite normal, and even considered respectful, to hold a massive party when somebody dies and cannibalize the body as the main course of the feast. (I wanted to bring this subject up in the Q and A, but a few people were still eating and I thought they’d been put off their food enough already!) So I think there’s a bigger case to answer here than the one Deborah laid out.
Another subject Deborah covered was sleep-paralysis. This is when you become half awake after sleeping; you might find yourself lying in bed, able to open your eyes and look around you, but frozen solid and unable to move. Along with your real surroundings you may see strange and ghastly Paranormal beings by your bedside. These beings may well attack you, causing you pain and terror. They might sit on top of you, like the beast in the painting Nightmare by Henry Fuseli at the top of this article, or they might even sexually abuse you! Deborah suffers from it herself a lot and has learned to cope with it. Richard Wiseman- MBA Bronze discusses this in his latest book Paranormality, which I’ve reviewed here: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2011/04/paranormality-by-prof-richard-wiseman.html . According to both he and Deborah, this is caused by a sleeping disorder that strikes most people on rare occasions. The mechanism that paralyses your skeletal muscles during sleep continues to operate longer than it should when you begin to wake from sleep, meaning that your dreams continue into the period when they ought not to. I’ve only once had sleep paralysis, but I’ve often had hypnopompic experiences. I made a short HPANWO TV film explaining about this, see: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/04/bedroom-ghost.html . At the interval I went up to Deborah and told her about my experience and she told me that I’m “quite normal” and that she’s been afflicted by this as well, only in her case she saw dancing mice! A neat solution, you might think, and it makes sense for much of reported experiences, however my own encounters with ghosts, or ghost-like phenomena to be exact, do not all fit in with Deborah’s model. Although I concede that the ghost in my bedroom could do, the same could not be said for the event in the park which is the subject of this film: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/04/ghosts-in-park.html The event in 2008 on a train also evades the Skeptical explanation, see: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-ghost-train.html , I swear I had definitely not seen the photo Ustane showed me beforehand. Also I’ve seen ghostlike phenomena when I’ve been wide awake, see my Ghosts in the Park film above. A key element to the park sighting was that I had an independent witness, Jenny. In fact I must be one of the few blokes who’s ever been dumped by his girlfriend because of a ghost! I guess I’ve got an axe to grind.
I’m glad I went to this SiTP and I’d like to thank Deborah and all the organizers for a grand evening out. I had some interesting conversations while I was there too. Although Frenchie- MBA Gold, Marmite-Lover, Syd, Dave Green (see Jack of Kent in the Links column) and many other people I know weren’t there I said hello to James O’ Malley of The Pod Delusion, see: http://poddelusion.co.uk/blog/ I sat next to a man called Dave who is new to the Skeptic Movement and didn’t know anybody there. I assured him that he needn’t be alone and probably won’t be for long; Skeptics are by nature a herding species and there’s a very tight-knit and active social life associated with Skepticism. I also was asked by a young couple at the bar before the SiTP began, while the organizers were setting up: “What’s going on here then?” I explained and the woman asked “What is a Skeptic exactly?” That Million Dollar Question again! One that I’ve been trying to answer for years. I decided to be honest with her: “I’m not exactly sure. They claim that they are people who use science and rationality to decide what’s right or wrong instead of religion, mysticism and intuition.” I’m glad I began with the “they claim” bit. I address the question in my review of TAM London, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2010/10/tam-london-2010.html . In fact this has been a conundrum that has obsessed me! At the British Humanist Association Conspiracy Theory Conference, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2011/09/british-humanist-association-conspiracy.html , I asked the speakers a sarcastic question about doing a study to find out the psychological profile of the Skeptic, but really it’s a serious matter. What is a Skeptic? What drives them? What makes them tick? The word is spelt “sceptic” in the dictionary, with a note that the word can also be spelt “skeptic”, and it merely means “one who doubts, who does not believe”. However my confusion over the definition is why I always spell the word with a K and also make the initial S uppercase. For me a sceptic is one thing, but a Skeptic means something entirely different. (Marsh from Righteous Indignation (qv) has a radio show of his own called Skeptics with a K, see: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/podcasts/) As I said when discussing TAM London, their own description of themselves: “A skeptic is one who… rigorously and openly applies the methods of science and reason to all empirical claims… A skeptic provisionally proportions acceptance of any claim to valid logic and a fair and thorough assessment of available evidence, and studies the pitfalls of human reason and the mechanisms of deception so as to avoid being deceived by others or themselves". This is not a description at all, this is a slogan. There are many people who use science and reason, including many highly qualified and experienced scientists, who would not be described as Skeptics; in fact they’re usually labeled “believers”. Then again there are people who know nothing about science and never use its methods who say things like: “Nah, I don’t believe in all that crap! There ain’t no such things as ghosts or UFO’s. It’s all in yer head innit?” Yet this person would be described as a Skeptic. So it’s impossible to avoid the fact that it is opinions and conclusions about certain subjects that separate people called “Skeptics” from those called “believers” or “non-Skeptics” and nothing else; not methods, not science, not education, not qualification.
As for what drives them? An equally good question. I wish I could get inside their heads! Maybe I could find some way to become a Skeptic for a day; better be careful though, I might end up liking it! One thing that I’m now convinced of is that MBA plays a major role in their society, whether they are aware of it or not. See here for more details: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/02/bbc-horizon-mba-city.html and: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/09/british-humanist-association-gets-its.html . To be an MBA Laureate does indeed mark one out as superior, both in one’s own mind and in the eyes of others. To a dedicated MBA-er, others are weak and unreasonable; they’re guilty of wishful-thinking. “But I can face it! I know I’m going to cease to exist when I die but I can face up to that! You inferior non-MBA-ers need this comfort-blanket myth of an Afterlife, but I have the strength, the courage, the manliness and general superiority to get through my day without that crutch!" It must be an extremely intoxicating feeling… Yes, it’s just as well that I can’t become a Skepper for a day!
There’s something else I’ve learnt from my study of the Skeptic Movement: That there’s a great deal of difference between proving somebody wrong and beating them in a debate. In fact the two activities are entirely separate and require a completely separate set of thoughts, mindsets, and skills. What a lot of non-Skeptics don’t understand is that this difference exists; they see debate between Skeps and non-Skeps in the same way as they do internal Woo debates, as a simple weighting up of information on a scale of evidence. It’s not. A Skeptical debate is far more like a verbal fencing match, one which requires training, expertise and natural ability. There are famous organizations where you can train, like the Oxford Union. There are also books which teach you the basics, some are very old ones like The Art of Being Right by the famous philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, see: http://coolhaus.de/art-of-controversy/ That is one very ironic title! (Maybe Schopenhauer intended it to be) It’s ironic because if you become well-versed in these skills you can win a debate when you’re completely wrong against somebody who is completely right. Of course quality of information is a factor in any debate, even with the most skilled disputant, but as this sport develops, quality of information is becoming more and more auxiliary; it's only a matter of time until it becomes superfluous. A good place to learn about this subject is to spend some time on the Skeptic forums, like JREF, see: http://forums.randi.org/forumindex.php It’s best to just lurk if you’re a newcomer because if you dive straight in you’ll get a bloody nose in no time! One Skepdebater (a word I invented) that I truly admire is “Dr B” from the UK Skeptics Forum, see: http://www.ukskeptics.com/forum/showthread.php/2074-More-near-death-nonsense (I think that this is Dr Jason Braithwaite, see: http://bham.academia.edu/JasonJBraithwaite) not that I agree with him; in fact I totally disagree with him, but I admire him as a world-champion, Gold Medal Skepdebater (He also holds the MBA Silver). I merely enjoy all this as a spectator sport, like a football or basketball fan. As you’ll see, Skepdebating is the lifeblood and cornerstone of the Skeptic community. I don’t know of many of my fellow Woo’s who can match the most elementary forum Skeptic in this art. A good research source is Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens is not a true Skeptic, but rather an “Atheo-Skeptic” (I’ll explain in a future article!) However he is a man who is a prime and extremely interesting example of what I mean when I talk about the art and sport of debating, so much so that he hardly needs an introduction. Here, watch the title-holder prizefighter at work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R-SjC3lTWk . There are hundreds more of him online. In his autobiography Hitch 22, he describes how he can’t bear to lose a debate. One thing’s for sure though, he’s always going to be tested; he's made certain of that! I must say I do question his sincerity. After reading two of his books and hearing hundreds of hours of his speeches I wonder how much of what he preaches he really believes. He's also stated some very contraditory sentiments about the Military. Hitchens is a man who lives for the debate. Debate is an art form to him, one of which he is the virtually invincible grandmaster; it’s not a means for him, but an ends in itself. His opinions seem tailor-made to ensure that he can get a wrangle out of anybody. He’s a Left-winger who supports the war and he’s an atheist who opposes abortion. All his positions are perfect to make him the universal contrarian. He may not be a pure Skepper, but he has a Skepper’s mind when it comes to the table.
Of course the debating skills that are so quintessential to the Skeptic Movement can be acquired by anybody who has the will to learn, including us Woo's. And I do often ponder over what would happen if the playing field were leveled a bit more. Maybe a time will come when that will happen. There’s actually a HPANWO Forum thread on this subject. I should apologize for the rudeness of some of it; I started it at a time when I was feeling very hard-done-by, and also engaged in a fairly vitriolic discussion with another forum-member. Some of the posts are just ironic and satirical jokes as well, but it gives you an idea of what I’m talking about. This thread is a work-in-progress and more points may be added on. Here's a link to the thread: http://hpanwoforum.freeforums.org/the-hpanwo-guide-to-being-a-forum-skep-dick-t912.html . And here's the list of the guidelines that are posted on the thread:
1. Demand evidence from your opponent for everything he says, but when he delivers demand more. And when he delivers more demand even more. Remember, your thirst for evidence must be unquenchable!
2. Use the word "onus" as many times as you possibly can.
3. Always accuse your opponent of failing to read your posts properly, even if he reads them correctly to the letter. Better still, write in a synthetically nebulous style to confuse him and them blame him for not reading it properly.
4. Say: "That old chestnut again!" whenever somebody gives you information you've never heard before.
5. If somebody provides any evidence that cannot be immediately verified on the spot with a form signed in triplicate, denounce it as a fake for lack of evidence. If the poster then provides the triplicate form, go to Rule 1.
6. Use Occam's Razor a lot. The problem-solving exercise which states that the simplest solution should always be tried first. When your opponent asks inconvenient questions like: "How do you know what is more likely than something else?" throw your rattle out of your crib in his direction like there's no tomorrow! And then end the post with "Hope that clears up your misunderstanding of Occams Razor"
7. Another good word is "proselytize". But only use it if you're Christopher Hitchens.
8. If somebody mentions the name of a respectable scientist who doesn't support a mainstream Skeptical opinion; EG: Peter Fenwick, Rupert Sheldrake, Leavengood, Rick Strassman. Then post the following:
"(Insert name here)'s work has been comprehensively discredited!"
You must say this whether it is true or not. Even say it if you've never heard of the person your opponent mentions! Never explain how it has been discredited or who did the imaginary discrediting. If you do you might give away your advantage!
9. Constantly and scathingly criticize your opponent on matters irrelevant to his argument like his spelling, his contribution levels, his use of smilies, capitalization, grammar, the length of his posts and italics, his use of enlarged text, coloured text, different fonts, ANYTHING! Accuse him of being abusive to other members if he so much as mentions anything that is not 100% subservient!
10. THE SKEPTICS WILL BE SAFE
Remember there's no referee on forums so pick up the ball and run with it! Make sure the moderators are all fellow Skeptics so that you have complete control of forum discipline. Skeptics must be judge, jury and executioner. This means that you allow the Skeptic members to treat the non-Skeptic members any way they please: be rude to them, criticize them and abuse them mercilessly. Twist every rule to suit yourself. Twist every word your opponent says to suit yourself. Gang up on them and make their life pure hell!
11. Be genuinely funny sometimes like Richard Wiseman.
12. Invent new words like "Paranormality" and write books with the word in the title.
13. Make sure that your favourite animal is the Pink Unicorn!
14. If you've won the Materialist Bravery Award then say so in your signature.
15. If any member suggests that Atlantis might be true, even if there's a remotest possibly, that it might be true; or that the Egyptian Pyramids were not built by people with bronze tools and no iron, wheels, pulleys or levers, then immediately denounce him as a latent Nazi, an AntiSemite, a Holocaust-denier, General Manager of Dachau and all associated labels.
16. If nothing else works, start to wonder about the subjects mental health and show that you're really worried and willing to help. Having such outlandish and unscientific views are a sure sign of mental illness. Preferably psychotic schizophrenia or some other severe mental dysfunction.
17. Practice "dissection quoting". This is where you split a quote into multiple segments and write a brief reply to each one. This causes your opponent more difficulty and effort in reading them; and it makes him feel more intimidated. It will make him think: "Oh no, this guy's going through everything I say with a fine-toothed comb! I can't get away with any sleight of speech at all! I'd better watch my step!"
Example: You're opponent writes: "I'm not saying for sure that ghosts are real, but I have seen them many times in my house and at work."
You reply like this:
Yes, you are.
This is a forum so you're writing, not saying.
How can you be sure?
You use the word "ghost" but this is misleading. You don't know that they are "ghosts", and anyway, please define the term "ghosts"
Define real. Real in the mental sense or the physical?
What do you mean by "but"? The word "but" implies an exception to the statement made before.
Don't use the first person; there may be more people involved.
"Have" or "are"? You appear to be taking part in this experience in the present so use the correct tense if you please.
Not "seen"; you may have picked them up on your other senses
I thought you said there was just one!
Many is not a number that a proper rational, empirical scientist can use to determine frequency and therefore generate statistics.
in my house
I hear so-called "ghosts" appear to the deluded more in caravans than houses. Anyway, bungalows are top of the list so how many floors has it got?
and at work.
Well the way you suffer from this delusion of yours is related to the kind of work you do. Go see a working doctor and kindly stop wasting our time!
18: Use Forced Overreaction. Undermine your opponent by pretending to be very angry or very hurt over everything he says. Twist any words he utters and make them out to be insults. For instance if he writes: "You must be kidding if you think the Roswell craft was a weather balloon!" Then whine and squeal like a hypersensitive prima donna! Accusing him of being a troll, flag the post and reply: "How DARE you accuse me of "kidding" Kidding implies that I am viciously and maliciously lying!" And remember Number 10 above? The Moderator will be a fellow Skeptic and back you up by reprimanding the member: "Do not accuse other forum users of viciously and maliciously lying unless you have evidence! Is that clear!? Do that again and you'll be BANNED!"
19. Try to drag any conversation round and round in circles. This is very easy on a forum where Skeptics are the majority and the Woo's are outnumbered. What you do is wait until a certain aspect of the discussion hasn't been mentioned for 20 or 30 posts and then suddenly bring it up again! It doesn't matter if you were proved wrong the last time it was made; your opponent will probably have forgotten. Keep doing this until your opponent simply grows weary and quits the thread. In this way it will conjour the illusion that you have won the debate, even if you've lost.
This JREF thread is a good example: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=80628 See how the Skepti-heroic members harness the Woo member "Porterboy" to a loop of infinite repeating exchanges of points. This eventually breaks down and Porterboy finally extracts a surrender from one of them, the monosyllabic post "Yes", but by that time Porterboy has grown bored and exhausted and his victory is weak and disguised because of it. (By the way, "Porterboy" is me!)
20. Write in a way that illustrates tone of voice in dialogue. This is a very important skill when it comes to Skeptibaiting your opponent. Your opponent must feel as if you are speaking to him, in the same room, in his face so he can't turn away. An example is to turn written words into dialogue like "yes and "no" by writing "yup" and "nope" instead. If used in just the right place doing this is very effective.
21. "Diddying". This is related to number 20 in that it's a way of making written words sound like spoken, but this is by far the most powerful example. This dialogue-writing is one of somebody dancing around in a circle in a laughing, but very angry way, with tension. There's a element of gloating and contempt too which is all part of being a Forum Skepper.
The "Diddy" is best used in conjunction with the word "wrong" (More on this word itself later) You write "Wrong-diddy- wrong-wrong-wrong!" using bold type and smilies galore! This has the power to light the flame of irritation in almost all Woo Scum and I can almost guarantee you'll get a reaction from them which will give the Mod's the excuse they're looking for to move in.
22. Saying "Wrong." Just like that, not as part of a sentence or in conjunction with other words; just as it is on its own. Capital W, full stop! Don't say: "You're wrong" or even worse: "I think you're wrong." No! Just say "Wrong."
However, unlike other monosyllabics, "Wrong." cannot be used on its own in a single-word post. It must be followed by a sentence of explanation.
23. Dvarking. Dvarking is related to Diddying, in that it is a way of injecting verbal intonation into a written piece of text; however Dvarking crates a different tone. If used correctly it can enrage and intimidate your opponent more than anything else. But BEWARE! Dvarking, unlike Diddying, can be used by Woo scum against us too. Dvarking is most often employed by academics against each other, but can be used by anybody trained in the art.
The basis of Dvarking is to try to make your intonement sound like a mixture of Kenneth Williams and Donald Duck, but very angry; however the anger is controlled and rationed out in even amounts; are you getting the picture?
24. The Signature. A good sig is very important to be a good forum Skepolata. It should best be a quote from a famous Skep or a proverb. Either way it should say something both about yourself and an intimidating smack in the face to your opponent Here's a good example from JREF:
"I am a collection of water, calcium and organic molecules called Carl Sagan"
25. Another brilliant word: "Caveat". It's only recently emerged in the Forum Skeptisphere so use it quick before it becomes another cliché!
26. Whole-quote-applause-smiles. Quote-reply a very long Skeptical post that pours supreme scorn and abuse down on some outnumbered Woo . Quote it in its entirety and then post no reply except a single applause smilie; either that or a thumbs-up one or similar smilies of support and approval
27. A one-way sense of humour. Use humour continuously to ridicule Woo scum. Explore the limits and heights of wit and satire in competitions that grace threads of extraordinary length... But when it comes to being on the receiving end lose your sense of humour entirely! Become completely oblivious to all anti-Skeptic jokes and act like somebody who has trouble cottoning on to gags by Roy Chubby Brown! Also, act ultra-offended at the most innocuous jibes; see above, Number 18
28. Always claim that you have Woo friends. It's nothing personal after all! Like Tim Minchin talking about his Christian mate. Better still, say you have a friend who's a paranormal investigator whom you're fond of but you think is naive. (James Randi)
29. This is kind of an extension on Number 1. Practice "Committed Reductionism". This means that any evidence supplied must be weighed against a lack of it in counter-points and against contradictory evidence in other areas. Always promise your oponenent that if Committed Reductionism can be overcome you will accept that his claims are true. Here's a good example:
At Christmas 1980 in Rendlesham Forerst, Suffolk an old man was out walking his dog alone at night when a pyramidal-shaped UFO landed beside him. Also red lights were seen by him flying through the trees. This is obviously a stupid and pathetic attempt to persuade us that he saw something truly paranormal! He did not. Why was he the only witness? Surely we'd have had a dozen or so witnesses from the RAF Woodbridge airbase nearby! Why were the security police not sent out to investigate? You'd think that they'd have alerted the base's Deputy-Commander Lt. Co. Halt who was at a Christmas party at the time. Did they say: "Nah, let him get on pulling crackers and singing Jingle Bells!" If the security police were sent out to investigate, and Halt and a group of colleagues went into the woods and saw it, and recorded their experiences on a tape-recorder... then I'd believe it.
But this definitely did not... NOT happen so the Skeptic viewpoint prevails again!
30. Provocative repetition. If you wish to post a particularly well-known piece of Skepperistic "wisdom" then post it but afterwards say slowly and with much articulation. "I think that that is so important that I am going to say it again" and then do so. The articulation is very important; avoid abbreviations like: "I think that's so important I'm going to say it again".
Here's a good example with one of the Skeptic Movement's best known mantras: "The plural of anecdote is not data. I think that that is so important that I am going to say it again: The plural of anecdote is not data."
Latest HPANWO Voice articles: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2011/11/poppy-burners-are-shills.html
Latest HPANWO TV films: http://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/11/remembrance-sunday.html |
The author – Mr. Michael Kott sent me this book for an honest review! I honestly enjoyed reading every single page, and I couldn’t put the book down, which deprived me from some sleep a few nights. This is what I thought about PIASA:
This is a very warm story that covers the life of Sara, a young little girl (don’t call her that, she’ll get angry!). My apologies – a young fifteen-year-old lady that survives a car accident while her whole family dies. In times when destiny is hard to accept, she will get involved into resolving the mystery behind the legend of the Piasa, and this adventure might actually mean a new start in life for her!
For a lady of this age, this destiny is extremely hard to accept, and on top of that, she has a few scars that will mark that experience probably for the rest of her life.
Her life is not easy – she lost her family, and all of her belongings, and here she is now, at her Aunt Claire’s hotel, still unsure whether she is ready to move forward with life.
Sara is a very unusual character. I have to admit that at times, she would made me cringe. Some of the things she says and does doesn’t comply with my opinion, but there are things that I really loved about her. I loved the way she is coping with all the challenges she has, after everything that she’s been through, her ability to admire someone the way she admires Mike, to start believing again, even despite everything that happens around her, to seize the day and enjoy the moments that life can offer. I love how she would find hope even in the darkest of places.
Even though I really liked the character of Sara, my favourite character has to be Mike. The way he thinks, acts and motivates everyone around him is unique. Mike is one of the characters that will make you realise and question some of your decisions in life.
The only character I couldn’t connect to at all was Pamela. I honestly am not sure why – it might be that there weren’t too many situations involving her that would make me care.
The story hooks you onto it and it is hard to put it down. I have never heard about the legend of the Piasa before, and one part of me wanted to find out before reading the book. I am glad that I didn’t, as I found out slowly about it, page by page, and that is an experience that will stay with me.
I love how it is presented that life is so unpredictable in so many ways, that mysteries are all around us, and that we are able to move forward and win – only if we wish to believe that we can do it. And sometimes, we are in doubt, and that is when precious people come into our lives – it all happens with a reason.
The only thing I wish was different about ‘’Piasa’’ is that I could’ve read this amazing book way, way sooner, when I was fifteen. I can’t wait to read the second book of this series – Cryptid. |
Monsters of New York by Bruce G. Hallenbeck
When people think of New York, many iconic images come to mind: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, subways, Time Square, Broadway shows, crowds, and the general hustle and bustle of the business center of the world. But New York City is only a small part of New York State, and many might be surprised to know that we have our fair share of Bigfoot, lake monsters, alien creatures, and other weird, difficult-to-categorize phenomenon. “Monsters of New York” by Bruce G. Hallenbeck is one of the newest in a series of books by Stackpole books, detailing the monsters of each state in the Union. And as a native New Yorker, how could I not pick this one up?
Hallenbeck was co-author of “Monsters of New Jersey” with Loren Coleman, another book I reviewed. This time, he flies solo, tackling the folklore, myths, and urban legends of the Empire State. Indeed, the first chapter is about Native American folklore, the wendigo, ice giants, flying serpents, and the like, and how they may be related to current sightings of more familiar monsters.
From there, he moves on to Champ, the lake monster of Lake Champlain. I’m not too keen on lake monsters, but this chapter gives a very good account of the sightings in New York, and also details some other, lesser-known river and lake monsters in the state. Up next is Bigfoot and the Kinderhook creature, which is also a Bigfoot-type animal. Apparently there are a lot of Bigfoot sightings upstate, near Whitehall and Kinderhook, which is to be expected, but Hallenbeck even chronicles some tales of Bigfoot-like creatures out in Long Island back in the 1800s. As a New Yorker, those were interesting, even though it’s hard to imagine any Bigfoot out there, even hundreds of years ago.
The Montauk monster is dealt with at length here as well, and while the stories of Plum Island and the research being done their is interesting, I don’t think this “cryptid” warranted its own chapter, especially since in all likelihood, it was just a dead dog or raccoon that had badly decomposed. Aliens and other weird little creatures in the Hudson Valley? Check. There was a huge UFO flap there in the 1980s, and its summaries very well here. And what book on strange creatures in New York would be complete without alligators in the sewers? It really happened, and Hallenbeck explains all in his book.
The last chapter talks about out of place cats and even touches briefly on el chupacapras. Again, not hard to imagine big cats in upstate New York. Heck, only a few years ago we had coyotes in Central Park, so anything is possible.
The Good: Bruce Hallenbeck is a native New Yorker, and his enthusiasm for the subject matter shines through in this book. He even offers up some of his own first-hand accounts experiencing some of the weirdness of New York State. For a short book (without appendices, only 104 pages long), he covers a lot of ground, including the history of the lands in New York, Native American folklore, urban legends, and more. There are two useful appendices in the book, one covering Champ sightings, and the other covering Bigfoot sightings, both in chronological order (but, I’m guessing, by no means comprehensive).
The Bad: I mention this in a lot of my book reviews, I know, but there are no photos here. Which most of the time would be a more minor issue, but when pages and pages are based upon discussion of a photograph of Champ, it might be nice to let the reader be able to see said photograph. There were also some omissions of other creatures that I felt should have made the book, like the flying humanoid seen in Coney Island, or the baby elephant sightings in my own home neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
The Ugly: I’m nitpicking here, and mainly doing so because Mr. Hallenbeck has collaborated with Loren Coleman in the past (on the aforementioned “Monsters of New Jersey”), so he should know that the word “Bigfoot” is always capitalized, and the plural form for Bigfoot is Bigfoot. But throughout the book, Bigfoot is spelled “bigfoot” and pluralized as “bigfoots.” It just doesn’t read right to me, and took me out of the stories on more than one occasion.
The Bottom Line: A good book for anyone interested in the various myths and legends of New York State, but way too short to be comprehensive. Instead, this reads more like a primer, something to whet your appetite for more, and there are other books that cover the legends contained herein in much more detail. But if you love the other Stackpole books in this series, it’s a must have. Photos, more details and more creatures would have been nice, but I did appreciate the first-hand accounts that Hallenbeck shared. For me, it’s always much more interesting to read accounts like that, rather than third-hand stories that have been retold and recycled over the years. Strongly recommended.
Final Score: 80% |
Flying pterosaur (Ropen) sighting in 2007 by cryptid researcher Rex Yapi
On a Saturday morning in 2007, Rex and his younger brother Amos Yapi together with other Umboi island family boarded an outboard motor boat.
They left Kapiton coastline and rode slowly along coastline waters down south, enroute Masikel Bay to Bunsil government station.
The morning was so dull with immense cloud cover over the tropical coastal forest with mist covering the entire sea.
At Misikel Bay there flows a river called Goosh. The mouth of Goosh river is rare, whereby by coastline is decorated by redish clay, and this is the entry and exit point of a mysterious mighty flying pterosaur which is known as ropen to many natives of Umboi island.
We approached this hotspot which I never knew but the locals on board the boat did. There in the midst of misty and calm sea about 200 meters, I could see a long tail of a creature afloat. It has a diamond shaped edge, brownish, scaleless and even featherless. It's body could not be seen due to heavy cloud cover and misty sea surface, and was submerged within shallow reef waters.
I pointed towards the scene and said, "Look, there's something floating!"
An elderly guy on board who was also the boat owner got up and said, "Papa graun." In Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin language 'papa graun' mean s landlord. So Ropen is highly feared and even respected as a noble animal by the entire Umboi island natives. He told his son to switch off the motor of the boat which he was steering, in fear of its sound being heard by the Ropen.
Also in Umboi, meeting a Ropen is a scary and highly risky thing to do because this animal is a predator and is huge enough to kill a human being. On the other end, locals there tie this creature and its existence to superstitious beliefs.
For almost half an hour we sat afloat inside the boat in silence until the Ropen got out of our sight in the midst of cloud and mist cover. Later we proceeded on when all shadows got cleared.
What an encounter to meet a friendly and mighty flying pterosaur on that day. I wish I had a camera that time to take a shot or even film it.
Meeting American cryptozoological minds
I returned back to Lae city after being on Umboi island for several months for a second semester studies at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. With me, my younger brother Amos Yapi boarded a cargo ship called MV Umboi for Lae.
Back at the university campus I went online and searched for Ropen website and read about previous cryptid-minded American explorers who searched for this pterodactyl in 2005 and some earlier years.
There were couple of them but I got hold on to a specific guy named Johnathan David Whitcomb who aggressively studied this flying pterosaur of Umboi and started a crypto group called 'Living Pterosaurs of the World' (LPW).
I communicated with him online. He asked me several questions and I answered all correctly. Johnathan knew that I was a genuine living eyewitness so added me into the LPW as an elite group member.
In 2008 I asked Johnathan for equipment support like cameras, laptop and other things purposely to start a filming expedition. Unfortunately, he never listened to my request, so our communications regarding the cryptid Ropen went into hibernation, but the global LPW members were constantly updating and communicating on Ropen sightings.
In 2016, after eight years in total isolation in the crytid discussions, I surfaced.
Rex Yapi on expedition
A guy by the name of Greg Hedger, a computer wizard turned crypto fanatic from Idaho-USA, bumped onto me and asked of my sighting. I gave him a full account of my sighting and without hesitation he sent me his only Panasonic Full HD camcorder from Australia where he and his wife Elizabeth were working that time.
Greg Hedger also launched my GoFundMe titled 'Film the Ropen'. He also designed my website called www.newguineahandcrafts.com to sell handcrafts to support Ropen research in Papua New Guinea. (Unfortunately, the GoFundMe is dormant and website can't generate funds due to Paypal services restriction to receive payments in Papua New Guinea.)
Despite the above setbacks, I carried out a full scale filming expedition of flying pterosaur in Umboi island with the $5000 plus raised by my GoFundMe. This amount only sustained me in 2017, but other proceeding years like 2018 and 2019 are have been on hadhoc basis.
Rex Yapi in black shorts with a button shirt, twigs on cap and bush knife.
Today, I am surviving on the Panasonic camcorder of Greg which is faced by many technical issues.
Rex Yapi on expedition with his only camcorder supporting his research into the flying pterosaur now in its third year
Ropen sightings all around Umboi island and Papua New Guinea is currently high. I need a constant support in money, camcorders, flying drone cameras, GoPro, stealth trail cameras, night vision scopes, GPS and other devices to launch a massive filming expedition extensively nationwide.
To contact Rex Yapi, please use source link below. If you have been an eyewitness to the Ropen please also contact Nexus Magazine. |
Israeli-born sculptor Tomer Sapir—a “crypto-taxidermist” of creatures that have never walked this earth—surveys the borderlands of technology and nightmare.
Sapir’s use of artist’s materials to replicate nature blurs the preconceived boundaries between authenticity and imitation, exposing various dichotomies and rendering meaningless what can be “proven” by the scientific method.
In the battle pitting science against art, each is a formidable opponent. Sapir’s world–colored by his own “new, doubtful mythology” inspired by organic configurations–is a journey through a fitful sleeper’s dream or an accidental visit to a natural history museum, instilling both doubt and wonder.
—Helen Bartley for Guernica.
Tomer Sapir: Terra Incognita was the term used by medieval mapmakers to indicate unmapped or undocumented areas. I see myself as more of a rogue explorer than a tour guide. I gather my findings, but before they’re exhibited, I implant them with bugs to mislead the viewer and alter their scientific relevance.
Guernica: When did you first become interested in cryptozoology?
Tomer Sapir: I first discovered cryptozoology in the summer of 2008. I was reading an online newspaper and I found a story accompanied by a strong image of an unrecognizable corpse lying on a shore. The three women who reported the event claimed that this hairless, mammal-like creature with a beak had decomposed shortly after it was found. There were few remains left to be photographed, but the picture and the story created a huge public stir. The media reaction was quick and the creature was nicknamed “the Montauk Monster.”
I was intrigued by the wretched mammal-bird who’d mysteriously been swept ashore. I began my own investigation and was amazed by the vast number of theories trying to explain the “real” story. I wasn’t as interested in the truth as I was in the intense way the public reacted to an image of an unidentifiable creature released by a dubious news source. During my online research I was first exposed to “cryptids”—scientifically unconfirmed creatures of speculative existence that are excluded from all contemporary zoological indexes. Cryptozoologists search for proof that the animals in question do exist.
The story of the Montauk Monster became the catalyst for a series of projects: “The Visit” (1 and 2) and “The Shores of Montauk.” Actually, the spirit of the Montauk Monster still continues to linger over my body of work. Through my research of cryptozoology and cryptids, I was exposed to crypto-taxidermy—the creation of stuffed animals that don’t actually exist. The taxidermist combines the parts of various real animals or uses artificial materials to produce new creatures, much like those found in mythology.
As an artist who deals with “gray areas” and the illusions of elusive truth, I understood that my actions in the studio were very similar to the actions of the crypto-taxidermist. Although I don’t use real animal parts, I do create fictional, organic configurations that are not included in any canonical index.
Guernica: In your two-dimensional study of the Montauk Monster, there is an underlying mystery surrounding the creature’s origins and its possible connection to a facility researching bioterrorism. Could you talk a bit about this project?
Tomer Sapir: It was speculated that the creature had escaped from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a secluded, top-secret government facility located on what was known as “Monster Island.” The facility was once a military base, but later became part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1945, focusing on the research and diagnosis of foreign animal diseases. Since 2003, it has been managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and houses a bioterrorism defense program.
I don’t know how much of this information is reliable, but I became curious. The aim of this kind of facility is to repulse external threats to national security. It was fascinating to me that there could be a possible connection between a secret governmental facility and the demise of this poor creature, somehow forced from the amorphous ocean to solid land. It seemed to undermine the symbolic and political order. The whole story made me wonder about borders, the uncanny, and our perceptions of good and evil.
In 2009, I was invited by curator Urs Küenzi to participate in the show “The Answer is Within You” at Substitut Space in Berlin. The body of work shown there included some small collages made from layers of transparent grease-proof papers and printed images. The complete series functions as a group of fragments, clues, and evidence pertaining to the Montauk Monster story. In an inner room of the gallery, I set up a loop of projected images featuring the Montauk Monster that I obtained from the internet—fading up, appearing slowly and then vanishing.
Guernica: How did the naturally occurring changes in light affect your visual storytelling?
Tomer Sapir: The paper works were hung on the façade windows of the gallery, the border/membrane between the space and the street. During the day, the light came from the street and went through the transparent papers into the space. In the evenings, the light from the space went through the papers to the street and the gallery functioned as a light box. The changes in the balance between the in/out light sources influenced the appearance of the works during the day.
Guernica: Can you tell us about “Overturned Cryptid” and its particular significance?
Tomer Sapir: “Overturned Cryptid” is the first cryptid I created while in the MFA program at Bezalel Academy. It holds the DNA for most of my work that has since followed.
Guernica: Some of your cryptids are reminiscent of the menacing creatures found in early science fiction films. For example, there are the mutated giant crustaceans in Attack of the Crab Monster, or the genetically engineered beast with human DNA in Forbidden World. Has your work been influenced by these genre films?
Tomer Sapir: I’m certainly influenced by science fiction films and appreciate the camp value of the early ones. However, I’m much more influenced by horror movies than by science fiction. When I was ten years old, one of my classmate’s parents thought it could be fun to screen Nightmare on Elm Street at their son’s birthday party. It was my first horror film, and it terrified me. After a few days, my friends and I wanted to feel that same rush of adrenaline again, so we watched another horror film. For several years thereafter, we met every Friday night to watch horror films. I believe that those days have had a huge effect on my present work. I’m fascinated by the compressed moment, the potential for sudden catastrophe.
Guernica: How does your most recent cryptid reflect the future evolution of your work??
Tomer Sapir: I’m always asking myself how I can create an enigma from objects that one could otherwise easily grasp. At one stage while working on this show, I had a desire to create a huge monster with about ten legs.
As I began working on the legs, I studied them as they stood separately on my studio floor. It seemed they worked substantively as sculptures on their own so I left them that way, adding only a tail and a stinger at the end of each.
Aside from the group of legs, another part of the original monster survived. Instead of the whole creature, I created a wall sculpture detail of the beast’s backside where its long tail and huge testicles meet at its stinger—a seductive trap. This is my most recent cryptid and best represents my current vision. It also establishes the direction of the ongoing project. While in previous shows, one could sense the presence of artists such as Mark Dion and Roxy Paine, with “Terra Incognita” I’ve returned to the influence of Louise Bourgeois.
I realize, as my work evolves that it’s becoming both more intimate and more intimidating. It amazes me how closely related these words are in English.
Tomer Sapir is the recipient of the Israeli Ministry of Culture’s 2012 Young Artist Award. He will be participating in “Unnatural,” an exhibit curated by Tami Katz-Freiman at The Bass Museum of Art in Miami from September 8th to November 4th. “Research for the Full Crypto-Taxidermal Index,” an ongoing project, will be part of “Contemporary Cabinets of Wonder—From Amazement to Disenchantment,” curated by Dalia Levin, Daria Kaufmann, and Ghila Limon at the Herzliya Museum for Contemporary Art, on exhibit from September 8th to December 2nd. Additional information about the artist and his work can be found at: www.tomersapir.com |
Title: Imaginary Numbers (InCryptid series, book #9)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Publication date: February 25, 2020
Length: 448 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Source: Won in a Goodreads giveaway!
The ninth book in the fast-paced InCryptid urban fantasy series returns to the mishaps of the Price family, eccentric cryptozoologists who safeguard the world of magical creatures living in secret among humans.
Sarah Zellaby has always been in an interesting position. Adopted into the Price family at a young age, she’s never been able to escape the biological reality of her origins: she’s a cuckoo, a telepathic ambush predator closer akin to a parasitic wasp than a human being. Friend, cousin, mathematician; it’s never been enough to dispel the fear that one day, nature will win out over nurture, and everything will change.
Maybe that time has finally come.
After spending the last several years recuperating in Ohio with her adoptive parents, Sarah is ready to return to the world–and most importantly, to her cousin Artie, with whom she has been head-over-heels in love since childhood. But there are cuckoos everywhere, and when the question of her own survival is weighed against the survival of her family, Sarah’s choices all add up to one inescapable conclusion.
This is war. Cuckoo vs. Price, human vs. cryptid…and not all of them are going to walk away.
It makes me so happy to have a new InCryptid book in my hands, especially since I won this one in a Goodreads giveaway, which pretty much never happens for me!
In Imaginary Numbers, the ongoing InCryptid series turns to two new point-of-view characters, Sarah Zellaby and Artie Harrington. Sarah and Artie are both members of the sprawling Price-Healy clan, a group of cryptozoologists dedicated to protecting non-human species from the persecution of the deadly Covenant, and equally dedicated to protecting humans from the deadlier of cryptid species. To that end, the Prices are all highly skilled with weaponry of all sorts, learning to become excellent shots and to throw knives with precision from childhood.
Sarah is the first non-human main character in this series. She’s a cuckoo, the common term for Johrlacs, which are a human-appearing species that are more or less descended from telepathic wasps. Cuckoos are apex predators. They can take over anyone’s mind and make them do whatever they want, and the effects can be fatal. Sarah was adopted into the Price family as a child, and so was raised with a different set of influences than a typical cuckoo, making her more aware of her responsibility to respect others’ boundaries and giving her a deep, true love for her family. As well as a different and very strong love for her cousin Artie, which the two of them have been too shy and awkward to ever acknowledge.
In this book, Sarah’s return to the family compound after a lengthy recovery from injury brings the attention of unknown cuckoos, who want to use her for their own purposes, and don’t care who they have to kill to make it happen. The action is intense and fast-paced, with a plot that’s occasionally confusing but always fun.
The InCryptid books tend to be a little less dire than Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series, which regularly rips out my heart. This series is generally light-hearted, not that there aren’t perilous situations and heartbreaks here as well. Still, with a family that includes a sorcerer whose boyfriend is a human-sized monkey, a grandfather who’s patched together from dead bodies, and a time-traveling grandma who appears to be in her teens, things can’t get all that serious for too extended a time.
The author’s trademark quippiness and cleverness is on full display in Imaginary Numbers:
It wouldn’t stop the cuckoos on the lawn from pouring into the house if they got the signal — it would barely even slow them down — but every little bit helps when you’re going up against telepathic killers from another dimension.
… [T]hat made it better than standing around waiting for the invisible floor to drop out from under my feet and send me plummeting into the void. I am not a big fan of plummeting. If I had to commit to a position, I’dd probably have to say that I was anti-plummeting.
“She seems nice.”
“No, she doesn’t,” I said. “She seems like an unstable old lady who somehow keeps aging backward, and who carries grenades that are older than I am way too frequently for comfort’s sake.”
Normal people get meet-cutes. I get crime scene cleanup.
Imaginary Numbers ends with a sort-of cliffhanger — the main plot is resolved, but ends up dumping a few key characters into a brand-new situation in the last lines… and I’m dying to know what will happen! It sounds as though the next in the series, Calculated Risks, will pick up where this one leaves off. Too bad we have to wait a year for it!
As an added treat, Imaginary Numbers includes a bonus novella, Follow the Lady, which takes place chronologically between books 8 and 9. It’s fun, not earth-shattering, and a nice way to de-stress after the high-pitched excitement at the end of Imaginary Numbers.
This series is a delight, and I’ll echo my previous advice to start at the beginning. These books do not work as stand-alones, not if you want to have any hope of getting what’s going on and the complex, convoluted family trees. All of the InCryptid books are fast reads, so even though this is the 9th book in the series, it really won’t be too hard to catch up.
I love these books! Check ’em out. |
MOUNTAIN MONSTERS, Destination America’s wildly popular cryptid adventure show now in season 2, follows a team of expert hunters and trappers as they defend Appalachia from mysterious creatures that have spawned countless sightings in the region for generations.
It’s beards vs beasts as legendary local creatures like the Sheepsquatch, Hellhound, Yahoo, Fire Dragon, and Hogzilla may not be just old wives tales, and the Appalachian Investigators of Mysterious Sightings (AIMS) team, led by Trapper John Tice, is in hot pursuit to prove it.
As native sons of West Virginia, the men of AIMS have spent their entire lives navigating the backcountry, surviving off the land, and practicing do-it-yourself resourcefulness in a land where time stands still. Putting a lifetime of training to the test, the AIMS team investigates, tracks, and attempts to trap these evasive creatures in an epic battle between man and monster in the 14 new episodes of season 2, airing at 10p/9c on Friday nights.
As Destination America’s most successful series ever, MOUNTAIN MONSTERS is getting the chat-about-me treatment with Mountain Monsters: Behind the Hunt after show. Go behind the scenes of each episode with Trapper and the gang as they answer questions about the monsters, their most terrifying moments on the hunt, and what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Join America’s Most Haunted Radio at 10pE tonight, May 27, as we talk with MOUNTAIN MONSTERS star and AIMS leader Trapper John Tice. |
Feb 13, 2020
On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week we had so many tales that I had to cut one to make Room! We have two guests on the show. Sylvia Shults is back with another round of incredible ghost stories, and we meet Alton Chung. Alton is a professional storyteller who will read a tale about a haunted man cave. Our featured story comes from Mexico and could be the scariest chupacabra encounter we have ever had.
Featured Story - The Night I will Never Forget
This story was sent in by Gabriel Jordan from Texas City, Texas. It tells of his two encounters with Chupacabra while in Mexico. It presents a side of the cryptid that I have not heard of before. Terrifying!
Program Note: Sylvia Shults is a Librarian, Author, and Ghost Hunter. She has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of the weird and strange. Her non-fiction works include Ghost of the Illinois River, Fractured Spirits, 44 Years in Darkness, Hunting Demons, The Spirits of Christmas, and her latest release Fractured Souls. All of her books are available on Amazon and you can find out more about her at her WordPress Home Page.
Ron’s Amazing Stories is produced and hosted by Ronald Hood:
Blog Page: https://ronsamazingstories.blog/
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Story Submissions - Use this link to submit your stories to the show.
Podcast Archives - Looking for the first 100 episodes of the podcast? |
The Tasmanian Tiger is one of my favorite extinct animals thought to now possibly be just cryptid. I think it has an excellent chance of still being around.
The Tasmanian Tiger is categorized as a "thylacine." The Tasmanian Tiger actually existed in Australia, the island of Tasmania and New Guinea. This was the largest marsupial (pouched creature).
It was believed to be extinct or nearly extinct on the continent of Australia by the time Europeans settled there. On the Island of Tasmania; however, it lasted much longer. Bounties on their dead bodies, as well as domestic dogs might have helped to obliterate this population.
The last thylacine died in 1936 (video below), officially declared extinct in 1986.
Even to this day, people often report seeing it. It's seen so often, that there has to be something to it. A breeding population would have learned to hide from man who was pursuing him and thylacine had bred extensively before the citizens began killing off their population to get rid of the "troublemakers."
In fact, a forestry worker in Tasmania saw one in broad daylight in 2011. He described a striped rear end, a long stiff tail and a weird rolling motion when it walked (source).
If a supposedly extinct cryptid does walk this earth, this is the one I would put all my money into. It is the most likely and the most witnessed, with a great deal of uninhabited land to occupy. In fact, there are plenty of videos on YouTube people have taken of potential thylacines. They're pretty badass and seriously, I hope the marsupials survived the slaughter because they are just magnificent wild creatures.
Here's one such film taken of potential thylacine:
When I saw this film of a supposed chupacabra taken by a police dashboard camera, I couldn't help thinking of thylacines. Strange, huh? It reminded me of the archived video (above). |
Lindworm (cognate with Old Norse linnormr ‘constrictor snake’, Norwegian linnorm ‘dragon’, Swedish lindorm ‘serpent’, German Lindwurm ‘dragon’) in British heraldry, is a technical term for a wingless bipedal dragon often with a poisonous bite.
In modern Scandinavian languages, the cognate lindorm can refer to any ‘serpent’ or monstrous snake, but in Norwegian heraldry, it is also a technical term for a ‘seaserpent’ (sjøormer), although it may also stand for a ‘lindworm’ in British heraldry.
A two-legged, wingless lindworm on the Coat of Arms of Wurmannsquick. (from Wikimedia Commons)
Generally, the word lindworm stood for the Latin word draco (whence Norse dreki), thus could refer to any draconic creature, from a real life constrictor snake to a legendary dragon. In European mythology and folklore, creatures identified as a ‘lindworm’ may be winged or wingless, plus quadrupedal, bipedal or limbless. However late persistent tradition designates the lindworm as having no limbs, or just front claws (so that it must slither) in contrast to wyverns that have only hind-quarters (and possible claws on the end of its wings) and in contrast to dragons which have four limbs in addition to its wings. (from Wikipedia)
Many websites mention that the explorer Marco Polo reported seeing several lindworms while crossing the Steppes of Central Asia and that he described them as being quick and mighty enough to take down a man on a galloping horse. Here is a more detailed description from Book of Thoth…
Marco Polo reported that in the “province of Carajan” (in South East Asia) there existed:
… snakes and great serpents of such vast size as to strike fear into those who see them, and so hideous that the very account of them must excite the wonder of those to hear it. … You may be assured that some of them are ten paces in length; some are more and some less. And in bulk they are equal to a great cask, for the bigger ones are about ten palms in girth. They have two forelegs near the head, but for foot nothing but a claw like the claw of a hawk or that of a lion. The head is very big, and the eyes are bigger than a great loaf of bread. The mouth is large enough to swallow a man whole, and is garnished with great [pointed] teeth. And in short they are so fierce-looking and so hideously ugly, that every man and beast must stand in fear and trembling of them. There are also smaller ones, such as of eight paces long, and of five, and of one pace only. (The Travels of Marco Polo, Ch. XLIX)
While sounding similar to lindworms, most scholars believe that Marco Polo was referring to crocodiles with his “serpents.”
There is a creature called the Tatzelwurm, mentioned in many Germanic legends, which has also been compared to the Lindworm.
The Tatzelwurm is a worm-like cryptid (i.e. its existence is not scientifically verified). It is reported to live in several areas of Europe, including the Austrian, Bavarian, Italian and Swiss Alps. In some circles, it is classified as a variety of lesser dragon.
Reports indicate that the creature has a snake-like body between 2 and 6 feet in length, with two clawed front legs, but no hind legs. It is sometimes reported to have the face of a cat. Local folklore holds that the Tatzelwurm is able to defend itself by expelling poisonous fumes that are capable of killing a human.
One claimed photograph of the Tatzelwurm exists. It was taken in 1934 by a Swiss photographer named Balkin who took a photo of what he thought was a very peculiar log. When the camera flashed, the “log” darted away. (from Wikipedia)
The Tatzelwurm is known to attack and consume people, cows, pigs and horses. |
It’s a familiar horror trope that never seems to get old. A young woman is in a strange house alone, babysitting. The phone rings.
The caller says malicious, terrifying things. The teenager hangs up, but the caller always phones back. Eventually, he says something which tips the babysitter off to the horrible truth…
The stranger is inside the house!
(Usually upstairs, where the children are sleeping.)
Scary, right? It’s comforting when the movie ends and we can say to ourselves that, yeah, it was disturbing, but it was only a work of fiction.
Or was it? Turns out, this trope is not simply an urban legend. It was inspired by the horrific murder of Janett Christman on March 18, 1950.
The story begins as all spooky ones do, with a dark and stormy night. When the Romack family of Columbia, Missouri, left thirteen-year-old Janett with their toddler, they didn’t anticipate any problems. Their son, three-year-old Greg, was already asleep with his radio on. As an extra precaution, Mr. Romack showed the babysitter how to load and fire his shotgun.
Cause that’s what one did in the 1950s, I guess.
Janett was advised to turn on the porch light before answering the door, and the Romacks left for their night out, confident that all was right with the world.
At just past 10:30 that evening, the police received a phone call. Officer Roy McCowan was startled to hear a girl screaming and begging him to “Come quick,” but the connection ended before the caller could identify herself. Sadly, the call couldn’t be traced.
It’s difficult to imagine just how frightening it must have been for the Romacks when they returned home at 1:35 a.m. They must have had warning something was very wrong–both their front and back doors were unlocked, and a side window was broken. Their Venetian blinds were open, the porch light ablaze. Someone had come calling…but who?
Janett was in the living room, sprawled on the carpet in a pool of her own blood. She’d fought hard for her life. Officers found evidence of a struggle leading from the phone in the kitchen through the hallway to the living room at the front of the home. The teenager had puncture wounds on her head, and her face was scratched. She’d been hit with a blunt object and raped before she was strangled to death with the cord from an iron.
To this day, the murder of the young babysitter remains unsolved, but that doesn’t mean there were no clues at all in this case.
It turns out Lois Terry, one of Janett’s childhood friends, also had an unnerving encounter when she was babysitting.
A week before Janett was murdered, a man knocked on the door where Lois was babysitting. Something about his face struck her as evil, and she refused to let him in. When she found out her friend had been killed, she was positive it was the same man and that she’d been the intended victim. Lois never babysat again.
The man lived a half-mile away from the Romack house, but he’s never been charged or seriously investigated, despite the fact police dogs followed a trail leading to his neighborhood. The prime suspect was Mr. Romack’s friend, twenty-seven-year-old Robert Mueller, who had reportedly made inappropriate comments to Janett. Mueller’s metal pencil generally matched the wounds on Janett’s head, and he allegedly told Romack that he might have committed the crime but forgot about it.
However, Mueller passed a lie detector test and eventually sued Columbia’s sheriff for holding him illegally.
What do you think happened to Janett? Was her killer the man who frightened Lois, or someone who knew the Romacks well, as the police suspected?
Did you ever babysit? Were you scared to be left alone in a strange house?
There’s still one week left to sign up for my Thunderclap to promote the launch of my new GhostWriters series. Participating in a Thunderclap is super easy and non-invasive, I promise!
Do you enjoy podcasts? I’m on Jim Harold’s immensely popular Cryptid Report this week talking about Nessie, the nøkken, and other mythological sea creatures. If writing advice is more your thing, The Write Cast has a new episode out at the beginning of each month. This time around, we debate blogging for writers–friend or foe?
– with files from the Columbia Tribune |
all saints church, black dogs, black shuck, carvings, churches, hell hounds, hound of the baskervilles, hytersprites, medieval church, mermaids, North Norfolk, old shuck, pews, sir arthur conan doyle, upper sheringham
Normal for Norfolk
Norfolk is a strange place at the best of times: a famously flat county dotted with windmills, flint cottages and churches; a land of salt-marsh, sea and sky. Perhaps some of its strangeness comes from the fact that over the centuries much of the land was reclaimed from the sea – land which the sea still coverts. A place on the margins of sea and land would seem primed for folk-lore and legends, yet it is not as famous for its folklore as, say, the west country.
Norfolk is densely packed with churches and ruined religious houses, as well as hosting the famous Pilgrimage site at Walsingham. Nevertheless, despite the ubiquity of the church in the county’s history and landscape, there are still many strange folk-tales and legends ingrained in the lore of the county. From ominous black dogs, to admonitory sprites and determined mermaids. Here is a very brief journey through some of those tales.
Black dogs abound in British folk-lore, many counties boast their own version of this phantom hell-hound: Guytrash, Trash and Barghuest are but a few of the names it goes by, depending upon the county or region in question. Even Essex’s famous witch village, Canewdon, boasts a ghostly black dog. However, it is Norfolk’s lanes, churchyards, salt-marshes and coastal paths, for my mind, which are the natural home of Old Shuck. Historically, the county also had a thriving smuggling trade, and smugglers were not averse to ‘encouraging’ such beliefs if it made their covert exploits easier to manage by keeping the idle and the curious indoors of a night-time.
Oft described as the size of a calf, this shaggy dog with glowing red saucer eyes, would silently stalk – or even directly confront – the solitary traveler wending his way along a lonely road at dusk. Sometimes Old Shuck drags a chain, sometimes he is headless; occasionally he comes as a guardian or protector, but most often his presence forebodes ill to the witness and legend says that they, or their kin, will die within a twelve-month.
‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published initially in serial form in The Strand Magazine between 1901-1902, helped introduce the idea of the Phantom Hound to a wider public. Although the story is set on Dartmoor, and is most likely based on a Devonshire legend relating to one Richard Cabell , Conan Doyle did stay for a while at Cromer Hall in Norfolk. An estate which encompassed a lane supposedly the haunt of Black Shuck – so there is a slim possibility that this may also have proved some inspiration for his famous story.
The origins of the name have been attributed to the Old English Scucca, meaning Devil or fiend or perhaps a Norfolk dialect word ‘shucky’ meaning ‘shaggy’ or ‘hairy’ . As descriptions often refer to the shaggy nature of this particular cryptid or para-canine (as the author of the very informative Shuckland website prefers to call it), this would seem a fairly logical theory.
Some much has been written on Black Shuck that it is impossible to do justice to the subject in so few words, there are excellent websites out there devoted entirely to Old Shuck. However one cannot avoid presenting the most famous cases of ‘Death by Shuck’ on record…
The Churches at Bungay and Blythburgh in Suffolk, were visited by both a terrifying electrical storm and a terrifying para canine, on the 4 August 1577. Death and destruction followed. The London-based Reverend Abraham Flemming, in his ‘A Straunge and Terrible Wunder’ provided the Tabloid version of events, based second-hand tales (which the locals might just have embroidered – a tad – with each re-telling…)
“This black dog, or the divil in such a linenesse (God hee knoweth al who workesth all,) running all along down the body of the church with great swiftnesse, and incredible haste, among the people, in a visible fourm and shape, passed between two persons, as they were kneeling uppon their knees, and occupied in prayer as it seemed, wrung the necks of them bothe at one instant clene backward, in somuch that even at a mome[n]t where they kneeled, they stra[ng]gely dyed.”
Another unfortunate parishioner was left horribly burned. Famously, scorch marks were left on the church door and were ever after called ‘the devil’s fingerprints’.
Later that day the storm, and the Shuck, reached a church at Blythburgh with similarly deadly consequences.
It has been suggested, quite reasonably, that the fierce electrical storm, occurring at the same time as the appearance of the hell-hound, is the most likely reason for all the death and destruction (especially when the burn injuries of the survivors are considered). That, combined with the traumatic religious upheavals of the day, might have led the superstitious people of the parish to translate such a terrible catastrophe, caused in a church (surely the safest place they could possibly be), to be caused by a malign supernatural agency. It may have made the tragedy easier for them to process.
The interest in Black Shuck persists even now, on a recent visit to Norfolk I picked up an entertaining contemporary supernatural thriller, ‘Black Shuck’ by Piers Warren. Set in the salt-marshes around Blakeney Point, the novel successfully evokes the strangeness and remoteness of the North Norfolk coastline, creating a perfect setting for Black Shuck. Warren uses a version of the Shuck legend that explains Shuck as the loyal dog of a drowned sea-captain, doomed to spend eternity searching the coastline for his lost master. While his hound isn’t entirely sympathetic, and is in fact, very much in need of some serious Barbara Woodhouse treatment, it is one of the alternative explanations of the Black Shuck. To see black dogs as demonic hell-hounds, or manifestations of Old Nick himself is not the whole story. Perhaps Black Shuck is as doomed as those he encounters, perhaps he is just the bearer of bad news and not its cause. It can’t be much of an after-life for a loyal hound – becoming a terrifying harbinger of doom.
The most mysterious and elusive Norfolk beastie seems to be that of the Hyter Sprite (also known as hikey, hykry, hikra and ikry sprite). Rather like Shuck, their name may originate in Old English which contains the word ‘hedan’, or perhaps, the Saxon word ‘Hodian’. Both broadly meaning ‘to heed, guard, keep’ or to ‘take notice’/’give attention too’ . This rare sprite is found in Eastern Norfolk and the North Norfolk coast. Most commonly appearing as an admonition to children – ‘if you go out on your own after dark, the hyter sprites will get you’ they are associated with nightfall, woodland and marshes. Mostly used to encourage children to be safe and behave, with a mild threat implied that the hikeys will get them if they don’t, they do not seem particularly dangerous or foreboding, unlike the often menacing Old Shuck.
They are a creature rarely sighted and with no clear description to fit. The most famous, and likely misleading, description being that given by Dr Katherine Briggs in her 1973 Encyclopaedia of Fairies and based on information provided by Ruth Tongue:
“Hyter Sprites. Lincolnshire and East Anglian fairies. they are small and sandy-coloured with green eyes like the Feriers of Suffolk. The assume the bird form of sandmartins. They are grateful for human kindnesses and stern critics of ill-behaviour [..]the hyter sprites have been known to bring home lost children, like the Ghillie Dhu of the Highlands.”
Others have envisioned them as bat-like creatures. But always as protective spirits who warn children from danger and were possessed of had bird-like qualities. However not all descriptions were so favorable, one tale collected by Daniel Allen Rabuzzi during his researches found an alarming description provided by the aged aunt of one informant – the protective little hyter sprite was transformed into ‘a spindley-legged light-footed blooksucker’ that haunted the salt-marshes and kept locals safely in their cottages at night….no doubt much to the benefit of local smugglers.
Oddly enough, there is no definitive description of a hyter sprite. In fact, Rabuzzi comments that in comparison the many recorded sightings of the supernatural beastie, Black Shuck, there appeared to be few if any recorded sightings of hyter sprites. This lead him to the conclusion that they were not in any sense a fully fledged fairy folk tradition, but rather were ‘heeder spirits’ that represented a ‘folk-expression’. Primarily used to admonish children and discourage them from taking risks, rather than creating any real expectation of an actual encounter. A bit like a mildly threatening Easter bunny (and distinctly preferable to spindle-legged blood-suckers, in my mind at least).
The Mermaid of Upper Sheringham
Oddly enough, although considered freakish, mermaids were actually thought to exist within nature, certainly during the medieval period and even beyond (a belief that the showman Barnum famously capitalized on, in the 19th century).
No coastal village would be complete without at least one Mermaids tale… and the small fishing village of Sheringham is no different. A mile or so up the hill from the bucket and spade paradise of Sheringham, is the quieter village of Upper Sheringham. In the 14th century village church, All Saints, is the remnant of a very fishy tale indeed.
The pews in the church date from the 15th century, and the bench ends contain many a fantastical beastie, but one in particular draws the visitor, the pew by the north door is adorned with a somewhat stocky and rather burly mermaid. Looking distinctly unsiren-like this mermaid is commemorated with an inscribed tale which goes something like this:
A mermaid decided to visit the parish church at Syringham (Sheringham) and managed to flip and flap her way from the seashore, up the hill to All Saints church in the village of Upper Sheringham. Some say she came seeking a soul, and so, with her goal almost in sight, she pushed open the north door of the church. A service was in progress and the beadle, seeing a slippery siren trying to gain admission, somewhat unchivalrously slammed the door in the unfortunate fish lady’s face, exclaiming ‘Git ew arn owt, we carn’t hev noo marmeards in ‘are!’
Not to be deterred – mermaids may suffer from a bit of a bad reputation at times, but they are descended from an Assyrian goddess after all – the mermaid bided her time, and when a suitable opportunity arose, she pushed open the north door of the church and slithered into the pew at the back of the church. And here she remains to this day. Whether she gained a soul – or was truly in want of one – nobody knows.
Mermaids, despite their divine ancestry suffered from very bad PR during Christian times, often being used as a symbol of vanity and sexuality, prostitution and earthly vices. It has been suggested that perhaps the little mermaid in All Saints could commemorate an unwelcome visit to the church by a prostitute however appealing this interpretation is, personally I think it is more likely just down to the imagination of the medieval carver – either coloured by local lore or on the order of the parish priest, to illustrate a moral tale.
From the ill-omened supernatural cryptid, Old Shuck, to the pseudo real creatures mermaids, and the heeder spirit folk-expression that is the hyter sprite, Norfolk would seem as rich in folk traditions as it is in medieval churches.
Sources and notes
Images – all images copyright Lenora unless otherwise stated.
Pickering, David, ‘Cassell’s Dictionary of Superstitions’ Cassell
Rabuzzi, Daniel Allen, ‘In Pursuit of Norfolk’s Hyter Sprites’ Folklore vol.95 No.1 (1984), pp 74-89 (available on JStor)
Simpson, Jacqueline and Round, Steve, ‘Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore’ Oxford, 2000
Timpson, John, ‘Timpson’s Norfolk Notebook’, Acorn, 2001
Trubshaw, Bob, ‘Black dogs in folklore’ At the Edge archive http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/bdogfl.htm
Warren, Piers, Black Shuck http://www.wildeye.co.uk/black-shuck/index.html |
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word cryptid as “An animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the yeti.” For the following witnesses to living cryptids, there is no dispute. In this series of National Cryptid Society’s case files, you will read what the witnesses have experienced in their own words.
Keep an open mind when reading these accounts, and also remember one’s perception and memory of an event can be influenced by the emotions felt at the time of the occurrence. The contributors to this series of articles are doing the best they can to recount what are in some cases very shocking and traumatic experiences.
If you have a personal cryptid sighting story you would like to tell us, our contact information is at the bottom of this article.
NCS Case File # 3: Unknown Pale White Beings in the Midwest
Submitted by FrancoisLeMew
“I grew up on 32 acres of woods in the Midwest. When I was in 6th grade, I looked out the living room window and saw a white reflection. My mom grabbed a flashlight and looked out the window, she could see some white animal crawling around on the ground in the clearing by our house. It was approximately raccoon-sized, but white and apparently able to get 3′ up to the window.
The next morning, before sunrise, I was letting my dog outside. He ran out the garage door and began barking and growling (completely out of character for him). I stepped around the door frame and saw an approximately 5′ tall pale being with two huge, glowing eyes and some form of round glowing item where a mouth or neck might be. My sixth grade self screamed, turned, and ran back inside, leaving my mother and dog out to fend for themselves.
By the time my mom figured out what happened and I calmed down enough to come back out, the thing was gone. To this day, I’m terrified of the woods surrounding their house at night. When I visit, I leave before sunset or have someone walk me to my car. It has been over 15 years. I would also like to add that I don’t believe in “aliens” or “ghosts” or anything, but I have no clue what these things were.”
If you have had a cryptid encounter, sighting or have photographic or video evidence, contact us immediately HERE.
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Any use of copyrighted material on http://www.nationalcryptidsociety.org is done for criticism, comment, news reporting or educational purposes. The National Cryptid Society including all web pages and social media platforms owned or registered by The National Cryptid Society does not endorse nor is any endorsement of the National Cryptid Society inferred by creators of copyrighted material presented herein for criticism, comment, news reporting or educational purposes under Fair Use allowance quoted above. Various SEO Keywords: Dinosaur, exhibit, for sale, auction, Action, Aggressive, Agile, Allegorical, Apparition, Appeal, Appendage, Archeology, Archosaurs, Astonishing, Attack, Attraction, Awe, Awesome, Beast, Beauty, Behavior, Behemoth, Believe in, Berserk, Bipedal, Bony Armor, Breathtaking, Captivate, Careful, Carnivorous, Cave, Changes, Charisma, Conjure, Conquer, Conquest, Creature, Crests, Cretaceous, Critter, Cruel, Cunning, Curious, Cursed, Dazzle, Deadly, Demon, Dinosauria, Disappear, Discoveries, Diverse, Domination, Dragon-like, Dramatic, Drawn, Dread, Earth, Eek, Encounter, Enormous, Evolution, Existence, Extraordinary, Extinct, Extinction, Eyes, Fantastic, Fascination, Fear, Fearsome, Fiery, Floating, Flying, Forceful, Fossil, Fright, Frightful, Giant, Gigantic, Global, Grand, Grotesque, Groups, Hatch, Herbivore, Hidden, Hills, Historical, Horns, Howls, Imagination, Incredible, Indescribable, Injuries, Invade, Invasion, Jurassic. Extinct, Juvenile, Kill, Kingdom, Land, Large, Leathery, Legendary, Literature, Lore, Majesty, Mammoth, Marvel, Mesozoic, Misshapen, Monster, Mysterious, Mythical, Names, Nasty, Natural, Nemesis, New, Noise, Obliterate, Over-sized, Petrify, Phenomenon, Potent, Powerful, Prehistoric, Prey, Proportion, Prowl, Pugnacious, Pursuit, Quadruped, Quail, Quake, Quest, Quiver, Raptor, Real, Realm, Remains, Repellent, Reptile, Repulsive, Revolting, Roam, Roar, Savage, Scales, Scare, Serpent, Size, Skeleton, Slither, Snout, Soaring, Special, Species, Spectacular, Spikes, Spiny, Stealthy, Story, Surprising, Symbolize, Tail, Tales, Taxonomy, Terrestrial, Terrible lizard, Terror, Tremor, Triassic, Ultimate, Unbelievable, Unique, Unreal, Unusual, Vanish, Vanquish, Variation, Variety, Vertebrates, Vicious, Weight, Weird, Wicked, Wild, Wilderness, Willies, Wince, Wings, World, Wrinkled, Paleontology, Science, Reptile, Ancient, Model, Photo, Video, Caught on, Captured, New, News, Cryptozoology, games, gaming, gamer, Paranormal, Supernatural, Unknown, Unidentified, Mystery, replica, Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Mothman, Dogman, Sea Monster, Champ, Champy, Loch Ness Monster, Alien, UFO, extraterrestrial, Funny, Warning, Caution, Sign, camp, camping, camper, hunt, hunter, hunting, fish, fishing, fisherman, outdoor, recreation, forest, woods, wilderness, spirit, ghost,Paranormal, Supernatural, Werewolf, Wolfman. Monster, creature, crypto, cryptid, cryptozoology, animal, wildlife, wild, scandal, controversy, conspiracy, murder, disappear, missing, Trump, Halloween, holiday, pet, dog, cat, write, writer, writing, read, reader, reading, campaign, forum, true, truth, folklore, myth, Earth, hollow, flat, round, Mars, Moon, scared, terror, horror, science fiction, documentary, sightings, movie, show, weather, maps, YouTube, translate, calculator, news, donald, suggestion, “how to”, “who is”, “who was”, actor, Virginia, senate, erotic, erotica, nonsense, “when was” whatever! |
Lycancoin, the digital currency for werewolves & werewolf enthusiasts
by Angela Quinton
Feb. 26, 2015
I don’t know anything about cryptocurrencies. My exploration of bitcoin two years ago ended quickly when I learned that mining them with my own hardware would cost more in electricity than what I would earn. But as with so many things, stick a werewolf on it and you have my attention.
Lycancoin is one of three “cryptidcurrencies” (there are vampire and zombie variants) created primarily because the developer‘s young daughter “loves all things monster (especially zombies, werewolves and vampires) and we thought it would be fun.” It’s based on Litecoin, and you can view the source code on GitHub. All three cryptidcurrencies can be mined with dedicated applications for OS X, Windows and Ubuntu.
According to NEWSBTC, Lycancoin
That sounds… good?
The developer has also created a gamification WordPress plug-in that allows visitors to WordPress web sites (like the one you’re reading right now) to earn points that can be turned into Lycancoins, Zombiecoins or Vampirecoins. I’m not racing to install that plug-in on Werewolf News, but the developer has set up a proof of concept on what looks like his or her own site, cryptid news portal Monstrum Athenaeum.
Lycancoin and its monstrous brethren seem like fun experiments in programming, community-building and cryptocurrencies. If you mine any of them or you think there’s more I should know about cryptocurrencies, let me know about it on Twitter – I’d be interested to learn more! |
Sunday, March 25, 2012
There are so many of them now that we feel that they should be archived in some way by us, so we should have a go at publishing a regular round-up of the stories as they come in.
It takes a long time to do, and is a fairly tedious task, so I am not promising that they will be done each day, but I will do them as regularly as I can. JD
Readers reveal their big cat stories
A recent Farmers Weekly poll revealed 58% of readers think big cats are
And that is all there is for today. I don't know why, but there has been a tremendous lessening off of reports over the last ten days or so. Just check out the frequency and length of the 'Big Cat News' reports here on the bloggo.
Talk by Richard Freeman, Zoological Director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology. 6pm - Monster Movie Triple-Bill. Island of Lost Souls, Lovecraft's Whisperer ...
On this day in 1997 the 39 bodies of the Heaven’s Gate cult members that had participated in a mass suicide were found.
And now the news:
Orphaned gorilla trafficking in Congo
Linus the Long-Haired Wonder Horse
High price of chickens is no yolk at market
25,000 bees take over man's car
Prehistoric Creatures Come to Life at Auction
2.8m birds slaughtered last year
False Killer Whales Focus Sound Waves to 'See' Pre...
Illegal settlers seek permission to shoot every el...
Rhino wars - 21st March
Snout of order
Australian rescued after three-day croc ordeal
Amazing recycled dragons
Two Shark Attacks Within Minutes In Florida
Foresters spot 'mystery cat' in Sunderbans
This is one of the initiation tapes from the Heaven’s Gate doomsday cult. It’s hard to believe that people fall for these lunatic ravings but just in case you do I should probably remind you that mass suicides and giving a nutjob cult all your money isn’t cool and you shouldn’t do it.
New on the Frontiers of Zoology for Sunday:
An updated overview on the Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblins from Kentucky in 1955, with some new information:
And another possible Cryptid photo from Argentina: |
Occupation of Heimdallr
Zoro-Agruga occupied Heimdallr from S.371 to ca. S.470 and, with the dark breath it sprayed, turned the capital into the city of the dead. Zoro-Agruga's reign ended with the counter-attack of the Imperial family, led by Emperor Hector I, wielding the Vermillion Divine Knight Testa-Rossa. Upon its death, its blood claimed Hector's life and placed a curse on the Divine Knight.
Its remains were locked away below the newly built Heimdallr.
Reanimation through artifact
In S.1204, Zoro-Agruga's carcass was brought back to life by Michael Gideon of the Imperial Liberation Front, through the means of an artifact shaped like a flute, referred to as the Demonic Flute. Class VII managed to hold off Zoro-Agruga until Gideon's flute was destroyed and the dragon's remains returned to their eternal slumber once again.
The Dark Dragon's Revival
Zoro-Agruga is encountered and fought in his sanctuary, the gateway to his plane which appears underneath the Imperial Museum. With the assistance of Roselia he is defeated. She describes the dragon as being the greatest Cryptid. |
chasing legends: investigative documentary series (2020, in production)
I've teamed up with fellow filmmaker, Cryptid researcher and adventurer Nash Hoover, along with his crew, as an executive producer and investigator on Season 1 of Chasing Legends. This independently produced investigative documentary web-series follows us as we actively investigate various Cryptid legends across the United States. We have launched a Kickstarter to secure funding for some production costs for the first season. Help back us and become part of our search for the unknown. A series produced by Cryptozoology enthusiasts made for Cryptozoology enthusiasts.
Back the Kickstarter here: kickstarter.com/chasing-legends-season-one
lions of the east: Documentary out now! (2020)
Lions of the East is a feature documentary that examines the decades of sightings of mountain lions & mystery big cats in New England, despite being "officially" extinct. Wildlife officials, biologists, researchers & eyewitnesses play a crucial role in this controversial topic unfolding across the region.
The film was originally set to premiere on Saturday March 14th at PPMtv in Portsmouth, New Hampshire but was sadly postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We will move forward with screening at a later date, check back in the future for more details on that and other screenings across New England!
Order your DVD here: LionsOfTheEastDVD
Order a digital copy here: LionsOfTheEastDigital
On the Trail of...Champ : Documentary Mini-series (2018)
On the trial of…Champ chronicles North America’s most infamous lake monster, affectionately known as “Champ”.
Shot on location at Lake Champlain, Vermont/New York, USA, On the trail of…Champ dives deep into the rich history of the region in connection with Champ, as well as Champ’s cultural impact in many of the rural communities that border the lake.
On the Trail of...Champ can be ordered on DVD by clicking this link: squareup.com/petakovmedia/store
The series can be streamed online on:
-Amazon (Available as a feature length documentary, FREE with Prime membership): amazon.com/OnTheTrailOfChamp
Find out more about the On the Trail of... series here: onthetrailof.tv |
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The Cryptid Catcher (The Cryptid Duology #1) (Paperback)
Other Books in Series
This is book number 1 in the The Cryptid Duology series.
The Cryptid Catcher is the first book in a monstrously fun middle-grade duology by Lija Fisher about a boy who inherits a job hunting legendary creatures.
After Clivo Wren's archaeologist father dies mysteriously, the newly orphaned thirteen-year-old finds out the truth: his dad was no archaeologist. He was actually a cryptid catcher, known for finding elusive beasts like the bloodsucking chupacabra. His goal: discover the one extraordinary cryptid whose blood grants immortality—before the knowledge falls into the wrong hands. The mission remains unfinished, and now there's only one person who can take the renowned cryptid catcher's place: Clivo. He may not know the first thing about monster hunting, but he's willing to give it a try—because anything beats staying home with his salsa-crazy aunt and her neurotic cats.
Praise for The Cryptid Catcher:
"[Fisher] dishes up an action-oriented romp, puts a resourceful but not superhuman protagonist at the head of a colorful, diverse (of species as well as race) supporting cast, and salts the plot with tantalizing hints that the stakes are about to broaden.” —Booklist, starred review
"Fisher's debut, the first half of a duology, delivers adventure and laughs. . .readers will be ready for the sequel when they turn the final page." —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Lija Fisher was born in Istanbul, Turkey and raised at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a BFA in Performance Studies and has performed in regional theatres across New York, Florida, Alaska and Colorado. In 2017 she was a Writer in Residence with Aspen Words. Lija has lived in London, LA and NYC but now calls Colorado home. The Cryptid Catcher is her first novel. |
I’m always totally down to see a killer new Sasquatch flick, the trouble is there’s been a LOT of pretty crappy ones made over the years with maybe just a few exceptions like Eduardo Sanchez’s ‘Exists’, ‘Abominable’ from 2006 and of course the classic ‘Harry and The Hendersons’. For some reason people have a tuff time bringing a believable Bigfoot to the big screen. Go figure. That leaves me believe people seem to think all they need is a tall dude to don an ape suit and they’ve got a worthy horror on their hands. The best ones though always put most of their money into their ‘Squatch creature fx and bring something truly believable to screen. Let’s face it, so many out there are faking Bigfoot videos on Youtube with rubber ape suits, believing what you’re seeing on screen is real is the first point of brilliance in a movie like this. Luckily “Primal Rage” is directed by fx wizard Patrick Magee (Jurassic Park 3/Progeny/AVP) and he put some serious effort into the crazed creature’s appearance in this movie. The best thing about this one is clearly the beast and that’s a damn good thing in this case.
Primal Rage’s actors aren’t trying to (or maybe even able to) win awards here and it’s got more in common at it’s core with a 70’s or 80’s killer creature flick than it does with something like Jurassic Park. The script is here might be a bit on the flimsy side but that makes way for tons of crazy Bigfoot action to go down. The premise is simple, an ex-con is just released from prison and picked up there by his girlfriend, as they drive through the mountains of Pacific Northwest (en route back home) they get side tracked when a mangled man stumbles into the road and is hit by their car. When they get out to investigate they almost immediately come under attack from large rocks being hurled at them, ex-con guy gets knocked off a cliff into a river and his lover jumps down to save him from drowning. This begins a fight for their lives in the woods are they’re pursued by “Oh-Mah” a pissed off native american mythical cryptid, AKA Sasquatch.
The interesting thing here is that “Oh-Mah” is actually an intelligent, brutal hunter who wears a bark mask and uses a bevy of handcrafted weapons to attack his prey. He also fucks shit up with his bare hands any chance he gets. He’s brutal as hell in this one, firing arrows and ripping people to shreds who’re dumb enough to hanging around in his stompin’ grounds. Bigfoot’s a calculated cold blooded killer here and there’s plenty of people for him to rip into, especially as there’s conveniently a gang of backwoods weirdos ala Deliverance who’re in desperate need of an ass-kickin shooting the shit in the vicinity. Bigfoot pulls no punches either, Magee pulls out some crazy ass sequences of practical gore a’plenty and his Bigfoot, “Oh-Mah” looks fantastic. He’s huge and it’s clear they put plenty of work into his animatronic face to make him a convincing and memorable movie monster.
There’s also a sweet supernatural sub-plot going on with the local Native American sheriff who’s out for Oh-Mah’s hide (this dude should have been the main character) and a crazy wood witch who looks like she stepped right out of Ridley Scott’s “Legend”. Magee does a fine job here creating a ton of cool action sequences and an explosive ‘final boss’ battle. Bigfoot does have a questionable scene where he forces himself upon a female captive that I could have done without, but luckily it’s a brief, more implied scene. Otherwise this one’s a ton of gory fun that’s not to be taken too seriously. It’s a good mix of Predator, Pumpkinhead & Deliverance with some ‘Squatch making it it one of the best of it’s genre. A must see addition to Bigfoot’s horror legacy!
‘Alien: Covenant’ finally dropped at theaters yesterday, and after all the hype the smoke finally cleared as I sat back for a late night viewing of the “prequel” for the legendary horror franchise. Ridley Scott returns again after the lackluster ‘Prometheus’ for purely passable installment that is Alien: Covenant. I wasn’t a huge fan of Prometheus, it’s one of those movies I can’t say I ever care about seeing again and same is the case also with ‘Covenant’. It does though fit quite nicely alongside the current trend of forgettable sequels to once amazing movie franchises of the 80’s that are cranked out these days. It’s like the ‘Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull’ of the Alien series, making the third and fourth installments of the Alien franchise suddenly feel more legit.
This doesn’t mean I hated the movie, it just means that I’m quickly growing tired of the trend of sequels that I once endlessly pined for. It pains me to see Ridley Scott now for a second time bringing us such uninspired pieces of cinema. The movies large cast of characters hasn’t got anyone in it you’re likely to give a damn about and spends it’s time focusing on the android “twin btother” characters played by Michael Fassbender instead. ‘Covenant’ simply feels like Ridley has run out of ideas and decided to start lifting major plot points from ‘Bladerunner’ simultaneously trying to re-create a “best of” compilation of scary scenarios from his first Alien movie.
So while no one from the cast gets much time to develop into much more than alien prey you might think that at the very least we’d get quite possibly the best most bad ass version of the legendary ‘Alien’ creature now that it’s 2017 and they’ve more than got the budget to do so. Quite the contrary, ‘Alien: Covenant’ can’t even get that right for fans. For a movie that’s been boasting impressive practical fx work from day one you’re likely to be disappointed by it’s incredibly cartoony looking aliens littered about the movie frantically. Heck the fx work in this movie makes the two ‘AVP’ flicks suddenly feel kinda legit as well and that’s a damn hard thing to do. Long gone is the suspense & stylized horror of the old movies, instead you’ll be treated to the same old CGI schlock you’re used to from all the huge summer blockbusters. The Alien franchise officially lost it’s heart & soul quite a long time ago and even bringing Scott aboard hasn’t resulted in finding it. Right down to final battle, this movie simply fails, proving that we ALL really miss Sigourney Weaver in a BIG way. Ridley has now truly mastered mediocrity as I honestly may’ve actually enjoyed Prometheus more than this, because at least with that one I wasn’t expecting much there from the start.
At least one thing Ridley got right were the locations & sets he used in filming this movie. It’s visually stunning in that respect. However I’m realizing I was actually quite fine with NOT knowing the backstory of the Alien and honestly liked it when we knew nothing about it’s origins when it was little more than a monstrous stow away. The mystery is gone and instead what we end up with plot wise begins to feel a bit absurd and a tad cliche. This is a classic case of “they just don’t make em’ like they used to”. It’s a bit sad but I realize not everyone can make a ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and sometimes attaching the original directors to these sequels clearly doesn’t always equal movie magic. That being said, after seeing this last night my excitement level for the upcoming sequels to Bladerunner & Predator has severely lowered. I’d say if you’re a casual fan of the Alien franchise you’ll likely have a good time at the movies with this one but if you’re looking for the magic of the first two (or heck even the third & fourth) you’re bound to feel a bit empty as you exit the theater. At least now I’ve developed a new urge to revisit the ‘AVP’ movies, I mean damn, I was way too hard on those I think…
Word has hit the street that The Predator will be back in a new movie called…um..well….The Predator! Yep, Shane Black who starred in the the original creature feature is set to direct this sequel and hopefully give fans what they’ve been craving for years. We’ve gotten one mediocre sequel, those ridiculous AVP movies and then Predators which pitted a band of humans against the aliens on a hunting planet. You know to be honest I kinda dug all of those movies, even the stupid AVP flicks but I’ll also be the first to say none of them come close the the awesomeness that was the first movie! One of my favorite monster movies of all time and for the record the first R-rated movie I ever snuck into. Let’s face it, the original Predator is one of the coolest monster movies ever and one of the best of the 1980’s…
So now it’s 2016, there’s again a new movie on the horizon and we all have to ask one question before proceeding: Should we get Arnold back for the next flick?!! That seems to be the question up for debate. We have the whole camp that says “no fucking way, he’s an old man why would you even think it’d be cool to see him running his old ass around fighting a Predator?” and then you have people like me who say “of course you should get Arnold back as the legendary Dutch!” Yeah it’s not even a question, bring him back for the action. It makes sense that if there’s a problem again with those Aliens again here on earth you’re gonna get the guy who survived and killed one.
This does not mean that we need a repeat of Arnold going one on one against one of these creatures. We all know in hand to hand combat he could barely hold his own way back in 1987 so of course now he’d play perhaps a little different role. I think he’d be a perfect supporting character in a new flick, perhaps a new band of bad asses are heading out to take one down and they’re gonna need someone other than Danny Glover to help them take it out. I’m almost seeing a bit of an Expendables type thing happening here again too- get a rad team of older and younger action stars together. And well, that leaves you with Dutch, older, wiser and perhaps unwilling to help at first. It really all depends on the script but it’d be easy to write Arnie the perfect part as we all wonder whatever happened to his character anyway, at least I do!
Let’s all think for a second about it, what was the best part or one of the best parts of Star Wars: Force Awakens? Harrison Ford, hands down and in a way it was kind of his movie. Now think for a second Arnold being utilized in a new Predator flick in a similar way. Or like I had been hoping one of the original Ghostbusters starring in the rebooted new movie and training a team of new Ghostbusters to help him get the business back on the map. There’s no reason to reboot the Predator series and there’s no good reason why we shouldn’t give Arnold another chance with those ugly motherfuckers…
So obviously I am completely pumped on the Alien prequel that Ridley Scott has in the works! I mean the original director doing the prequel to one of the best Sci Fi films ever in this day and age?? I really never thought it would happen. Now we can really get back to business with not only the Predator but now the Alien as well. I know I could get alot of shit for this but I actually enjoyed the AVP movies! But now I also liked Freddy Vs. Jason too! Yeah just some dumb fun really that some people took just too damn seriously! Anyway having Ridley back leading the franchise in the right direction again has had alot of people wondering some of the secrets of the new upcoming movie.
There were rumors flying a couple months ago all over the internet about the possibiltiy of Arnold Schwarzenegger appearing in the upcoming Robert Rodriquez produced sequel “Predators”. Well now it has been officially confirmed that Arnold will indeed be repirsing his role in a cameo as Dutch. This news was leaked via The Latino Review (make sure to check this link and watch their video about the script) who aquired a 90 page script of the action movie. The script they claimed was “Worthy of the original Predator”. They also confirmed there is a cameo written in for Schwarzenegger that will make fans go wild. Hopefully that means arnold has got a gigantic gun in his hands and telling people to get to the chopper! |
- Category: MABRC Evidence Review Board
- Published on Friday, 25 December 2015 19:11
- Written by D.W. Lee
- Hits: 6309
PURPOSE OF THE EVIDENCE REVIEW BOARD
1. The Evidence Review Board (the Board) was created by members of the MABRC organization to serve as a group of experienced researchers to review and comment on possible evidence relating to the existence of a North American cryptid, known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, based on specific protocols.
2. It is the desire of the Board to review and comment on various types of possible evidence submitted by any serious Bigfoot Researcher. In the first year of the Board, it was decided by Board members to limit evaluations to evidence submitted by active organization members of the MABRC. In future years, the Board may decide to accept evidence from non-MABRC organization members and from other Bigfoot Organizations.
3. If any MABRC member just wants to release evidence on their own, without the MABRC standing behind it, they are more than entitled to. However. If a MABRC member brings in evidence, and wants the MABRC to stand behind it, it first has to be vetted by the Evidence Review Board.
4. After reviewing the evidence, the Board will publish a report with an opinion, representing the official opinion of the MABRC. If the findings are remarkable, the Board may release a Press Release. |
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 living cryptozoologist. 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. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. |
"....The truth is out there."
-- Dr. Jerome Jackson, 2002 (... & Agent Fox Mulder)
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
"All truth passes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident."
-- Arthur Schopenhauer
Sunday, January 08, 2012
-- Back to the Big Thicket --
With no other pressing news on horizon may as well post this Texas Parks and Wildlife stab at hope from the Big Thicket:
It would be reassuring if one can say that this formal TX search wasn't done the way its shown in this video.
Prominent orange hunter attire
data recording that may include
all types of non-core tasks
comment on filmed scaling being possible IBWO when scaling is at best undeterminable
comment on holes being possible IBWO when at best its a woodpecker
Broadcasting of kents with a speaker that can't reach further than the flush distance of IBWOs (meaning there is NEVER an IBWO that will hear it)
Also, but thankfully rarely, we have been introduced to various field assistants with a resume such as >>>did this formal IBWO search and that one<<<<.
Then you find the assistant shelling and eating, crunchy peanuts right after the critical broadcast when a response is most likely. Then there is the missing of Pileateds that fly right through our field of vision. Other "funny" stories too.
Perhaps as high as 95% of the formal data gathered by past search terms is not designed or performed correctly. Most areas declared "IBWO free" have not been surveyed effectively.
And biology types, who should know better, think they can declare large contiguous blocks of habitat free of breeders after depending on the above data.
The methods of informal searchers is perhaps even less effective, and that includes postive or negative reports.
There is someone right now on "researchers forum" that has been documenting bark scaling for months or years, had attributed it to possible IBWOs, yet now saw the light as a squirrel is knocking it off in large slabs.
The good news is that multiple, experienced searchers have had 3 distinct and segregated encounters of IBWOs in the last 4 weeks.
Regardless after '87 or '99 we knew, or should have known that you have a species that was heavily persecuted via direct take resulting in a timid quarry, throughout its range.
Heavy predation pressure can rapidly change behavior in a species. Here we had decades of persecution. The fact of wariness has been ridiculed by many as they invoked the Singer birds.
The truth, as others have said, is that JJ Kuhn could only approach a very few birds closely; the John's Bayou birds were visited for several years, if not decades, by Kuhn who likely acclimated these very few birds in a gradual fashion over hundreds of visits.
It's believed that Spencer shot the ~'24 bird in an area that Kuhn had brought him to prior. Spencer and Kuhn then had a severe falling out.
The great majority of those who ticked off IBWOs in Singer saw one of the same few birds; they were Kuhn's birds.
In addition I believe the Singer birds had not suffered the hunting pressure that other pops had; the area still had an intact fauna that kept hunters occupied with more desirable targets.
Subsequent pan-mixing has homogenized the overall wariness of the remaining IBWO's. This includes the reduction of ostentatious bouts of kents and DKs especially around nests.
Researchers must be careful on many levels to hear IBWOs.
Portions of prior serious field work that concluded areas had no breeders or IBs, should have their conclusions reexamined or tempered if the methods were lacking. Using poorly or quickly trained volunteers to just walk through a good area may be inadequate.
On the presence-confirmed side, things must be examined also. IBWOs DO RESPOND to correct and effective methods.
The excuse that it was a large area and we can't hope to cover it is invalid. With the right methods a team of two people can and have acoustically covered 4 square miles in a day which is up to 17,500 acres in a week.
IBWO's are responding and are cooncidentally rarely showing a density of greater than one bird per 10 sq miles. Some results indicate no IBWO's in a particular large area.
If a group surveys an area after multiple reports of presence and has no contacts, the methods should be heavily critiqued before announcing NO IBWOs or breeding.
But I do find your comments interesting. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Reading the description of their flight and how "duck like" it is is a bit dismaying; one wonders if any were shot and trashed by folks not wanting to confess to their poor eyesight.
On a brighter note, I liked this article. As everyone knows, I'm a sucker for predators...
A pox on the d-bag federal officials in Hawaii who shot the one that strayed there, however...
The seclusion can be the result of insulation from visitation by anthropogenic barriers (surrounded by or on private property)or natural barriers such as sq miles of flooded swamp or braided (anastomosing) creek/slough/river bottoms.
If you hear of an area with IBWOs and subsequently visit it, its uncanny how you will encounter them in the area that is pragmatically the hardest to hike into.
Since the population of IBs is so low most decent core sections and even entire hypothetical ranges are unoccupied. The remaining birds have a plethora of decent ranges to choose from and may within the pairs range choose core areas that are visited in a repeating, circannular pattern.
This sequence could be influenced by hunters/gun shot frequency/visitation pressure.
This may mean that they are avoiding areas where hunters are as best they can. If hatchlings are involved adults may have to come out of this core area to gather food and that is when an encounter with a careless or purposeful hunter is most possible.
I am not sure of all game seasons that overlap IBWO breeding phenology but at least spring turkey season comes to mind. Coincidentally that’s when Kulivan had his pair.
Skeeters/trools---sometimes in the field the insects can be bad, but rarely due creatures with minute minds bother me.
One thing though---how does it manage to be redundant in such a short sentence (liar and bullshitter)?.
Right Fav, I'll bite!
Can you elaborate on those distinct encounters?
He sees them everywhere! Wake up.
There were two people in each group. Methods were specific and different than most search efforts but have been refined from many past efforts. The searchers each have several years of IB field experience.
There were sightings at one location and kents and/or DKs at all three. Some kents and DKs were recorded. One pair was possibly involved.
Some recent searches have added an important component to the customized, point count methods. The high encounter rate confirms the logical conclusion that methods are critical to correctly declaring presence or absence.
Feel free to ask detailed questions privately although general questions might be answerable in this forum...despite the trool evidently injured when falling off the turnip truck.
"The extinction of a species can be inferred from a record of its sightings. Existing methods for doing so assume that all sightings in the record are valid. Often, however, there are sightings of uncertain validity. To date, uncertain sightings have been treated in an ad hoc way, either excluding them from the record or including them as if they were certain. We developed a Bayesian method that formally accounts for such uncertain sightings. The method assumes that valid and invalid sightings follow independent Poisson processes and use noninformative prior distributions for the rate of valid sightings and for a measure of the quality of uncertain sightings. We applied the method to a recently published record of sightings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis). This record covers the period 1897–2010 and contains 39 sightings classified as certain and 29 classified as uncertain. The Bayes factor in favor of extinction was 4.03, which constitutes substantial support for extinction. The posterior distribution of the time of extinction has 3 main modes in 1944, 1952, and 1988. The method can be applied to sighting records of other purportedly extinct species."
When can the conservation science community see the recent evidence FAV? I guarantee it will be never.
Okay, I've listened to it. I didn't hear much that is pertinent. In fact, Prothero defines cryptid as "...something known by folklore before its found by scientists.” That rules out Ivorybills. So, its not surprising that although Prothero mentions many folklore species, he doesn't bring up Ivorybills. There are hundreds of IBWO in museums and other collections. Last I checked, there's not one Big Foot, Chupacabra, or alien spaceship in any museum.
How does "substantial support" = "guarantee"?
Prothero only mentions a handful of cryptids, no surprise he didn't mention Ivory-bills.
Beyond the definitions, there are numerous significant parallels between the search for other cryptids and IBWOs, including anger at people not accepting unsubstantiated eyewitness reports or fuzzy photos of unidentifiable objects, a lack of verifiable physical evidence, the excuses of extreme wariness, the apparent ability of certain people to see what cameras cannot capture: the list goes on and on.
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Image Comics’ newest cryptid adventure, Hoax Hunters, is taking the comic world by storm. Written by Michael Moreci and Steve Seeley, with beautiful artwork from Axel Medellin, this is a one of a kind tale that combines our culture’s obsession with monsters and myth with cheesy reality TV. The book follows a team of paranormal researchers who venture out into the far reaches of the world in order to deal with urban legends, monsters, zombie townsfolk, and more. This tongue in cheek series is just getting under way, but there’s already a lot of buzz surrounding “Hoax Hunters”.
Writer Michael Moreci gave Bloody-disgusting an exclusive in-depth look behind the scenes of “Hoax Hunters” #2 including, pages of script, penciled colored artwork, sketches, and a running commentary on the collaborative creative process. If you have any ambition to work in the comics industry some day, you don’t want to miss this. Make sure you open the images in a new tab for full resolution.
Issue #2 hits the ground running. We get to see the carnival ringleader, Clive, right away, something that I know will satisfy a lot of readers. Of the teases Steve and I stuck in issue #1, the carnival was the one readers most responded to.
Speaking of teases, we wanted the first page to be a fractured glimpse of the bigger picture. In a way, that’s representative of our writing style—we give pieces of the larger whole and put them together over time. Here, of course, it’s a far more compressed example.
The teasing of certain images—the skull staff, Clive’s menacing grin, the brainwashed local—is also a method to illicit suspense. What are these images? What do they mean? Those are questions we want to evoke.
In terms of art, I love looking at Axel’s pencils. We work in tandem with the art process; Axel shares with us his thumbnails, pencils, inks, then colors, so Steve and I are there every step of the way. Currently, we’re about 60 pages in with Axel’s art, and we’ve never had to ask for a change. Axel interprets our scripts perfectly, and the precision in his art is astounding. It makes my job so much easier. I supply Axel with full scripts but, still, there’s always room for my differing interpretations—not with Axel, though.
And now things come together, but there is still something building—we see the energy opening behind Clive, getting bigger and bigger.
As for Clive, this is a great introduction to his character. We wanted him to be this classic huckster, someone’s whose power is in his manipulation of words and language (both of which, will find, is very important in the Hoax Hunters universe—hint, hint). We see him here as a minister of sorts, preaching to his flock. I’m reminded of imagery of Brother Justin from Carnivale, and his determined will.
Next to Clive is Etienne, a bokor. Voodoo exists in various degrees in New Orleans—we, of course, took our liberties for the sake of the story.
What I love about this page is the scope—everything is very grand. Axel accomplishes such amazing scale, from Clive’s oration and gestures to the full bleed page. Steve and I are always impressed by the subtle layers of story Axel constantly adds with his art. He’s truly amazing.
One of the big reasons why I think Axel and I work so well together is that we’re both very controlled in what we do. There’s a certain meticulousness in our work; neither one of us is very flashy. My scripts are efforts of pinpoint exactness and consistency, and I get the same feel from Axel’s art.
And here we have it, the swirling energy revealing…something. Sorry, can’t say what! But it is revealed in this issue. As Chekov said, “if you show a rifle in act one, it must be fired by act three.” But, whatever it is that’s revealed certainly has an effect on the locals…
Thumbs and Sketches:
Thumbs: As you can tell by comparing the thumbnails to the finished pages, Axel doesn’t need to make many changes from one stage to another. His storytelling is so crisp that he gets it right on the first attempt, which is one of the reasons why he’s so prolific. Efficiency is key.
Sketches:Here’s a couple of sketches of the two new characters introduced in this issue, Clive and Etienne. As you can see in the script, Axel got their look and feel down pretty easily, especially Clive. Reading issue #2, you can really sense how much Axel enjoys bringing this character to life. |
10 Mysterious Anomalies
Science continues to give us a deeper and more convincing knowledge of the universe we live in. But we still only partially understand the mysterious world we inhabit, and many mysteries remain unsolved. Here are ten of the most fascinating of these anomalies:
There are the usual cryptid mysteries that we all wish to resolve, but the implications of some of these are so disturbing that we might rather not know the real answer.
In an unknown year—but likely some time in the early 1900s—land surveyors dropped rope down a cave in Boone County, Arkansas. After the rope had descended two hundred feet into the cave pipes, a horrendous hissing and roaring sound was heard, suggesting that a bizarre and enormous beast had been disturbed. Some believe that the roaring belonged to a cave-dwelling cryptid, or an apparently-extinct or so-far-undiscovered species.
The exact site of the eerie report has not been found, but the explorers of a second Arkansas cave heard a case of a landowner who had apparently gone insane with terror after entering a similar subterranean system and encountering something.
Precognition—including the vague sense of impending doom—is an unexplained phenomenon whereby events are seen before their time. Eerily, Abraham Lincoln reported a dream in which he had seen his own dead body. Only days later, he was fatally shot.
Quantum theorists studying the fourth dimension propose that time can bend, allowing us to glimpse the future. Limiting ourselves to American Presidents alone, we find that John Garfield and William McKinley also “previewed” their own deaths. In a related—albeit slightly different—case of extrasensory perception, John Adams’ last words the moment before he died were simply “Thomas Jefferson.” It was unknown to him, but hours before, his great political rival had indeed passed away…
Hatley Castle was built on Vancouver Island, off Canada’s West Coast, by the Scottish Coal Baron Robert Dunsmuir. He was a famous but controversial figure in his day, known for his swift-handed approach to decisions concerning the use of land.
The castle, which now forms part of the campus of Royal Roads University, has begun to fall prey to a series of unexplained events, which send chills down the spine of those who venture too close. Terrified observers have reported seeing a white figure drifting around the windows, and they’ve also made reference to hearing the clash of pots and pans.
It is rumored that the maid of Robert Dunsmuir—rejected by her lover—leapt from the window and died. SPIRITS, a charity dedicated to investigating the paranormal, claims that one of its staff members actually saw a female figure clothed in white slipping through the castle corridors. Unfortunately, few sources have less credibility in such cases than a charity dedicated to investigating the paranormal.
European culture is extremely diverse; distinct customs and peoples live there side-by-side in relatively small but clearly-defined regions. One would imagine that the development of Europe consisted of historically understandable transitions—but according to research at the Australian Center for Ancient DNA, genetic markers in skeletons sampled for DNA suggest a sudden, drastic change around 4,500 years ago.
According to paleo-anthropologist Dr. Alan Cooper, “Something major happened, and the hunt is now on to find out what that was.” The mysterious event or cataclysm may never be determined, but it’s possible that an unknown plague, or else a mysterious conflict or agreement between ancient tribes, may hold the key to Europe’s anomalous past.
“Alien Abductions” have become fairly widely reported, to the point that most researchers have grown somewhat tired of the subject. However, some accounts are much more difficult to disregard than others.
In 1993, Kelly Cahill and her husband were driving at night in Victoria, Australia, when a bizarre form appeared in front of them, apparently in the process of abducting something. The occupants of a second car behind the Cahills also observed the phenomenon. When the Cahills tracked this second group down, they were able to confirm the fact that they too had witnessed the event. Spooky.
While the previous entry dealt with an event that some might attribute to aliens, other Australian dangers may originate from a primitive source. Since the arrival of early settlers, Aboriginal Australians—many of whom possess an almost instinctive knowledge of the outback—have warned of the existence of giant, primitive ape-like creatures known as Yowies.
Their descriptions are eerily similar to the “Sasquatch” accounts of North American native tribes, and also the notorious Yeti of the Himalayan foothills. The creatures are said to be foul-smelling and elusive, which matches other reports worldwide. Explorer Tony Healy notes in his book “In Search of Australia’s Bigfoot” that the sightings may in fact be real, and represent part of a global occurrence of the supposedly extinct Gigantopethacus ape—whose existence would also explain the Yeti and Bigfoot mysteries.
Spontaneous human combustion ranks near the top of the most bizarre and terrifying mysterious events. While accounts of SHC tend to be historical, evidence suggest that the phenomenon has been seen to occur in recent times.
In February 2013, for instance, authorities in Muldrow, Oklahoma, were perplexed to find the incinerated body of sixty-five-year-old Danny Vanzandt—seemingly burned alive in his nearly undamaged home. The Sheriff was able to determine that foul play was not to blame, but refused to rule out spontaneous human combustion. Coroners found that the body seemed to have burned at a low temperature for more than six hours. The victim was a heavy drinker, which some speculate may literally fuel such episodes of combustion. The human body produces methane-related compounds during metabolism, which some believe could fuel a fire when combined with alcohol.
Reports of long-necked, plesiosaur-like animals have proliferated worldwide, often involving independent reports with a remarkable level of uniformity. The possible explanation is strange and chilling—yet scientifically grounded. According to cryptozoologist Bernard Heuvelmans, many serpent sightings in history actually align with the presence of mysterious, long-necked pinnipeds, measuring up to fifty feet in length.
As dolphins have replaced ichthyosaurs, convergent evolution would allow for a pinniped to take on the form of the extinct plesiosaurs, but avoid being affected by cold waters. The southern elephant seal is currently the world’s largest carnivore at a length of twenty-two feet, lending credibility to such theories. Also adding weight to reports of giant, long-necked seals, is the actual existence of the aptly-named Weddell long-necked seal, which has a somewhat serpentine neck. Clearly, the mystery of cryptid pinnipeds warrants some attention.
The Mary Celeste has gained a somewhat eerie notoriety following its discovery, apparently having been abandoned by its crew, with nobody remaining on board. This ghost vessel phenomenon seems to repeat itself, remarkably, in the modern case of the Kaz II.
In April 2007, the Kaz II was traveling with its three-man crew along the northwest Australian coast, when air surveillance noticed it drifting oddly. Upon boarding, no trace of the crew members could be found. However, no sign of trouble was discovered either. A laptop computer was still running, and the engine was on. Eating utensils were laid out on the table, while life jackets remained in their cases. The bizarre and disturbing mystery of the Kaz II essentially remains unsolved.
According to Jon Hall of the Queensland Emergency Management Office, “What they found was a bit strange in that everything was normal; there was just no sign of the crew.”
The state coroner eventually ruled that “the brothers fell overboard while attending to mechanical problems—however, the ruling is still only speculation.”
On the island of Andros in the Bahamas, descriptions of a mysterious creature known as the “chickcharney” have become embedded in local culture. Described as around one meter tall, the bizarre flightless bird-like creature is described in historic accounts, and also in modern-day sightings around the island.
Reputed to have red eyes and to be capable of turning its head in any direction, the entity seems to border on implausibility. But ornithologists have identified a bizarre, extinct species of giant flightless barn owl, whose continued existence would explain legends of a large predatory bird walking around the island at night (owls are capable of turning their heads one hundred and eighty degrees in order to scan for prey). The owl is thought to be extinct, but the continuing sightings suggest that the bizarre and awesome creature may still stalk the backcountry of Andros, waiting to be rediscovered as more than the mere stuff of folk tales.
Ron Harlan investigates the mysteries of nature, human experience, and the bizarre findings that often crop up on this planet. He is a freelance writer and student of science. |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Must-Have Cryptid DVD and Book
Hunt the Dogman
I have an extensive cryptid DVD collection. One of my favorite weekend things to do is run them back to back in the background while I'm writing my books or if, heaven forbid, I'm just lollygagging around, I can watch them from sun-up to sun-down. I just added Hunt the Dogman to that collection and next I'm adding a book by the same man, Barton Nunnelly, to my collection in my library, as well, The Inhumanoids.
I am glad to add this to my library. I think when it comes to cryptid shows, like Finding Bigfoot, we tend to get most interested in the part where they talk to witnesses and then we want to see them poke around those places in the woods. This documentary delivers. The witness testimonies are compelling and detailed. The setting is creepy and the questions left unanswered are intriguing. I'm glad to add this to my cryptid collection and look forward to future projects by Nunnelly and by Grendel Films.
Voices in the Wilderness
Voices in the Wilderness by Ron Morehead is a book and audio CD that I was thrilled to get! There are a hundred aspects of Bigfoot that intrigue me but language and psychic abilities are the two that really make me wonder, as well as the obvious - his origins genetically.
Ron has focused decades since the early 70s on recordings made in the Sierras capturing some of the most amazing vocalizations and has spent a lifetime wanting to know more about them. This book is fantastic because if you ever wanted to voyage into the Sierras and go through decades of hiking trails, camping, and awaiting interactions, this is the next best thing. My own sighting was in the Sierras in the mid 80s. It's a land that you almost feel you could encounter a dinosaur in and not be surprised.
The accompanying CD I got in the combo book/CD was truly amazing (great price too!). I have heard a good deal of BF vocalizations and some of the sounds in these were eerie familiar to ones from other parts of the country. His accounts written in the book are not only easy reading, but you can't put it down. There are also lots of great photos and you truly think you can smell fire smoke and pine needles as you read through it. The conclusions with lots of expert input is that we are dealing with a creature much larger than man and with some primitive and unusual vocalizations.
Although Morehead's conclusions lean towards a big stupid beast and mine lean towards something much closer to man, I appreciate the hard work and effort he made into recording the Sierra sounds. My hope is now that he will take that and go to other states in the Midwest and East that have Bigfoot and get recordings from those regions which might just change his view on what Bigfoot is. Either way, this book and CD are keepers and I will likely reread it again on a dark evening when it's quiet and I want to go into the woods and listen in the dark to the voices of the night. I'm always thrilled to see devoted people staying in the field, focusing their expertise, and really adding to the research about the big fella.
at 9:30:00 AM |
BS: Aside from the obvious, what is Wendigo Tea Co? SW: Wendigo Tea Co. is a cryptid and monster themed premium craft tea company. BS: How did you get involved in the tea business? SW: I just loved tea and was importing it for my own personal use. I was traveling the world playing piano in my band Foxy Shazam, playing 200-300 shows a year. When you travel that much, you need something to make…"Q and A with Sky White on Wendigo Tea Co"
BareBones Ent hooked up with our old friend, Shaun Gunnels to put together each of our Top 10 Bands/Artists to watch in 2017! Take a look below and let us know in the comments who’s on your list! BareBones Ent Youth In Revolt (New Jersey) (Post-Hardcore) Fire From the Gods (Texas) (Rap/Metal) The Soul Shakers (Tennessee) (Rock) The CMDWN (Utah) (R&B/Rock) Famous Last Words (Michigan) (Post-Hardcore) Assuming We Survive (California) (Pop Punk) Outline in Color…"Top 10 Bands and Artists to Watch in 2017"
Take a look at our favorite 10 comics live on Kickstarter right now (with a couple honorable mentions)! The comics are not listed in any particular order. These comics feature a wide range including horror, graphic, comedy, and all-ages fun. Take a look and get in early with some of these awesome projects that may not hit your local stores! Please note that the funding percentage listed is at the time of this writing Sink…"Fave 10 Comics on Kickstarter Now!"
Please enjoy this 3 page preview of our comic book, BareBones: Nice Guys Finish Dead! In this preview you can see a conflict between our main character, Edwin “Bones” Shore and Bryton King. Make sure to subscribe and stay informed for when we launch our Kickstarter to fund this comic!"Barebones: Nice Guys Finish Dead Preview"
Are you ready to unplug and have some fun with family and friends? Check out the board game taking the nation by storm, Spontuneous! Find out everything you need to know about this game from when we sat down with the creator! BS: How did you come up with the concept for the game? Spontuneous: I was just hanging out one day with some family and friends having a regular ‘ole conversation. Someone mentioned taking…"Q and A with Spontuneous"
BareBones Ent got the chance to sit down with musician Riley Flood and chat about his new EP, Phases. Find out what all Riley had to say when he talked with BareBones. BS: How would you best describe your sound? RF: I would say this EP has a classic vibe with a modern approach. I tried to pack as wide of a range of music as possible into the small space that I had. BS: Is…"Q and A with Riley Flood"
BS: What type of background in comics do you have? WD: My first comic book was for Hart Fisher’s Boneyard Press which was mainly horror, that was back in 1996. Over the next 6 years I worked on a sci-fi comic book called The Rift. Then I went on to work with Acetylene Comics on a Femme Fatale book called Vesper. From there I developed a title called Waterdogs which involved an all-girl Spy team comic book which is now…"Q and A with Waterdogs team"
BS: What type of comic book background do you have? MM: I’ve been a comic writer for a few years and have several successful series under my belt so far as well as shorts with various companies. I’ve been a reader since I was a kid, but am still fairly new to the professional comics world. BS: How did GWAR and you come together for this? MM: Well I’ve been a fan since I was 16, so…"Q and A with Matt Miner"
BS: What is Stabbity bunny? SB: Stabbity Bunny is a self-published indie horror/mystery comic. We say it takes place at the intersection of Nightmare on Elm Street and Sesame Street where a 100 year-old plush bunny and his current little girl combat an ancient evil. BS: What issue is it that you are currently getting funded? SB: This is for issue #5 BS: How can people get their hands or eyes on past issues? SB:…"Q and A with Stabbity Bunny Team"
Our old friends in Manic Pixi have been keeping busy lately. Find out what all they had to say when they sat down with Barebones Ent to catch up! BS: How have you guys been? It’s been a long time. MP: Well it was only July that you “saw” us last, so don’t worry, we haven’t left you to the winds. Thank you for your support to bookend the Manic Summer ’16. We’ve been terrific!…"Q and A with Manic Pixi" |
Can you legally shoot Bigfoot right in his Bigfoot-y face while in the Lone Start State? One Oregon Sasquatch seeker thought to ask an expert at the Texas Parks and Wildlife department for a clarification on the rules.
He received a very dry and clear cut email basically stating that if the hunter could prove that Bigfoot was indigenous to Texas, it’s fair game. But now, that is under dispute…
But Sinclair told FoxNews.com his response has been taken wildly out of context.
“This guy never really alluded to Bigfoot, though it seems maybe he said something about Sasquatch,” Sinclair told FoxNews.com. “He took my statement and said that it was safe to hunt an ‘indigenous cryptid,’ whatever that is. He misquoted me.”
Meanwhile, this has sparked a mini-firestorm in the Bigfoot community that wonders if the announcement of Open Season on the big guy will mean the as-yet-unfound cryptid could go extinct. That is, if they could prove he’s real first. Which would probably require the scientific study of a corpse. Which would call for killing.
My head hurts.
[Fox News] via Ken Cowan |
Posted by: Loren Coleman on June 16th, 2012
In our journey through “name game” links to how various past Bigfoot, Mystery Cat or other cryptid sightings and folklore are often left as an artifact in geography, via the naming of the land, we must consider “Booger.”
Like most words that seem tied to past close encounters of the monstrous kind, the obvious is often taken for granted.
Devil Monkey © Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe 1999, 2006; © Harry Trumbore 1999, 2006, from The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates.
Booger is related to the same origins as boogey man and is a generalized place name now for areas where any kind of strange beasts have been seen. Remember the “Belt Road Booger“? Tom Finley has investigated “boogers.”
Henry Franzoni doing research on the name once found sixteen Booger locations in the USA and Canada.
There is a Booger Pond in South Carolina, Booger Den Hollow, Booger Hill, Booger Hollow and Boogertown Gap, all in Tennessee, Booger Canyon in New Mexico, Booger Branch and Boogertown in North Carolina, Booger Hole Slough in Mississippi, Booger Hollow in Kentucky and one in Arkansas, Booger Canyon and Booger Spring in Arizona, The Booger Hole and Boogerhill cemetery in Alabama, and Booger Lake in Ontario.
There are more out there, as lots of Booger spots, a creek here, a pond there, in the South just are not on any of the newer, bigger maps.
Do you have one in your area?
For more on another closely related name game, see the “Fayette Factor.”
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. 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. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. |
The Sea Horse is a cryptid mentioned at Chiloé Island. It is, according to Latcham a creature that neighed strongly, foamed at its mouth and being very large, could fit up to twelve native wizards on its back.
Chilean explorer, Guillermo Cox wrote that one of his guides, Pedro Oyarsún had once seen a dead “sea horse” on the beach, “its mouth hurt by the bit, black and white [skin] and very short legs like those of a sea wolf”.
In Latcham’s opinion, this creature was the native’s distorted view of a sea elephant (Macrorhinus leoninus) which was once abundant in Chile but had been hunted to extinction. The largest member of the seal family, its long snout—40 cm (16 in.) in length— could have seemed like a horn; its imposing size, up to 5 m (16.4 ft.) long and 4,000 kg (8,800 lb.) and aggressive behavior in males also resemble the fierceness and enormity of the sea horses.
The quote shown above, reads:
The sea horse is the same as the river horse or hippopotamus, which is found in the African rivers; it is different however in that it has a mane on its nape.
He goes on to add that: "I did not have the chance to see the sea horse. Following the description of some who saw it under water, I thought that it was not different to the African hippopotamus. Later, others who have seen it out of the sea, have told me that it has roughly the height of a ordinary horse, which it colosely resembles in its head, tail and back."
And it is the second time that I find a reference about the strange Patagonian hippopotamus.
Latcham, R., (1924). Op. Cit. pp. 611+
Cox, G. Op. Cit. pp 70.
José Toribio Medina. (1878) Colección de historiadores de Chile y documentos relativos a la historia nacional. Imprenta del Ferrocarril. Vol. 11. pp. 295. and 302
Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia2010 International Year of Biodiversity Copyright 2009-2010 by Austin Whittall © |
Recently Kylie Sturgess, host of the Token Skeptic podcast and Token Skeptic blog has requested feed back on her podcast on how to improve it and serve the skeptical community better in Sturgess's own way. Sturgess has indicated she desires to do more than interview the same old, same old people who are making the interviewing rounds. While I believe there is a place for interviewing these leading lights, I do understand Sturgess’s concerns in this regard as well.
A podcast that interviews our cultural competitors, which used to be the forte of Righteous Indignation, but with its ceasing of operations, there is a gap for this type of service. The Indignates did such interviews with aplomb being civil, fair, but not push overs.
A skeptical news podcast, which would do a rundown Doubtful News style news covering the week, or day, or whatnot. The grand pooh-bah of Doubtful News, Sharon Hill, has done the occasional news segment on Righteous Indignation and possibly other podcasts. However, I think this is fodder for its own 15 minute or so regular news podcast. While Hill would be the natural choice for this position, I am sure if Hill was unable to do such a program someone else could work something out with Hill borrowing the brand name and running with it. (I suggest this because do we really need a cheap knock off with a name such as “Dubious News” or "News of some Doubt?")
The latest Invisible Sky Monster with Parrot hosting Karl Mamer and Rebecca O’Neill reminded me that the tri-panel format with a host guiding a discussion between two intelligent guests discussing a topic often has an interesting dynamic above the straight forward single interviewee under the hot lamp. I would imagine the scheduling would make this type of program more difficult, but for the right sort, it might be very rewarding.
The "how to" skeptical podcast is a rarely used format. Hayley Stevens' Ghost Fields Guide was the only example I can think of off the topic of my head. Stevens shared the dos, don'ts, and thought process of a thoughtful, scientific skeptical ghost investigator. An entire podcast dedicated to learning the skills and tricks of investigating ghosts, cryptid sightings, or investigating fortune tellers, etc. would be a format of great interest to skeptics who are without the knowledge set and ready access to travel to skeptical workshops to learn the necessary skills.
There are others podcast ideas I am sure. A podcast that was on the history of skepticism or podcasts that dealt with regional issues are other ideas. There is the idea of folding in as segments of some of the above ideas into pre-existing podcasts. There is definite merit to the idea to add value to an existing entity rather than reinvent the wheel and have to attract an audience. On the other hand, there is something for having a new podcast that the listener can expect a particular focus or style of podcast without having to pick and choose segments within a podcast.
The above is a mishmash of ideas. There are a healthy number of skeptical podcasts to serve the skeptical audience, and I stipulate there is a need for generalist podcasts as well. The SGU is a must listen every weekend. I think the format is new enough that a lot of untapped potential exists for new podcasts that once they are in production the listener will think "d'oh why didn't someone think of this before?" |
Nepal's limbless crocodile dragon (William M. Rebsamen)
As comprehensively documented in my latest book, Mirabilis: A Carnival of Cryptozoology and Unnatural History (2013), crocodilian mystery beasts come in all shapes and sizes and are of worldwide distribution. Yet few, surely, can be stranger than the giant limbless version reported from southern Asia as recently as 1980.
That was when Reverend Resham Poudal, an Indian missionary, was leading an entourage through a Himalayan jungle valley in Nepal. They came upon what seemed at first sight to be an enormous log, greenish-brown in colour, lying on the ground across their planned path – and then the 'log' moved! To the great alarm of everyone present, it proved to be a huge limbless reptile, whose scaly serpentine form blended in so well with the surrounding vegetation that when stationary, it did indeed look exactly like a log or fallen tree trunk.
Its eyewitnesses estimated the creature's total body length to be at least 42 ft, and approximately 6.5 ft in circumference, but most shocking of all were its jaws. For whereas those of true snakes, even massive ones, are relatively short in relation to their body, this mystery reptile's were extremely long, greatly resembling a crocodile's jaws. And although they were motionless, they were fully open, yielding a gape wide enough for a 6.5-ft-tall human to stand inside!
As I learnt from veteran cryptozoological explorer Bill Gibbons, who has also written about this bizarre cryptid, the entourage's native Nepalese members informed the Reverend that they considered these 'crocodile-snakes' to be dragons, but stated that they were only very occasionally encountered - and even when one was met with, it rarely moved. Instead, it would simply lie impassively with its monstrous jaws agape and wait for unsuspecting prey, usually water buffaloes, to approach, not seeing its enormous yet perfectly camouflaged form until it was too late. For as soon as a buffalo walked within range, the dragon's open jaws would seize it, and from those immensely powerful killing implements, brimming with sharp teeth, there would be no escape. In addition, the natives claimed that its eyes glowed like luminescent lamps at night (a feature also reported for anacondas and other very large snakes), which helped to lure prey.
But if such a remarkable creature as this truly exists, what could it be? Possibly an immense species of snake with unusually large jaws, or perhaps a gigantic legless lizard? Might it even be a unique limbless species of terrestrial crocodilian, highly specialised for this cryptic, motionless lifestyle? Whatever it is, it certainly does not match the appearance of any reptile currently known to science.
This ShukerNature blog post is excerpted from my newly-published book Mirabilis:A Carnival of Cryptozoology and Unnatural History (Anomalist Books: New York, 2013), which is available as a hard-copy paperback book and also as a Kindle e-book. |
George Eberhart is a librarian known for his encyclopedic bibliographies on unusual phenomena. He focuses on cryptozoology in an ambitious effort to collate information on every cryptid and a number of mythical creatures (e.g., griffin, roc, dragon, werewolf) that have been said to represent unknown and known animals.
The first part of this book contains descriptions of 1,085 unknown animals, arranged alphabetically in a field-guide format. Each of these falls into one of forty major cryptid categories, most of them based on existing classes and orders of known animals.
Each major category offers a brief description of the animal group associated with it, as well as a list of the cryptids included. The major categories are a good place to begin a general search for specific mystery beasts.
There are over 1000 entries alphabetically organized, from "Abnauayu", a supposed hominid from west Asia, to "Ziz", a mythical giant bird of the Middle East. The relative obscurity of these two cryptids is representative of the book, which contains entries on many beasts that many cryptozoologists will know little about. Most of the cryptids are listed by their local name, making Mysterious Creatures an interesting reference to the animal folklore of indigenous peoples around the world. There are also entries on the better-known cryptids such as Nessie, bigfoot, and the gigantic octopus. Werewolves are covered, too. Following the name of each cryptid is a brief sentence that describes what kind of cryptid it is and where it is found.
Each entry is then broken into subsections including etymology, variant names, physical description, behaviour, tracks, habitat, distribution, significant sightings, a list of possible explanations, and a usually comprehensive list of references (admirably, often the original sources).
Eberhart's comprehensive and informative treatment of cryptids makes Mysterious Creatures an invaluable reference. It is of great use and enjoyment to anybody interested in cryptozoology. |
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V.19 No.14 | 4/8/2010
Cryptid Alert: Giant, Fanged Peruvian Nose Leeches
By Nick Brown [ Fri Apr 16 2010 11:54 AM ]
Yes, Virginia, there are giant nose leeches. (Thanks to Eric Johnson for the hot news tip.)
In Albuquerque, a sure sign of spring is the enormic toad emerging from the dirt by the chicken pen. (Thanks to X-14 for the toad photos.)
NEWSLETTERS Great Alibi stories, events and deals delivered to your inbox each week. No fooling!
The Modern Poster: Integrating Art, Advertising, and Design at UNM Art Museum
Dr. Ruth Iskin will discuss the unique convergence of art, advertising, and design in the modern poster.
Geeks Who Drink • trivia at Fat Squirrel Pub & Grille
SFCC Celebrates Black History Month at Santa Fe Community CollegeMore Recommended Events ›› |
I'll be George Noory's late night interview guest TONIGHT, April 14th from 11:00 pm Pacific time to 2:00 am Pacific time. We'll discuss Bigfoot, aliens and ghosts -- topics I've researched for the past 15 years, creating books for readers 10 and up. Why do I frame such mysteries for young people? What have I discovered via journalistic research? What's next? We'll discuss it tonight, so call in and lend your voice! For more about it, click HERE.
Explore my books -- Tales of the Cryptids, In Search of Sasquatch, Alien Investigation, Ghostly Evidence and others HERE.
WEDNESDAY, April 15
4:00-5:20 YART Texas Tea
Hilton Austin (Conference Hotel across the street from convention center) Austin Grand Ballroom F-H, sixth floor
THURSDAY, April 16
10:00-11:20 AM- TLA Author Panel: Spirit of Texas Reading List Panel
Convention Center Room 12 AB, Level 4
11:30 AM- Signing in Lerner booth #1626
Photos from St. Vincents in Houston, TX -- November 2014. Love!
Photos from Palmyra, Missouri -- October 2014 -- loved it!
DONE! Tuesday, June 17, 2 p.m. at the Athol Library, ages 5-10
DONE! Wednesday, June 25, 10:30 a.m. at the Hayden Library, ages 5-10
DONE! Tuesday, July 1, 2 p.m. at the Spirit Lake Library
TWEEN & TEENS: CRYPTIDS, ALIENS & GHOSTS
DONE! Monday July 7 – Medical Lake Tuesday, 2:00 pm
DONE! Wednesday July 9 – North Spokane, 2:00 pm
DONE! Thursday July 10 – Airway Heights, 2:00 pm
DONE! Friday July 11 – Argonne, 2:00 pm
DONE! Monday July 14 – Moran Prairie, 2:00 pm
DONE! Tuesday July 15 – Otis Orchards, 2:00 pm
DONE! Wednesday July 16 – Deer Park, 2:00 pm
DONE! Thursday July 17 – Cheney, 2:00 pm
DONE! Friday July 18 – Spokane Valley, 2:00 pm
FIZZ, BOOM, READ ALL AGES DINOSAUR PRESENTATIONS
DONE! Monday, July 21: 10am at Deer Park Library, 2pm and 7pm at North Spokane Library
DONE! Tuesday, July 22: 10am at Argonne Library, 2pm and 7pm at Spokane Valley Library
DONE! Wednesday, July 23: 10am at Airway Heights Library, 2pm at Medical Lake Library
DONE! Thursday, July 24: 10:30am at Fairfield Library, 2:30pm at Otis Orchards Library
DONE! Friday, July 25: 10am at Moran Prairie Library, 2pm at Cheney Library
Thanks you for turning out in such great numbers and with such enthusiasm! You were GREAT!
Thank you, Warrensburg Children's literature FEStival 2014
Thank you, Wenatchee! I loved visiting your schools.
By Heather Acheson, Danielle Frost
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
When some of your book subjects include ghosts, Big Foot and aliens, fact checking and reliable sources are very important aspect of the research process.Author Kelly Milner Halls writes non-fiction, science based children’s books, several of which deal with these topics. Recently, she spent a day at Dorothy Fox Elementary School in Camas. A highlight was the author’s lunch, which included fourth- and fifth-grade students.
Her book, “The Tales of the Cryptids,” is currently one of the most popular choices in the school library.
“I don’t tell you for sure Big Foot is real, I don’t tell you for sure aliens are real. I don’t tell you for sure ghosts are real. I give you the evidence that I found through years of research, and I leave it for you guys to decide,” she said. “You have to control the rest of your lives what you believe. You’re smart. People forget how smarts kids are. You can take that information and you can make a decision for yourself, or you and your parents can sit down and you can say ‘Hey, Mom and Dad, look at this book, what do you think’?”
For more of this story, see the Camas-Washougal Post-Record print edition.
Tuesday, December 10 -- AUDUBON ELEMENTARY WAS WONDERFUL!!
Claire and Anni Menzer, thanks for making it possible!
Houston, Texas -- December 5 & 6. 2013
TIGER IN trouble -- and grace -- to the rescue!
A little bird told me Grace, a 4th grader at Brookview Elementary in Waukee, Iowa was inspired by reading TIGER IN TROUBLE to raise money for the Carolina Tiger Rescue. She and her entire class -- Mrs. Franke's class -- worked hard and raised $117.00 to help feed and care for tigers who can no longer live in private homes, circus's or zoos.
Grace is my very first featured HERO! I hope she's the first of many. And I'm working on a reward of my own for Grace and her classmates. They sure do deserve it!
Read more about Grace and her fund raising HERE or HERE.
Have you heard of "First Book?"
Join me, Wednesday -- September 18 -- at the St. John's Library!
Early Release Wednesday
Big Fun for grade school kids. On September 18, I will be in St. John to help grades 1 through 5 explore the world of weird creatures, real and undiscovered. Join us at 12:30 for an hour of fun.
Enjoy a snack!
Talk about mysterious creatures!
Make your own Bigfoot or Alien mask!
the prez of a lifetime
"letters about literature" Washington State Level 1 winner/2013
Book Review: Weird rocks by michele corriel (Mountain press)
Every now and then, a book comes along that makes me think, "Wow, why didn't I write this?" WEIRD ROCKS by Michele Corriel is one of those sensational titles. In simple but well crafted one page text blocks (shadowed by illustrations on the opposite page), Corriel explores rocks that float, rocks that burn, rocks that ring, even rocks that stink -- and so much more. If you have a little rock hound with pockets full of mysteries, WEIRD ROCKS is a "must have" purchase. LOVE.
May in Port Townsend & Seattle!
Happily, I had the chance to do one school visit in Port Townsend at Sidney Glen Elementary on May 20, and three in Seattle -- Whittier Elementary -- May 21, McGilvra Elementary -- May 22, and Green Lake Elementary -- May 23.
I visited Sidney Glen last year, so I felt lucky to go back so soon, and the kids were sensational. Then I took the Ferry to Seattle for my next three events.
Whittier had prepared amazing welcome banners and their kids were sensational. McGilvra was an amazing old school with a ghost -- maybe -- in the attic. And Green Lake was all about science, even with Sasquatch and UFOs. Loved each day, every kid. THANK YOU..
Midway elementary in colbert, wa -- you were sensational!
Thank you, western washington SCBWI!
I gave two workshops on writing nonfiction, one on school visits, one on social media, two round table critique sessions AND my first keynote speech. Best of all, I met so many truly amazing people.
LEFT: Three weird and wild writers -- Elizabeth Rose Stanton, me and Suzanne Kaufman. ABOVE: Illustrator Dana Sullivan captured ME! He is amazing.
Four sensational school visits in Oregon, Wisconsin!
On Sunday, April 14 I flew from Spokane to Oregon, Wisconsin to do four fantastic school visits.
Prairie View Elementary on Monday, April 15 -- FANTASTIC!!
Rome Corners Intermediate on Tuesday, April 16 -- AMAZING!!
Netherwood Knoll Elementary on Wednesday, April 17 -- SO GREAT!
Brooklyn Elementary on Thursday, April 18 -- SENSATIONAL!
Can't wait to see the rest of you! The picture above is from Brooklyn Elementary. More pictures below!
Lee and Kenroy Elementaries, Mon. & Tues, March 25 & 26, 2013. FUN!
March 13, 2013
Franklin County Children's Literature Festival is held every hear at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas -- about 90 minutes from Kansas City, Missouri. I had such a wonderful time meeting all the kids, authors and volunteers. If ever you are invited, say yes. It's exceptional. Thank you Vickie and Linda and everyone else who worked so hard to make it possible.
March 17-19, 2013
Sponsored by the University of Southern Missouri and the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, this festival is a celebration of Missouri and its stellar authors. But they also let a few of us from outside the region join in the fun. I couldn't be more thrilled. It was sensational!
Boise, idaho -- here i come!
Hawthorn Elementary, Horizon Elementary, Amity Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Hidden Springs Elementary, Shadow Hills Elementary, Morley Nelson Elementary, and Grace Jordan Elementary.
I'll be meeting with SCBWI members on Tuesday night. I'll be at Rediscovered Books on Thursday night. And I'll be speaking to ICTE educators on Friday night
The Young Writers Conference will be Saturday at 9:00 am at South Junior High School.
Sure hope to see a LOT of you while I'm in town. I love Boise! We're going to have FUN!
Letters from Lincoln Heights -- Thank you, kids! i love them so much!
I.N.K. -- my latest blog
Larry and I met when we both staffed a Highlights Workshop at Chautauqua in 2007 and we've been fast friends ever since.
If you're looking for top notch books about the Civil Rights Movement, or many other topics, Larry should be your go-to guy.
Thank you Larry. You're swell.
CLICK HERE to read the blog!
Auntie's Bookstore -- Spokane, WA -- December 22, 2012
Thank you, Garden Heights !
I could not be more grateful for the chance to share a school day with so many smart, curious kids and their devoted teachers and administrators.
Thank you so much for welcoming me.
This drawing and the welcome bulletin board below greeted me as I walked through the front door of the school. Before I left, they asked me to sign it so they could laminate it and display it in their library. It'll be there with another drawing of my friend, poet Kenn Nesbitt, who visited last year. Honored to be in such great cartoon company!
Once again, thank you so much!
Fun in Edmonds, Seattle & Bellevue, WA
From November 26 to 30, 2012 I did school visits in Edmonds, Bellevue and Seattle, Washington. I had such a great time. Thank you so much -- kids, librarians, volunteers and teachers -- for making me feel so welcome!
Madina at Woodridge Elementary wrote a book report about TIGER IN TROUBLE and gave it five stars (right). Thanks, Madina! I love what you wrote.
Enjoy the other pictures below, too! THANK YOU!
Thank you, YALSA!
IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH has been named a YALSA Readers Choice nonfiction selection for 2013. I am so grateful. YALSA Rocks!
NCTE...here I come!
MGM GRAND CONVENTION CENTER
Las Vegas, NV
Friday, November 16
4 – 5:15pm
Author Panel: Igniting the Sustainable Love of Reading in Reluctant Readers Location: MGM Grand Ballroom Room 120, Level One
Speakers: Kelly Milner Halls, Bruce Hale, Ellen Hopkins, Terry Trueman, Cari Sadler
Saturday, November 17
11am – 12pm
Signing at Chronicle Books with Chris Crutcher and Terry Trueman
Booth # 334
1pm – 2pm
Signing at Anderson’s Bookshop with Chris Crutcher
Booth # 147
Many thanks to author Laurie Thompson for her interview about me on February 14, 2012, too. She asks a series of great questions and I'm grateful for her hard work. See it HERE.
Thank you, Texas!
Here I am with ROBS student journalists as good as any pro, when it came to their questions. The man with the moose is storyteller Willy Claflin and he's amazing with that puppet. Read more about him and his books here: http://www.willyclaflin.com/welcome.php.
The kids were sensational at all three schools, and so were all the educators who made the school visits possible. I was born and raised in Texas, so going back always means the world to me. THANK YOU, SO MUCH!
THANK YOU, RMS students in New Hampshire!
I got your GREAT thank you notes today, 6/18/2012, and I love them. Click HERE to see more about these amazing letters from kids in Concord, NH. Thanks to librarian Nancy Keane for sending them to me, too. I love Rundett Middle School and all the kids who go there!
"One kickin' Robin." YES!
I love Elizabeth Bird. She's an amazing librarian, a vibrant voice in children's literature, a force to be reckoned with. And she's so fun. She posted this in her July 19, 2012 blog.
"This made the Twitter rounds not too long ago, but I’m sure a fair number of you might have missed it. Marc Tyler Nobleman came up with an inspired blog post idea: solicit photos from children’s authors of childhood pictures where they were dressed up like superheroes. The results include a lot of big names (Peter Brown, Lemony Snicket, Bruce Hale, Adam Rex, etc.) though honestly Kelly Milner Halls takes the cake as one kickin’ Robin. The post is SO extensive that I think you’ll have to consider it your necessary reading of the day."
Thanks! My mom made that Robin costume and she knocked it out of the park. You should have seen my best friend Craig Bottoms as Batman. We rocked it, that Halloween.
WILD HORSES revisited!
Thank you Examiner reporter Suzanne Corbett Endres for writing about WILD HORSES in your July 18, 2012 column.
I love your series of photographs so much, I posted them at my page just for WILD HORSES. I also posted this one (left) here.
Loved your SASQUATCH photos with your black Pug reading the pages, too. You ROCK!
Check out Suzanne's latest by clicking on the photo.
NEW BOOK on display at ALA in Anaheim, CA -- June 2012
Rundlett Middle School in NH thanked ME, too! LOVE THESE!
Thank you, New Hampshire!
I just spent three wonderful days in New Hampshire -- May 22, 23 and 24th. I shared two days with the kids at Deerfield Community School in Deerfield, NH and one day at Rundlett Middle School in Conchord.
All three days were sensational, and I am so grateful to librarians Ginni Schonwald and Nancy Keane. And I can't tell you how great all the kids were. THANK YOU for making me feel so welcome.
BTW, my new friend William at Rundlett had one of the coolest t-shirts EVER. Check it out at the left. Check out other pictures from NH below.
Were you there? I was, and I'm so grateful for it!
I gave workshops on nonfiction and school visits. But there were so many amazing sessions, I was amazed.
So check them out HERE. THANK YOU Robin and Judi for including me.
Auntie's Bookstore -- May 9, 2012
Because there are Two Sides to Every Story. So glad you enjoyed the fun ALIEN prizes I shared. So nice meeting Thomas (above) and seeing kids from Jefferson Elementary and their parents, along with others including authors Trent Reedy and Mary Cronk Farrell. I'm so grateful.
THIS WEEKEND: The Pacific NW Conference on Primal People
Paul Graves Ron Morehead
Arla Williams R. Scott Nelson
Dr. Melba Ketchum Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum
Bob Gimlin Derek Randles
Tom Cantrall Kelly Milner Halls
Hosted by expert and radio personality Tom Cantrall, it was an amazing exploration of the evidence. For more about it, click HERE and HERE.
Thank you for having me!
Texas Library Association ROCKED!
Great week in Casper, Wyoming!
A HUGE "Thank You" from the kids at RCI in Wisconsin. LOVE.
LEO, the RCI Gecko (ABOVE)
Leo, the gecko pictured above, is RCI library pet. Isn't he sensational?
It was a great two day adventure, complete with a trip to the Wisconsin State Capital. The kids were incredible. Thanks, Chris and RCI kids!
On the left, I'm pictured with the RCI Sasquatch, created in my honor. He's sensational, too!
More photos below.
Ian from Olympia, WA
Bothell, Washington -- March 20-23, 2012
Letters from College Place, Washington
Fun gifts from Port Orchard student Ben!
Thank you, Gonzaga University!
AUTHOR'S QUIRKS INSPIRE
by Nicole Crapps
March 7, 2012
It is telling that children's author Kelly Milner Halls completely ignored the lectern and chair set out for her when she came to Gonzaga to speak to aspiring writers, and instead sat on a table. That her favorite pet is not a typical dog or cat, but rather a five-foot iguana named Gigantor. That her most-watched TV shows are about Time Lords and zombies.
For the past 20 years, Halls has made her living by being just a bit different, by trade-marking "weird," and on Monday, March 5, she encouraged a group of student writers to "find their niche" as well.
Halls described her younger self as "a squirrely little kid" who was constantly curious about the world around her and always asking too many questions. Attending four middle schools made her shy among strangers, but no less intrigued by them. Joining her high school newspaper was a major turning point.
"Even people who didn't want to talk to you would answer any questions you had because you had that byline," Halls said of her time as a journalist. "Everyone wants that fame. So that was a great way for me to learn new things and talk to new people."
Halls later attended Brigham Young University and studied to be a professional journalist.
"I did that for a couple years, writing articles, but I wanted something that would last longer," Halls said. "Also, when you're a journalist, sometimes you have to write about people who do bad things and I couldn't stop thinking about those people's kids. I wanted to do something that didn't hurt people's feelings."
Even as an adult, Halls found much of the adult literature she began to review too long and slow-paced. She remembered irritating one prominent author in particular.
"I said, ‘Tom Clancy, I'm using your book as a doorstop because you could edit about 300 pages out of it.' It was so tedious," Halls said. "And on the other hand, there are these young adult novels that are making such a powerful point in such a short amount of time."
A divorced single mother, Halls found her calling when she started reading magazines and books to her children. She realized that there was an opening in the publishing world for children's nonfiction, but had a hard time convincing an editor to take her seriously. For years she wrote children's book reviews to supplement her income and became an assistant to young adult novelist Chris Crutcher ("Whale Talk," "Angry Management"), which she said opened many doors for her as an author.
Today, Halls has published more than 1,500 articles and 26 books. Some of these address tough subjects like war and injuries. She especially recalls treading carefully when writing "Saving the Baghdad Zoo" in order to write sensitively for her young audience without sugarcoating the facts.
"You've got to write some pretty intense things because they're going to be deciding whether we get into another war," Halls said about addressing difficult subject matter for young readers. "You tell them the truth so they can think really hard about the decisions they'll make for us in the future. These kids are so hungry to see the world and define their beliefs. If you just tell them the truth, they'll find their way."
In spite of being "not quite famous," Halls has received her share of bad reviews. Kirkus, a well-known publishing company, wrote that her book "Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens" was "about as exciting as your neighbor's vacation slides for the third time." Halls did not let this criticism faze her.
"Every other alien book out there tries to terrify kids; this one gives them the facts and encourages them to think critically. That's why people called it boring," she said.
In addition to writing children's nonfiction, Halls visits elementary schools to talk about her books and sign autographs for her young fans. She hopes to affect the way they view themselves and the world around them. At one school, Halls remembers reading her book about albino animals and having a little girl call them "creepy."
"Are they really creepy?" Halls asked. "Or are they just different?"
The kids agreed that difference was not necessarily a bad thing, which Halls felt was an important lesson in tolerance. Another of her favorite messages to her young readership is to never give up.
"People will go out of their way to tell you it's impossible, but you can make a living doing what you love if you just make that commitment," Halls said. "Everything is within your grasp."
Halls' next project is a book on the history of video games, which she hopes will appeal to and inspire her male readership.
"Video games are the perfect analogy for writing and for life. There are all these levels and if you just keep at it, eventually you'll get it," Halls said.
My amazing friend, Tiffany -- March 1, 2012
Last month, I sent Tiffany a copy of Albino Animals after she sent me a very sweet first letter. This is her thank you note and the photo she sent of herself. I think she is a very beautiful human being and I'm so grateful to call her my friend.
Tiffany, you ROCK! I hope we get to meet someday, too.
February for the Literacy Connection and the Tri-Cities!
I didn't get pictures from all the schools, but I'd love to fill in those gaps if you have any photos I didn't get, TriCities librarians. Thanks again for working so hard to get your kids ready. It's been amazing.
Regal Elementary in Spokane -- February 7 & 8, 2012
ALIENS at Tinman, Too -- January 28, 2012
I introduced ALIEN INVESTITATION at the Tinman, Too Bookstore in the historic Garland district (of Spokane) across the street from Ferguson's and the Milk Bottle. Thank you so much to all the people who stopped by to talk about visitors from other galaxies. We gave away an Alien cup and saucer to one lucky winner, but all of the people who came left with their own pocket alien. FUN.
ALA Midwinter 2012 in Dallas
I was unable to attend the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in Dallas, Texas. But my friend Lucy Kubo did attend, and took these two pictures of my early 2012 book releases. GIRL MEETS BOY is from Chronicle Books and ALIEN INVESTIGATION is from Millbrook/Lerner. HATCHLINGS will come in April from Running Press.
Thanks, Lucy! Thanks Chronicle Books. Thanks Millbrook/Lerner and super PR pro Lindsay Matvick (seated above)!
Saturday, January 14, 2012 -- Keller, Texas
On Saturday, January 15, I joined Ellen Hopkins, Lori Aurelia Williams, Jeff Hirsh, Tim Tingle, Greg Rogers, Beth Fehlbaum and other stellar authors for YAK Fest -- Young Adult Keller Book Festival, in Keller, Texas (near Dallas/Fort Worth).
We had a full day of exciting activities, thanks to the hard work of Lucy Kubo and her energetic team!
On Sunday, January 15, I signed SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO at the Dallas World Aquarium at noon, also thanks to Lucy Kubo.
Thank you, Lucy!
Fun -- January 7, 2012
Thanks to all the people who turned out to join me and my friend Chris Crutcher on Saturday, January 7 at the Tinman, Too Bookstore in the historic Garland District of Spokane. We discussed my new anthology GIRL MEETS BOY, a collection of stories including Crutcher's story as an opener. It was a terrific event!
GIRL MEETS BOY is a YA book intended for mature readers 14 and up. It deals with very mature subject matter.
ALIEN INVESTIGATION is coming!
Starred review in Kirkus? YES!
GIRL MEETS BOY -- my YA anthology for mature readers 14 and up -- landed a starred review in Kirkus:
"This conceptually unique collection of short-story pairings by a constellation of teen-literature stars explores a variety of relationship types as the respective male and female involved in each one experience them.
"In the first, a witty teen seeking to stop cheating on his girlfriends is drawn into a messy sexual relationship with a troubled (but hot) girl who is an abuse survivor. In another, a likable, tough girl muscles in on a bully who is harassing the object of her crush. In the third, a gay 17-year-old agrees to an in-person meeting with an online-chat buddy in a tale both sad and sweet. Two separate stories examine the strain felt by couples of different ethnic backgrounds as they struggle with prejudice and familial expectations. Finally, a boy re-encounters someone with whom he’s long been enamored, only to discover she’s undergone a transformation. Common themes—that are less about gender-based perceptions than they are about teens struggling to be seen and loved for who they truly are—knit these stories together. Each of the authors excels at creating vibrant, sympathetic, honest characters with voices that will appeal to older teens, male and female alike.
"A superb offering—and therefore a shame that its cover design of a boy and girl in a clinch makes it look like a run-of-the mill romance, which may limit its appeal. (Short stories. 14 & up)"
Thank you, Chicago Tribune!
WOW! Great holiday press for IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH.
On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal ran a review of IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH and I was delighted. Today, it was in the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune as a featured holiday gift book. I couldn't be more excited! Thank you, whoever made the decision to include my new book! I hope people really enjoy it!
Thank you, Authorlink!
Wild Dogs and their domestic brothers
Lynne W. was nice enough to send me this letter about my book, WILD DOGS. She also shared the two photos to the right. Thank you, Lynne, for making this snowy Sunday a little warmer! Lynne said:
Dear Ms. Halls,
Thank you so much for creating the book "Wild Dogs Past & Present." I checked the book out of the Multnomah County Library for my own enjoyment. I knew instantly that I needed my own copy as I have never seen so many color pictures of all the different wild canids and so much information about all of them in one place.
What I most like about the book is how you refer to "wild dogs." That's how I think of them as well, especially coyotes and wolves. It breaks my heart to read discussions about how even 16 wolves seem to be too many for the ranchers in Oregon.
When I look into the eyes of the wolves in your photos, I see Tobi looking back at me, and when I look into her eyes I see a wisdom outside human culture. But, as to the chihuahua, I do not see wolves. I have this major lurking suspicion that the chihuahua genome was "contaminated" with another canid during its creation in Mexico -- something uniquely "New World" and Pre-Columbian.
Is there any chance you've come across legitimate information specifically about New World domesticated dogs that includes a study of their genomes? Attached are pix of my Dobby (the chihuahua) and my Tobi and me...because, based on your book's dedication, I know you love dogs as much as I do.
Genetics say Tobi and Dobby are equal, in terms of their connections to ancient wolves. But selective breeding -- the human hand -- has made Dobby feel a lot less wolf-like than Tobi. Just in case you wondered about Lynne's question, too.
ABOVE: Little Dobby. BELOW: Lynne and Tobi.
Addison LOVES Cryptids
I asked if I could send Addison a copy of his own. Larry asked his librarian Jacque Cooper and she agreed. Today, Larry sent me her response. THIS is why I write what I write.
"We just received the book from Kelly yesterday so I presented it to Addie when his class came to the library today and he was speechless."
Thank you, Larry and thank you, Jacque. Most of all, thank you Addison!
SASQUATCH B&N Ad -- plus!
Looking for a weather report in Spokane (for November 16, 2011) I came across this B&N ad, featuring about ten book titles, including MINE! Thanks Vanessa (my daughter) for the screen capture to remember it by. So fun!
Thanks, too, to Sara Latta who blogged about SASQUATCH here.
And thanks to trade giant, Booklist for reviewing IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH so positively. I couldn't be more excited!
Look what came today, 11/12/11...yay!
Spokane Children's Writers meet-up
Claire Rudolf Murphy
Kelly Milner Halls
Meghan Nutall Sayers
Mary Cronk Farrell
Chris Crutcher (out of town)
Trent Reedy (no show)
National Geographic, my next challenge!
I don't want to spill the beans on just which animal rescue stories I'll be tackling, but let's just say if you like ALBINO ANIMALS, there will be at least one animal story you'll really want to get your hands on -- plus two more terrific tales to go with it.
My deadline is February of 2012, but I'm not sure when the book will be available. But the minute I know, I'll be sure you know., too And if I get additional assignments on the same series, I'll let you know about that, too!
So excited to write for National Geographic! It's a nonfiction writer's dream come true. My "wish list" isn't completely fulfilled yet. I can think of several more publishers I'd love to write for, too. But I'm awfully proud to have this chance to write for the NatGeo team.
I won't let you down, NatGeo. I won't let my readers down, either.
Many thanks to journalist Tammy Marshall for writing this:
I'm so proud of this! November is Picture Book Month!
And I'm pretty proud of being a Picture Book Month 2011 Champion. So I'm flying this badge right on top of my homepage and inviting you to celebrate it, too!
Thirty-one writers and illustrators will share their comments on the Picture Book Month website -- mine will go live on November 2, 2011 after midnight. I hope you'll stop by.
Check it out here, be sure to check back often, and spread the word. Picture books rock, so tell the world!
Saturday, October 29, 2011 was awesome!
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Saturday, October 29
Lots of you turned out to help me celebrate the "birth" of my new book, IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH, complete with yummy cake! I gave away a half-day school visit to Marggy and Lincoln Heights Elementary and I even gave a sneak peek at ALIEN INVESTIGATION. Thanks to everyone who showed up!
WORD Conference Chapters and Chocolate Reception
3:45 pm to 5:00 pm, Saturday, October 29
Ten Spokane authors lined up to talk about their work at the WORD Conference at Gonzaga University's Cataldo Hall in the Globe Room. The Spokane SAC IRA will supplied ice cream. I brought a big chocolate Sasquatch cake!
Eagle Scout Kevin Tsuchida's "Make-A-Wish" fund raiser!
I was so honored to contribute one of many items gathered by Eagle Scout Kevin Tsuchida to raise money for the "Make-A-Wish" auction on Friday, October 28, 2011. Hope it helped a little, Kevin! Your parents are so proud of you -- and I'm proud to know you, too!
SASQUATCH on the radio: Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thanks, Nonfiction Detectives!
For reviewing IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH on your terrific blog. I really appreciate it! Click HERE to check it out! But here's an excerpt:
October is the perfect month to read about mysterious happenings and strange occurrences. The children in my school love to explore the 000 shelf in the nonfiction section. They are usually in search of books about UFOs, the Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and Bigfoot. Kelly Milner Halls, author of Tales of the Cryptids, has written a new book that is sure to satisfy inquiring minds.
Yay! I got my author copies...
I'll be having a contest to give a few of these away as soon as the release date (October 25) is a little closer.
I'm SO excited about the release of this book! Hope you guys LOVE it.
Saturday, September 24, 2011...
Annalisa Hall (no relation) shares my "weird."
Imagine my delight when I discovered blogger/author/illustrator Annalisa Hall had written about me on her blog in September of 2011. We met when I spoke at the San Diego SCBWI Saturday workshop a few months ago. That's part of why I love my job. I meet the nicest people.
Thank you, Annalisa, for seeing something worth remember in my books!
Thank you, Deborah Heiligman and I.N.K.!
Thanks for interviewing me, Deborah, and thanks for featuring that interview on one of my FAVORITE blogs, I.N.K. -- Interesting Nonfiction for Kids. It's truly an honor.
Check out Deborah's hard work HERE.
Don't blame the dog, share the picture! : )
"My daughter attends Briargrove Elementary in Houston, TX. Last May, you were at the school and did a book signing. We purchased a book and you signed it for her. Unfortunately, sometime last night or early this morning, our Basset Hound Lucy, ate a corner of the book - front to back and in between - I attached a picture for your enjoyment!!! LOL!!! Is there any possible way I could purchase and have you sign another copy? I promised her I would get in touch with you as soon as possible!"
Is there any doubt what my response was? I'll get a new book out today or tomorrow. I love that they liked the book enough to replace it. That knowledge -- and Lucy the basset hound -- PRICELESS. Thanks for the terrific note, Tracie and Kendall. I won't let you down!
Boy's Life Magazine likes CRYPTIDS
Thanks Steve McQueen and Boy's Life. I'm really pleased!
Girl Meets Boy -- my first YA project (for kids 14 and up)
It's an anthology -- a collection of short stories. In the stories, two writers team up to tell the same story; one from the boy's point of view, one from the girl's.
The writing pairs featured are:
Chris Crutcher & Kelly Milner Halls
Joseph Bruchac & Cynthia Leitich Smith
James Howe & Ellen Wittlinger
Terry Trueman & Rita Williams-Garcia
Terry Davis & Rebecca Davis
Randy Powell & Sara Ryan
Chronicle will publish it in January of 2012. Hope you like it. It's a project that makes me really proud! Amazing writers. Amazing stories!
Garland Street Festival, August 13, 2011
...was a BLAST. I had such a great time with my fellow writers Claire Rudolf Murphy, John Bladek, Meghan Nuttall Sayers and Mary Cronk Farrell. We were there in support of the Tinman Too -- a lovely children's bookstore -- at 809 W. Garland Ave. (509) 325-3001. Stop by if you ever need a book for a young reader! Did I see YOU there?
Thank you, PNLA!
I had so much fun speaking at the PNLA Conference -- in Spokane this year -- on August 3, 2011 with Claire Rudolf Murphy and Kenn Nesbitt. We did our session on reaching reluctant readers.
Kenn talked about humor, Claire talked about history and I talked about weird or intriguing nonfiction. It was a wonderful three hour session I HOPE the librarians loved as much as I did.
PW Spring Preview 2012
Chronicle -- GIRL MEETS BOY
Lerner/Millbrook -- ALIEN INVESTIGATION
Running Press -- HATCHLINGS
"This is the amazing story of the resurrection of the zoo and its animal population. The zoo was once the home to more than 600 magnificent animals. But, after the war in Iraq began in 2003, the city faced widespread destruction. When U.S. Captain William Sumner was asked to check out the state of the zoo he found that it, too, was devastated. Hundreds of animals were missing and those that still remained were in desperate need of care.
"The book tells the story of tremendous compassion , courage and love generated by a team of people who came from our armed forces, Iraq and the world over to help Captain Sumner help the animals. Meet abandoned lions who roamed the empty palace with no food or drink, the camel Lumpy who survived (along with his rescuers) the transport through sniper fire and the poor pelican that did not have access to clean water, food or shade, and was tethered to a 3 foot length of rope.
"This is a story of renewal and rebirth and of how people with many back rounds came together, putting their lives on the line, to save a very desperate group of animals. In so doing did they not only give the animal a bright future, but provided the families of Iraq a place of peace and hope."
Thanks, Gary Anderson...
"Saving the Baghdad Zoo is an excellent book for upper elementary-age students but will be appealing to other ages too. This is the story of how zoo animals in Baghdad were rescued during the American invasion of Iraq and the efforts to provide a safe home for them as well as a recreation venue for Iraqi citizens. Because the subject matter here is set against a backdrop of war, violence, looting, and terrorism, I was concerned that this book might be too “heavy” for young children. Kelly Milner Halls find just the right balance of providing necessary information but not overwhelming children with images or descriptions that are too troubling. The war is explained in the first few pages, and then the story focuses on the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of American military personnel, American and Iraqi civilians, and animal rescue professionals.
"Saving the Baghdad Zoo is nicely edited with many large pictures; sidebars with facts about various animal species; first-person narratives; maps and facts about Iraq, Baghdad, and other geographical and historical topics; manageable chapters; and an engaging base text that acknowledges but doesn’t dwell on the more graphic aspects of rescuing animals in the middle of a war zone.
...and Chloe, one of her young scientists, loved ALBINO ANIMALS. Thank you so much, Science Mommy. I really tried to make it a book worth reading. Read the blog HERE.
Believe It! Tour Fundraising Auction...
Read more about it HERE.
SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO a VOYA Honor List Book for 2010
Liberty Lake Elementary's Wax Museum, June 6, 2011
Milo, Junior Cryptozoologist!
Milo loves TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS and I think he's pretty swell, too. So it was my pleasure to send him an official Junior Cryptid Investigator certificate. Something tells me Milo will make many discoveries in the years to come. Curiosity is the path to adventure, great and small.
Thanks for reading, Milo! You rock!
Sasquatch buttons for ALA -- June 25 & 26, 2011
I'll also be doing the Nonfiction Book Blast on Sunday with nine other amazing writers. After the panel, I'll be signing books at the Lerner booth at 10:00 am.
Rick Spears, one of my favorite illustrators, created this button design for me so I'd have something great to pass out -- reminders that IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH is coming soon! Be sure to stop by to get one!
Thanks Rick. You're awesome!
truTV by Kelly Milner Halls
A few months ago, I wrote the text as a straight cryptozoology feature. They found me via TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS.
In late April, they let me know it had been published -- with a twist. Celebrity look-alikes, a cryptid pairing.
I tend to be a little more gentle with people because I don't like hurting anyone's feelings, so please know I didn't DO this. But some of them a a little funny.
There are a dozen or so of the descriptions and pairings, not just this one. I wrote all the text, did not pick the pairings.
The link for you, is HERE. Enjoy...or not. : )
Happy Birthday, Declan!
I met Declan while I was in Camas doing school visits (April 2011). He was a little bummed that he didn't get a book, so his mom and I conspired to get him one. To my sheer delight, he got the book on his 9th birthday. Isn't it amazing when a little something gets a little bigger, simply by chance? Happy birthday, Delcan. You're terrific! Hope you love those WILD DOGS.
Thank you, Marilyn Carpenter at EWU!
Actually, thanks Marilyn Carpenter and Chris Valeo. They invited me to share SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO with their Global View Through Children's Literature students at Eastern Washington University on April 26, 2011.
I happily accepted and they presented me with not one but two EWU sweatshirts as thanks. How lucky am I?
Marilyn retires after this year, which is a huge loss for EWU's teacher education program. She is famous in the Pacific Northwest for helping college students to become effective, compassionate students. She is also famous for the children's book collection she has collected over the years. Incredible.
Thank you, Marilyn and Chris for the sweatshirts, for letting me speak and for your dedication to education. The world is better for your hard work.
Camas, thanks for the THANK YOU!
Prune Hill Elementary in Camas, WA (minutes from Portland, OR) invited me to speak at their school and to share their Sasquatch Winner party (see below). To my surprise, they sent me this and two other wonderful thank you "bigfoot" notes. I love them. So thank you for the thank you, Prune Hill! You rock.
How to have a great SASQUATCH AWARD party!
It was such a fantastic experience, I wanted to share the photos here. Our librarians work so hard to make reading fun! They deserve our appreciation and support. Thanks, Meghan & kids!
Camas, WA kids are SENSATIONAL!
I'll be back, if you ever invite me again. How could I resist? You were amazing!
Check out the fantastic Sasquatch they made at Prune Hill Elementary! Look below for other special projects all three schools shared with me!
SAVING THE BAGHAD ZOO a Bank Street College "Best Book"
The website explains the lists & selection process this way:
"One of the most comprehensive annotated book lists for children, aged infant-16. The Committee reviews over 6000 titles each year for accuracy and literary quality and considers their emotional impact on children. It chooses the best 600 books, both fiction and nonfiction, which it lists with annotations, according to age and category."
Thank you, Bank Street College, for your dedication to the celebration of powerful books for young readers!
Kelly Milner Halls: Guest Blogger!
My friend, freelance writer Sue Edwards said it made her cry -- but in a good way. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Thanks, Christa Pryor! (March 2011)
When I was at Christa's school in Houston, she asked me if any of my illustrators would donate original art she could frame and put in her library. Rick Spears had given me the original watercolor paintings he created for DINOSAUR MUMMIES. So I shared one of the six with Christa, along with a paperback copy of the book.
This is how those donations look now, framed for her library. I love it. Thank you, Christa for paying tribute to Rick and DINOSAUR MUMMIES so beautifully.
South Elementary Artists ROCK!
Thank you so much for these beautiful works of art. They were amazing. I wish I could have taken them home! Just lovely.
My favorite guys!
Olympia, here I come!
Thanks, Winton Elementary in Coeur d'Alene! Feb 7 was FUN.
New Hampshire was SO fun!
I visited Joel Burdette's Windham Center School and Golden Brook School, Nichole Anderson's Paul School, Linda Sherouse's North Hampton School and Nancy Keane's Rundlette Middle School.
The kids were so fantastic, I can't say enough about them. One had treasure in his pants. Another wondered about those Flossaraptors I was talking about (Velociraptors). And the people of New Hampshire are so warm and friendly, I felt completely at home. I heard about Mt. Washington and frozen soap bubbles, sampled a Lobster Roll, stayed in two beautiful historic hotels (and four other very nice places, thank you). I saw a subzero surfer AND was even given a six pack of clam chowder so good it should be illegal.
THANK YOU, Joel, Nichole, Linda and Nancy. PS...Nichole and Linda -- I'd love to come back if that works out -- without a doubt! Nancy, Maple syrup time, oh yeah!!
Writer Davonna King wrote about me for her October blog feature. If you're interested, check it out HERE.
Angela L. Fox did a Skype interview with me, too and you can check it out HERE.
Hedden Hawks ROCK!
After an all school assembly, we had writing workshops with five different groups o Hedden students. It was a fantastic experience, just wonderful.
Thanks Mr. Wolfe, for letting me share the day!
My friend Lucie worked REALLY hard on this illustration tribute to WILD HORSES after I talked at her school, Explorer Elementary, in San Diego on November 15. The hours show, and I LOVE it.
Thanks so much, Lucie. You're a superstar!
Harbor Seals at the Children's Pool in San Diego! LOVE.
San Diego ROCKED! Thanks, Roxy. : )
On Sunday, several SCBWI folks took me to breakfast, then Roxy and I explored a local Harbor Seal hangout, the Museum of Man in Balboa Park and the Maritime Museum at the harbor After having dinner with Roxy and her family, I got a concert, thanks to Roxy's husband Kawika and daughter Danielle.
On Monday, I spent the day with kids at Explorer Elementary, where Roxy is librarian, and had a great time meeting the Explorer Science Lab bearded dragon (at the left). What a fun filled three days I had. It'll tide me over until I head to Seattle in mid-December.
Jill Corcoran of the Herman Agency SOLD MY YA BOOK!
GIRL MEETS BOY is a YA anthology for readers 14 and up, featuring six story pairs by Chris Crutcher/Kelly Milner Halls, Terry Trueman/Rita Williams-Garcia, Jame Howe/Ellen Wittlinger, Terry Davis, Becky Davis, Randy Powell/Sara Ryan and Joseph Bruchac/Cynthia Leitich-Smith. They tell the story of the same events, one from a female point of view, the other from the male point of view.
Chronicle Books will publish the book in the Spring of 2012 and I couldn't be more excited. Thanks, Jill. Thanks writers. Thanks Chronicle! You all ROCK.
September 11, 2010 -- SCBWI in Boise was STELLAR!
Second, there was a book signing at the local bookstore, the Rediscovered Bookshop the night before which went very well. Boise apparently loves my books, and how great is that?
Third, I got to speak at two breakout sessions -- one on author visits, one on nonfiction. I thought both went beautifully. In fact, YA novelist and co-RA Sydney Salter said my author visit presentation was the best she'd ever seen.
Could things get any better? They could indeed.
Friday night, Herman Agency agent Jill Corcoran (left) and I got in the best conversation about what makes nonfiction trustworthy. It was a pressure free conversation because I knew Jill only represented fiction, and I had given up on finding an agent.
Next morning, before the conference began, there was a contract in my email box. Jill wanted to represent me. She was willing to make an exception. I did my presentations from the upper stratosphere.
In the three weeks since, Jill has been an astonishing professional. She's worked so hard and so well, there may be more good news very soon. And she's inspired me to work much harder, too. I had already decided I wanted to up my game and take some giant steps in my work. But having her in my corner made that seem possible, rather than a far off dream.
Amazing things can happen. That's the moral of this story. As John Lennon says, life is what happens when you're making other plans. Sometimes those plans intersect with remarkable results.
Am I happy? Oh man, YES. In fact ... YAY! YAY! YAY!
Here is my Herman Agency page: http://www.hermanagencyinc.com/kelly_milnerhalls.htm
MUFON Symposium -- it was GREAT!
Liberty Lake's Wax Museum
In May, Maya sent me interview questions because she was doing a biographical report on me. Later, she and her mom, and Kassidy and her mom asked me if I could come to their school, Liberty Lake Elementary on June 8 at 7:00 pm to share in the fun.
Of course I said YES! YES! YES! I wouldn't miss it. And it turns out four girls decided to write about and BE me in their wax museum projects. So I had SO much fun
I also saw that Hunter wrote about someone I know and admire, Richard Jesse Watson, so I took his picture too.
THANK YOU Liberty Lake kids for making me feel so special. YOU are the really special ones. And I should know. After all, I write nonfiction...don't I?
Dinosaur Parading -- SUCCESS!
My event at Spokane Public Library was a little smaller, but just as wonderful. Thanks to the folks who shared that time with me, too.
Whitman County Library sent me to the amazing Steptoe School where I spoke to two groups of students -- K through 4 and 5 thought 8. They were spectacular, too. Sheri, the Whitman County Library was so kind to let me share that day with her, May 26. Thanks to all the librarians and the Foundation for Early Learning for making this possible.
Franklin Elementary's DINOSAUR PARADE mural ROCKS!
Horn Book Magazine
Thank you, Inlander!
Dinosaur Parading -- thank you, Rick Spears!
Rick Spears is THE best illustrator, ever!
Wenatchee was WONDERFUL!
Oh, and check out Lewis & Clark librarian Amy Ferrell's blog about my visit here. I'll take those kids up on being their grammy, at least in spirit. They were great.
My friend, William Sumner in the NEWS!
FROM IRAQ TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
"The first-graders in Kim Hackbart’s class at Peter Sarpy Elementary School in Bellevue had a special visitor recently.
Maj. William Sumner, father of first-grader Morgan Sumner, stopped by to present his book, “Saving the Baghdad Zoo … A True Story of Hope and Heroes,” to the students. Kelly Milner Halls is co-author of the book.
Hackbart invited Sumner to visit so the students could meet an author and also hear some positive stories about Iraq.
Sumner answered the students’ questions about his book and his experiences in Iraq — and the students had many questions.
Sumner served with the Army’s 354th Civil Affairs Brigade. Since completing his tour of duty in Iraq, Sumner has been assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue.
He continues to support efforts at the Baghdad Zoo and has worked with the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, a charitable nonprofit organization that protects cultural property in conflict areas.
Sumner gave the students a copy of “Saving the Baghdad Zoo” for their classroom.
Read Across America, 2010
My good friend Terry Trueman covered the second half of the day at NMS, and I missed saying hello to him.
HELLO TERRY TRUEMAN...NEXT TIME LUNCH!
But I had great fun just the same. I love both of these schools (and their librarians, Cindy and Lee), so I'll always be available to do READ ACROSS AMERICA events for them. This Friday? One more READ ACROSS AMERICA event at Chester Elementary. Then I'll put away my stripes for another year.
Thanks everyone, for letting me join in the fun!
SAVING THE BAGHDAD ZOO in Sugarland, Texas!
February Fury in Pennsylvania
They all swore snow would grind the community to a halt by February 10, and I didn't believe them. But the next day -- and the day after -- I was snowed in at my hotel. I had to miss visiting South Elementary altogether, which was such a bummer. And I WILL be back. But I didn't get home to Spokane until after midnight on Friday, February 12 (well, technically, Saturday, February 13). The February Fury was quite an adventure.
OH! And they have a nuclear power plant not ten miles from all of these great schools...the Limerick Power Plant. How cool is that? I'd never seen one in real life until Joan picked me up from the airport and dropped me off at my hotel. This (below) is the view from the street in front of my hotel! So very NEAT!
Rick Spears BIGFOOT art on display -- part II
The story of sasquatch certainly goes far beyond the 1987 movie “Harry and the Hendersons” or recent beef jerky TV commercials. It has been told for centuries among Northwest Indian tribes. That mix of ancient mythology and modern commercialism is the focal point of a sasquatch exhibit that opened Saturday at the Washington State History Museum."
So begins a January 2010 article in the News Tribune, and the exhibit is amazing, even if I haven't seen it yet (I'll see it June 5). I know it's amazing because they featured Rick Spears' artwork from TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS, and this directional sign he created especially for the museum. Isn't Rick GREAT? The answer is YES!
Rick Spears TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS art on display!
January 25 -- South Pines Elementary in Spokane, WA.
PS One of the teachers confessed (in private) that she had seen Bigfoot. See? Reliable people have witnessed this strange animal too -- the Great North American Ape!
Creation Museum and the evolution gal!
Northern Kentucky was FANTASTIC!
WLMA was such fun!
ALA 2009 in Chicago
Friday, Dec. 5 at Auntie's in Spokane
On Friday night, December 5, at 7:00 pm, I'll join five other writers to introduce our latest books and to share our favorite suggestions of other people's books as holiday gifts. I hope you'll stop by because it should be really fun. Terry Trueman, Verla Kay, Beth Cooley, Claire Rudolf Murphy and Mary Cronk Ferrell will be there with me, so don't miss the fun!
New Book Coming in 2011!
Holy cow! I got the greatest email from my new editor at Houghton Mifflin in November. She said they had decided to accept my book proposal and publish IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH in the fall of 2011. I couldn't be more thrilled. It will be a book about the science of searching for Sasquatch -- Bigfoot -- from documenting and casting alleged Sasquatch tracks to doing DNA tests on hair and blood samples to actively searching for the mysterious creature where eyewitnesses claim they've been seen. Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, Loren Coleman, Richard Noll and many other Bigfoot hunters have agreed to let me tag along and interview them as they delve into the serious science of discovery, and I'll share it all with you! It should be an adventure!
Oh, and the albino Sasquatch to the left is from Tales of the Cryptids -- beautifully illustrated by my favorite illustrator, Rick Spears. Check him out HERE. It's his new website, and it's terrific.
Manson Elementary, near Chelan, WA
In October, I got to do an all-school assembly and three writing workshops with the brilliant students at Manson Elementary. They were such warm, loving kids, it was an amazing experience. Many of the kids were ESL students, but even the youngest were fluent in both languages, which makes me think someone on the national education front should take some tips from Manson. Because they do a great job with these bright, wonderful kids. Made me sorry I didn't speak Spanish too. They were all great writers, and the staffers were amazing too. Thanks Tracy and Heidi for the fun day and photo. Thanks kids, for being so GREAT.
In September, I had the great joy of revisiting Opportunity Elementary in Spokane, a school where I was "writer-in-residence" for Get Lit the year before -- until Vanessa got sick and I had to resign to take care of her foot tumor recovery and her mystery liver ailment. I missed the kids so much, it was a special treat to spend the day with them, in their library, giving my standard presentations and a special on for the kids I'd worked with the year before, including this wonderful young man pictured here. THANK YOU, Opportunity, for being so understanding and for letting me stop by.
Washington State Award Nomination
HOORAY! Our book, TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS has been nominated for the Sasquatch Reading Award for 2009. How cool would THAT be? If a book about Bigfoot and other cryptids won the Sasquatch Reading Award? Plus I LIVE in Washington State, where the award originates. I'd be so proud.
CRYPTIDS was also named a Lone Star Reading List title by the Texas Library Association, in my OTHER home and birth state of Texas, Maine and Pennsylvania also put CRYPTIDS on their lists. THANK YOU so much, you guys. Means everything to me. .
More about THE SECRET SATURDAYS...
Want to know more about THE SECRET SATURDAYS? Don't miss creator Jay Stephen's TERRIFIC blog, Monsterama. In fact, keep your eye on Monsterama for all kinds of great news about the funny or bizarre.
On a side note, I emailed Jay because I'd heard TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS was one of the research guides used to write the first season episodes and because I can't wait to see it. Here's what Jay said in response:
What a nice surprise! Your book is absolutely wonderful, Kelly. Just the sort of thing where I say to myself, "I wish I'd done that!". A copy of the book sat prominently on producer Fred Schaeffer's desk throughout the series production.
Tell you what. I'll send you a piece of authentic Secret Saturdays artwork if you'll send me a personally signed copy of Tales of the Cryptids. OK? Just let me know the address you'd like it mailed to.
Quick anecdote: when I was in grade 4 I wrote my 'Public Speaking' report on the possible existence of Bigfoot and won first prize at my school! I guess I sounded pretty convincing!
What a great guy, huh? Smart, creative, talented AND really nice. Can't WAIT to see the show.
Cartoon Network's SECRET SATURDAYS
Rick Spears, my partner in so many of these great book projects, got a neat phone call a couple of weeks ago. Producers at the Cartoon Network (Atlanta based, like Rick) wanted him to talk about cryptids in a promotional video for their new cartoon series, THE SECRET SATURDAYS. Yesterday (August 22) we found out it'll be playing at Regal Theaters as a trailer for STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. So if you want to see Rick on the silver screen, head to the movies. VERY cool. |
Welcome to our stop on the Cryptid Tales blog tour! We want to thank Brina Courtney and Rockstar Book Tours for having us on this tour.
I (Shelley), was meant to have a review on this stop,unfortunately for various reasons I got very behind and ended up not being able to get to it. Never fear though, we still have the goods for ya; a blurb from the book, an introduction to Brina, where to BUY the book and of course.... a GIVEAWAY!!!
So read, read, read, ENTER and be sure to leave a comment for Brina and our lovely hosts. We hope you'll check out Cryptid Tales for yourself. Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!
You think seeing ghosts is weird? Tell me something I don't know.
My childhood best friend Jeremy happens to be a ghost.
My life is a puzzle, and the biggest piece missing has been my dad. Since his disappearance when I was six it's been tough, but Jeremy has been by my side through it all.
But now Jeremy has gone missing too and I feel like I'm never going to get all the answers I've been looking for.
Fate intervenes when Hugh, a real live college beefcake, starts taking an interest in me. He divulges that he also shares my little "gift" of seeing the dead and I know I'm finally getting closer to finding all the pieces.
However, the more the puzzle is completed, the more questions I have.
Senior year is hard enough as it is, but clearly I like a challenge.
Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs. |
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Bizarre Cryptid: Sigbin
The Sigbin is a terrifying creature from the Philippines, said to lurk in the shadows at night, who sucks the blood of victims by consuming their shadows (the Philippines has some amazingly bizarre cryptids: for some real horrors see this list). The Sigbin is said to walk backwards, with its head lowered between its hind legs. It has the convenient advantage of invisibility – and especially humans are vulnerable to its powers of deception. It resembles a mere hornless goat, but has very large ears which it can clap like a pair of hands and a long, flexible tail which can be used as a whip – it’s unlikely that this goat ever encountered serious problems while crossing the bridge to the Other Side. The Sigbin is said to emit a nauseating odor. Sometimes, it has a tendency to crabwalk backwards, looking for children to devour. In 2005, scientists in Borneo discovered a “cat-fox-like carnivore” with hind legs longer than its forelegs, suggesting that it was endowed with the awkward gait and terrifying physical appearance of the Sigbin. Indeed, many of the characteristics are uncannily similar – but no conclusive evidence has yet been unearthed. The Sigbin, evidently, hides its tracks most effectively.
Phantoms & Monsters: Cryptid Encounters
Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature
Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures That May or May Not Exist (Darby Creek Publishing)
Southern Right Whale Dolphin
The southern right whale dolphin is a small and slender species of mammal found in cool waters of the southern hemisphere. They are fast active swimmers and have no visible teeth and no dorsal fin. They are very graceful and often move by leaping out of the water continuously
How Modern Fortunetellers Pull Off Their Scams
The voice on the other end of the phone, spiky with transatlantic static, told Ranima Khanom that if the curse were lifted, one day she'd be worshiped like a god. The key step now was to build a temple in Egypt that would clear out the dark energy.
Sitting in her bedroom in Luton, 30 miles north of London, Khanom, 27, was getting used to such advice. In the four months she'd been swapping calls with the American psychic she knew as Sienna Miller, news flashes from the spirit realm had been reliably weird. But deity status didn't sound too bad.
"Bloody hell, who wouldn't want something like that? It was like a dream come true," she says today. "You're going to be like a god? It was going to be an end of all my suffering." Very interesting and long article....continue reading at Miami New Ties
Possible World-Record Shark Caught Off SoCal
A group of fishermen may have broken a world record with a huge shark caught off the coast of Huntington Beach.
A fisherman named Jason Johnston, from Mesquite, Texas, chartered a boat out of Huntington Beach on Monday.
His group hooked a massive shortfin mako shark about 15 miles offshore.
The shark was 11 feet long, 8 feet in girth and more than 1,300 pounds, according to the fishermen’s estimates.
It took more than two hours and a quarter-mile of line to reel in the shark, according to Johnston.
The shark was being taken to a weigh yard in Gardena to be certified by a weigh master.
It was expected to be donated to a research organization for study.
As they waited for news on their possible world record, the fishermen planned to head out again on Tuesday for another adventure. - KTLA
NOTE: witnessed an 700 lb+ Mako pulled out of the Chesapeake Bay near the Bay Bridge several years ago. 1300 lbs is really huge...glad it's going for research. Lon
66-year-old man discovers he is actually a woman
A Chinese man who went to the doctors with a swollen stomach was told that he is actually a woman.
The 66-year-old, who even has a beard, had lived his entire life as a man but was told by doctors in Hong Kong that his enlarged abdomen was caused by an ovarian cyst.
Tests revealed the patient suffered two rare genetic disorders that had gone undiagnosed.
The Hong Kong Medical Journal, which published the information yesterday, said only six cases of people with both disorders had ever been reported in medical literature.
Turner Syndrome usually results from a problem with the chromosomes and can leave women infertile and shorter than normal.
Women with the syndrome are missing one or part of their second X chromosome.
Hong Kong doctors found the patient was suffering from two rare genetic conditions.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of inherited disorders of the adrenal gland that causes more male sex hormone to be produced.
The condition affects one in around 15,000 births and there is no cure.
Girls with CAH tend to have normal female reproductive organs but genitals that look male.
They may also have deeper voices, facial hair and may fail to menstruate.
All patients with the condition are tall as children but short as adults.
Girls with male-looking genitals will usually have surgery between ages 1 month and 3 months to correct the abnormal appearance.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia affects one in around 15,000 births and causes male characteristics to appear early or inappropriately.
The patient had grown up an orphan and stopped growing after puberty at the age of 10 and was just 4.5ft tall.
The patient also had no testes and a 'micro-penis', according to the report.
Girls with the disorder have normal female reproductive organs but can suffer with fertility problems.
Seven doctors, writing in the medical journal, said the Vietnam-born patient would continue to live as a man and may be treated with testosterone replacement.
They said: 'Were it not due to the huge ovarian cyst, his intriguing medical condition might never have been exposed', according to AFP. - Daily Mail |
Posted by: Loren Coleman on April 25th, 2010
The reviews are pouring in, after the first broadcast. What do you think?
“This movie is horrible from start to finish…,” said Ritualistic at Night of the Liberal Dead.
A “creature feature” that is “more horror and less sci-fi,” notes R. J. Carter. The reviewer warns, “if you’re expecting something based upon those mysterious creature sightings in West Virginia that have cryptozoologists scratching their heads, you’ll only be minimally satisfied with this Sheldon Wilson directed offering, as it shoehorns that historical event into this hodgepodge of other horror film conventions.”
“Final Analysis: Jewel Staite (my favorite cast member from FIREFLY) + my favorite cryptid + a blind man who is nevertheless a crack shot with a shotgun = a fairly decent two hours. However, take that fairly decent two hours and add an incredibly dull supporting cast, a goofy design for aforementioned favorite cryptid, and random supernatural butterflies and you get something that’s slightly less than decent,” writes Bill in the Radiation-Scarred Reviews.
“This one is worth watching, folks. Seriously,” says Sensual Lovers.
But what do you think?
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. 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. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. |
|Affiliations||The Secret Saturdays|
|Occupation(s)||Bounty hunter for hire|
|Powers and Abilities|
|Relatives|| Drew Saturday (sister) |
Zak Saturday (nephew)
Doc Saturday (brother-in-law)
Fiskerton Saturday (adopted nephew)
Komodo Saturday (adopted nephew)
Zon Saturday (adopted niece)
|Voice Actor||Will Friedle|
|First Appearance||The Kur Stone:Part One|
- "This may not be the best time, but I still get paid, right?"
- ―Doyle in The Owlman Feeds at Midnight
Doyle is built and very tall. He has bright red hair and black eyes. His hair is worn in a mohawk with shaved sides and is very messy. His skin color is white, but he has a tan all over his body and an extremely built upper and lower body. Like his sister, Drew, who takes after her mother, Doyle takes after his father also.
Doyle Blackwell comes across as a cocky and smartmouthed individual. Commonly referred to by his brother-in-law (Doc Saturday) as a huge child, he possesses a loud "in your face" attitude similar to his sister's, and can be somewhat of a bad influence on Zak due to his methods and morals. Doyle can be funny and light-hearted and has a 'come what may' outlook on life. For the right price, he's willing to help his family. He is a kind person, but his orphanhood lifestyle lead him to put people on the edge of his heart, rarely becoming emotionally invested in others until he reunited with his sister approximately 2 and half decades after they were separated.
Van Rook's former mercenary apprentice, Doyle was first introduced in The Kur Stone:Part One. Doc Saturday made a casual comment in the same episode about what he did to Van Rook's last apprentice, insinuating that Doyle was not the first to work under the villain's wing. While working for Van Rook, Doyle is seen employing similar equipment to him including concussion grenades, a wrist blaster, a jet pack and even a face mask.
Although he worked for Van Rook, he did help Zak Saturday and Fiskerton in The Ice Caverns of Ellef Ringnes after they saved his life. He also returned The Claw back to Zak Saturday after he had lost it.
Doyle is Drew Saturday's long-lost brother (this was revealed in the episode Van Rook's Apprentice). He now works with his older sister, Drew Saturday, his brother-in-law, Doc Saturday, and his nephew, Zak Saturday.
Doyle claims in one of his "stories" he once fought a man named Baron Finster, a half man/half robotic scorpion and rescued a Nagni Vatu from him. However, his story is questionable (especially to Doc).
He came back in the episode Something in the Water because Zak invited him to do a job (catch the devil fish). Doc also invited him to live with the family again, but Doyle refused stating that he wanted to run his own show and promised to give Zak and Fiskerton something from the bounty money.
In the episode Once More the Nightmare Factory, after breaking into Weird World with the rest of the Saturdays, Doyle rejoins the team and also agrees to train Zak. Also in the episode was revealed that Doyle, like Zak, likes Weird World, saying that he decided to infiltrate the castle when he heard Fisk behind the door on the show. When Doc asked why he was watching Weird World he admitted he watched it, describing it as "good TV."
In the episode The Kur Guardian, he, Zak and Abbey Greyhelp Fiskerton find out about his Lemurian heritage. He harbors a crush on Abbey the entire episode. Doyle later asks her out at the end. In the next episode where Abbey Grey is revealed to be working for Van Rook, Doyle responds by dumping her. Upset about this information, he wants to leave again, but is convinced by Zak to stay so that he can get his revenge on Abbey.
At the end of The Atlas Pin, Fisk throws the Naga Kur relic from the Airship and it breaks into pieces; Doyle secretly recovers it and tries to fix it. In Shadows of Lemuria, he finally finishes fixing it.
In Kur Rising, the Saturdays are in Antarctica looking for Kur. Doyle secretly brings the Kur relic and takes it out of his bag to make sure Zak has truly defeated Kur, but the relic glows in Zak's presence. It is then that everyone knows that Kur is actually Zak.
In Kur:Part One, Doyle, aided by Zon and Van Rook, goes looking for the missing V.V. Argost and clues about his past.
In And Your Enemies Closer, his search led him to the Tibetan monks who has raised Drew after they were seperated. Upon reuniting with Drew, she informs in that it was here that they lost their parents. Doyle recalls that he ended up sliding down the slope and wound up in an orphanage which lead to the way he grew up. He then reveals something startling to Drew: it was not the storm that ruined their family, but an attack from a cryptid called a Yeti. Upon finding the beast's abandoned lair, Doyle and Drew make a shocking revelation: the Yeti who attacked their family, killed their parents, caused them to be seperated and grow up in different ways is in fact Argost.
T.G.I.S. Doyle did not appear in this episode, nor was he even mentioned.
- Professor (for Doc)
- Furball, Gorilla-cat (for Fisk)
- Miniman, Zakman (for Zak)
- Jurassic (for Zon)
Nicknames used once:
- Littleman, for Zak
- Furryman, for Fiskerton
- Braingirl, Professor Babysitter for Abbey Grey
- Supergirl for Wadi
- Doyle is the only person known to have infiltrated and escaped Weird World alone and live twice. The eight Secret Scientists that survived 11 years before the storyline were in groups of two (and the other twenty-one groups died in the mansion).
- Acording to Doyle he is only reckless when he knows his skill can handle the situation; otherwise he is just as careful as Doc.
- Doyle is around 6 years younger than his sister, Drew.
- Since Doyle is Drew's brother, that means that before marrying Doc, Drew's last name was Blackwell, but his name was changed several times so it can be argued.
- The above has been stated to be true by Jay Stephens on the ToonZone forum. (You need to scroll down to near the end).
- His age is not definite (yet), but Stephens has stated that he "imagined Doyle as 28, or so".However, since Drew mentioned that her family got destroyed 27 years ago, he is actually about 31 years old.
- Doyle truly has a scientific side as he has micro adhesives gloves, "juiced" Doc's microwave, and made a special chemical combo for freezing things solid. This proves that he is not just a "kicking-punching" guy.
- In The Owlman Feeds at Midnight Doyle said that multiple countries have a bounty on his head.
- It was also revealed that Doyle bought Zak a model of Weird World to make up for all the lost birthdays.
- Overall Doyle has been one of the main characters in 22 out of 36 episodes so far.
- He has the habit nicknaming everyone (see above), ironically, he hasn't nicknamed the closest person to him - Drew.
- Doyle had the final words of season 2.
- A running gag is Doyle's habit of nearly cursing. Usually he says something similar, for example in The Return of Tsul 'Kalu, when he says 'Aw, Shish kebab' in place of a curse word, and how he says "Crud" in place of "Crap".
- Doyle appears to be extremely fit and exceptionally strong. In The Owlman Feeds at Midnight he lifts a man at least the same weight as he was, if not more, with just one hand. In Van Rook's Apprentice when Drew knocks off his helmet, he is able to hold his breath long enough to get the Alkali Lake monster's horn and swim up to the surface with it dragging him down. He is also able to hold his own wrestling against Doc immediately after.
- "This may not be the best time, but I still get paid, right?" - to Doc.
- "Oh yeah, definitely no puberty going on there." - to Zak Saturday in Curse of the Stolen Tiger.
- "Hey, it's good TV!" - explaining why he watches Weird World in Once More the Nightmare Factory.
- "Uh...You're eleven. To tell you the truth, Fisk was a bigger competition." - to Zak in Food of the Giants.
- "Are you humming? Are you humming?!" - to Fisk in The Atlas Pin.
- "Oh great, it flies!" - in Kur Rising.
- "I said 'or something!' By the way, Zak, what size jet pack do you wear?" - to Zak in Something in the Water.
- "See? Not all science has to be boring..." - to Drew after freezing the Cherufe in Twelve Hundred Degrees Fahrenheit.
- "I told you not to go with the discount setcom provider." -to Van Rook in Food of the Giants.
- "I was working on this whole incognito thing where I pretend I had a cryptid to deliver for Grosome, but then I figure . . ." (Doyle punches the guards, knocking them out cold.) To Van Rook, dusting off his hands: "Yeah. Yeah, that was easier."
- "Huh, right, I did run out. . . . and Slimy for the win. I'm gonna call this a good day." - after defeating Abbey The Return of Tsul 'Kalu.
- "Follow the cryptids! Stupid! You know, I'm still calling this a good day." - in The Return of Tsul 'Kalu.
- "Look, I got your slimy fish monster now . . . oh, now that's just a weird taste." - in The Return of Tsul 'Kalu after being sprayed with slime by the Canvey Island Monster.
- "You can talk to cryptids on the other side of the planet with your brain. I freaked on this out months ago." - to Zak in War of the Cryptids as an answer to "I didn't mean to freak anybody out."
- "We lost you for about 3 minutes there. If your mom and dad hadn't got to you when they did, would have been a lot longer than that." -to Zak after Zak revived in War of the Cryptids.
- "Two is plenty." - at Van Rook's funeral.
- "He did, I'm better" - Doyle to Doc in The Kur Stone:Part One.
- "Business doesn't rip out a guy's heart and kick it around for a cheap payday." - in The Return of Tsul'Kalu.
- "Gah, oh, ew. Stay still you wet noodle." - carrying the fish cryptid in The Return of Tsul'Kalu.
- "Panda? What is wrong with you?" - Doyle to Grosshomme after finding out the dumpling were made with panda meat in The Return of Tsul'Kalu.
- "Stifle it, Jurassic. We didn't come for the buffet." -in The Return of Tsul'Kalu.
- "You work for one of your old apprentices, genius." - to Van Rook when he offers to fight Abbey Grey in The Return of Tsul'Kalu.
- "Huh, dreams really do come true." -after getting his payback on Van Rook in Cryptid vs. Cryptid.
- Doc: So, you caught up with the crate after you reached terminal velocity? Was this before or after the laws of physics stopped working?
Doyle: Hey, any time you wanna see my terminal velocity, just ask.
Doc: What? That doesn't make any-- even your threats have bad science!
Drew: Okay, guys, it was just a story. Let's not turn this into some pointless macho contest.
Doyle: Your mom has bad science Doyle tells a story and gets interrupted by Doc. Twelve Hundred Degrees Fahrenheit.
- Hey, don't beat yourself up, Miniman. I thought the water was bad germy, not bad evil. -in Where Lies the Engulfer.
- "You should ask for double the reward money... Right. Old habits." - in Food of the Giants.
- "I don't know if this guy was in the hot tub when the thing blew or what, but I am not kidding-skies, goggles, bikini briefs. I almost left them there on principle!"-Doyle in Twelve Hundred Degrees Fahrenheight.
- "The' Shangri-la? Yeah, okay, that was just for show. What are we talking about here?" - in The Kur Guardian. |
may refer to:
- Mentoring Artists for Women's Art. This organization encourages and supports the intellectual and creative development of women in the visual arts.
- Mawa, Bangladesh
- the Mawa Clawed Frog, a species of frog endemic to Cameroon
- Orang Mawas, a proposed hominid cryptid reported to inhabit the jungle of Johor in Malaysia
- Mawa language (Chad),
- Mawa language (Nigeria), a unclassified language
- Khoa, a milk product also known as Mawa
|See more at Wikipedia.org...|
Mawa is a Chadic language spoken in Chad.
The language is: Mawa
Translate the English term Mawa to other languages |
I wish THE BIGFOOT FILMOGRAPHY were as compelling as the amateur home-video footage that made the cryptid such a pop-culture phenomenon. David Coleman certainly has the passion for the project — and at first glance and a hold in your hands, the book’s thickness and heft promises a lot — but the end result is less than enthralling. Kinda like so many of the movies it catalogues.
Arranged in alphabetical order, the paperback gives ink across all genres, from drive-in efforts like SNOWBEAST to Hammer’s THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN and greasy kids’ stuff like HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS, as well as TV appearances like the epic bionic showdown with THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN.
But when you’re including hot dog commercials and their ilk, does the word “filmography” even apply anymore? For the exhaustive obsessives, the answer certainly would be “yes,” but then, why so many obvious missing entries? While flipping through looking for them, several popped up in my head: Where is the MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 episode that skewers BOGGY CREEK II? Spider-Man’s tussle on THE ELECTRIC COMPANY with the yeti who sat on sno-cones?
The many photos are appreciated, but the grave factual errors — not typos — are not. For example, Coleman insists on referring to THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR as THE MUMMY 3, even filing the film as such. At no point after filming was the 2008 sequel even given that simplistic numeric moniker.
I also enjoyed background on the films’ making, when included; obviously and understandably, some get more exposure than others. Interviews with a select few Bigfoot filmmakers in the appendix go a long way in offering information one can’t find anywhere else.
But the same cannot be said for beat-by-beat, top-to-bottom plot descriptions. Those annoy me to no end. At least skipping them allows the reader to move through the pages to get to the real meat faster. —Rod Lott |
This series has been thick since the start, and with a mysterious one year leap through time, there is no thinning out. While John Prufrock doesn’t have much to do with the lead story, the story is compelling in its chaos. The charm of “Proof” has been the deceptive calmness the title uses to introduce us to characters and creatures that are only whispered about and nervously giggled out of existence. The whole time, however, our guide through that world is a Sasquatch.
One year from now, without our standard guide to help us navigate the cryptid realms, Grecian and Rossmo use a pair of curious, but seemingly unlucky, boys to introduce us to the future of the Lodge and its inhabitants. Wayne Russet and Colonel Dachshund are present and at odds with one another. Their disagreement over the fate of the boys sparks a battle that leads to quite a bit of damage.
Rossmo’s art is sketchy and tenuous, with outlines and gestures showing through Casey’s bold colors. This has become the “house style” for “Proof,” and it provides just as much definition to these characters and this world as the story itself. Grecian and Rossmo are truly partners in this endeavor. Many other comics professionals should follow the example these two provide.
This issue may not offer the greatest jumping on point for new readers, especially given the hefty $4.99 price tag, but it does still deliver a very solid story filled with wonder, action, and amazing characters. Balancing out the lack of Proof in this issue’s lead story is a reprinting — refreshed with new coloring and lettering — of Proof’s first appearance. It’s only eight pages, but it packs a great deal of information into those eight pages. Additionally, Grecian himself delivers a text page explanation of what is to come of this title and characters, at least in vague uncertainties common among comic creators speaking of the future of their creations. This issue also includes a gallery of Proof illustrations.
If you’ve needed more proof on why you should take a look at this book, CBR has an interview with the “Proof” creators about the plans for the series past issue #25. “Proof” is one of those titles that people love to talk about, but always seems to need some help in the sales department. Take a peek at this book if you happen to see it on the stands. If you don’t see it on the stands, just consider it another urban legend like the characters in between the covers of this alleged book reviewed by yours truly. Then feel free to let out a nervous little giggle as you wonder whether or not this title even exists. Maybe someday you’ll catch it. |
From Reddit: Parents Of Children Who Claim To Have Had Past Lives, What Did They Tell You?. Some sample comments:
When he was 6 years old my son described in great detail my grandmother’s house he never been to. This was in 1986 or so, pre-internet. There are no pics of the place that I’m aware and no one owned a camcorder in our family, so video is out of question either. It’s a small house with red roof and a purple door (grandma painted the door every couple of years). He described all of it – that it had one big room with a fireplace across from the window, he explained where the doors are located, how there always were some boxes under the stairs, that there always was a faint smell of apples in the house (grandma ran a small time apple sauce business). That there was this cat almost completely white with a black spot around his right eye (that’s mr. Whiskers, my grandma’s cat!).
My grandma and Whiskers both died in 1977, 3 years before my son was born. To this day I can’t fathom it and can’t even get a remotely sane explanation on how does he know all this. I never told him about it, my wife has never met my grandma and never been to her house and in 1986 we were stationed in Germany, so none of my old friends could have reached my son, so this is definitely not someone’s prank. Best part of this is my son says he doesn’t remember telling me that, but my wife heard him saying that too, so if definitely happened!
And from Reddit, What Is The Creepiest “Glitch In The Matrix” You’ve Encountered?:
When I was in school I had this hippie teacher who would always tell us that the universe can help if you just ask it.
She told us one time her daughter had lost something very important and when she asked the universe to help she suddenly had a massive pulling feeling towards the sink. She walks over and immediately stuck her hand down into the garbage disposal and pulled the item out in perfect condition.
So I think it’s total bullshit of course, but later that day I was searching for a thin little booklet that I really, really needed for school. I spent 3 hours looking for it and had no luck. Finally out of frustration I almost sarcastically said, “I need your help universe.” I immediately walked over to this bookcase filled with books from my step dad. I had never once used this shelf or any book on it.
I grab a random book I’ve never seen from the middle of a huge pile. I open it to somewhere around page 200 and right there is my booklet smashed in between the pages. It was incredibly thin so you couldn’t even tell there was anything in there if you looked at it from another angle.
I’m sure there’s a good explanation, but it’s been well over a decade and I still remember the incredibly freaky vibe I got the moment I saw the book.
I don’t believe in reincarnation or paranormal forces. When I read stories like this, my first impulse is to try to think of reasonable explanations or ways they could be a coincidence. Maybe some kids have instinctive talent at that sort of cold-reading thing TV psychics do sometimes. Maybe your unconscious can remember where you put a booklet and then repress it from the conscious mind for some reason.
But these kinds of claims are often themselves far-fetched. If I told you in normal conversation, unrelated to compelling reincarnation theories, that kids have a natural talent at cold reaading, you’d scoff and demand proof. And it’s not just reincarnation and booklet-finding. If you read Reddit enough, you’ll find hundreds of equally compelling stories of telepathic contact, cryptid sightings, UFOs, et cetera.
So. Alternate hypothesis. About one million people view Reddit every day. Let’s assume 10% of those see threads like the above – which were pretty popular and which I think both made it to the front page. That’s 100,000 people. Now let’s assume that even 1/10,000 people on the Internet are annoying trolls, which is maybe the easiest assumption we’re ever going to have to make. If each of those annoying trolls posts one fake story to a thread like that for the lulz, that’s enough for ten really convincing stories per thread – which is really all there are, the other fifty or sixty are just the usual friend-of-a-friend-had-a-vague-feeling stuff.
(it’s true that in a site read by a million people, there will also be far more people who have experienced a genuine one-in-a-million coincidence, but that shouldn’t scale nearly as quickly; after all, liars can invent coincidences way more far-fetched than the sheer numbers would allow)
This hypothesis seems obviously right. If I ask “what’s the chance that at least one in ten thousand Internet users is an annoying troll?” you laugh hysterically and tell me that nobody has even invented numbers that high. It perfectly explains mysterious events that would otherwise require impossible coincidences or weird theories about hidden brain functions. So why is it so hard to make myself believe?
I think part of it is a failure of scale. Reddit looks a lot like a normal forum or blog comment section, the sort of BBS I used to go on as a kid with twenty or thirty regulars who would dominate all the discussions. If indeed 1/10,000 people is the sort of jerk who would make up a story like this just to troll people (or even 1/1,000 or 1/100 people), the chance that I’d run into them on my little BBS/comment section/Dunbar-number-group is pretty low, and I can safely ignore the possibility that five different crazy paranormal comments are all by pathological liars. It’s only when you get a place like Reddit, which manages to feel like a community while also having a million readers a day, that you have to start thinking about these things.
This suggests a more general principle: interesting things should usually be lies. Let me give three examples.
I wrote in Toxoplasma of Rage about how even when people crusade against real evils, the particular stories they focus on tend to be false disproportionately often. Why? Because the thousands of true stories all have some subtleties or complicating factors, whereas liars are free to make up things which exactly perfectly fit the narrative. Given thousands of stories to choose from, the ones that bubble to the top will probably be the lies, just like on Reddit.
Every time I do a links post, even when I am very careful to double- and triple- check everything, and to only link to trustworthy sources in the mainstream media, a couple of my links end up being wrong. I’m selecting for surprising-if-true stories, but there’s only one way to get surprising-if-true stories that isn’t surprising, and given an entire Internet to choose from, many of the stories involved will be false.
And then there’s bad science. I can’t remember where I first saw this, so I can’t give credit, but somebody argued that the problem with non-replicable science isn’t just publication bias or p-hacking. It’s that some people will be sloppy, biased, or just stumble through bad luck upon a seemingly-good methodology that actually produces lots of false positives, and that almost all interesting results will come from these people. They’re the equivalent of Reddit liars – if there are enough of them, then all of the top comments will be theirs, since they’re able to come up with much more interesting stuff than the truth-tellers. In fields where sloppiness is easy, the truth-tellers will be gradually driven out, appearing to be incompetent since they can’t even replicate the most basic findings of the field, let alone advance it in any way. The sloppy people will survive to train the next generation of PhD students, and you’ll end up with a stable equilibrium.
The weird thing is, I know all of this. I know that if a community is big enough to include even a few liars, then absent a strong mechanism to stop them those lies should rise to the top. I know that pretty much all of our modern communities are super-Dunbar sized and ought to follow that principle.
And yet my System 1 still refuses to believe that the people in those Reddit threads are liars. It’s actually kind of horrified at the thought, imagining them as their shoulders slump and they glumly say “Well, I guess I didn’t really expect anyone to believe me”. I want to say “No! I believe you! I know you had a weird experience and it must be hard for you, but these things happen, I’m sure you’re a good person!”
If you’re like me, and you want to respond to this post with “but how do you know that person didn’t just experience a certain coincidence or weird psychological trick?”, then before you comment take a second to ask why the “they’re lying” theory is so hard to believe. And when you figure it out, tell me, because I really want to know. |
Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 6th, 2008
The little blue moa.
The Thylacine of the Avian world is in the news again.
Australian cryptozoologist Rex Gilroy recently discussed the latest new findings for Moas with the Hawke’s Bay Today. One of the good points about Gilroy is that he does serve as a lightning rod for unusual animal accounts in the region sometimes, and likewise has the ear of the media. The press reports tend to lower the ridicule curtain and more reports and sightings, historical and recent ones, then come forth.
Australia’s Gilroy will be journeying to New Zealand’s remote Urewera ranges – home of the Tuhoe, known as the “Children of the Mist” because of the area’s misty forests – to search for the cryptid Moa.
The discovery of the fossil Moa is perhaps well-known. William Colenso (1811–99) was the first to note them. During his first years (1834-1838) at the Bay of Islands, Colenso made several significant missionary journeys. In 1838, he accompanied the Rev. W. Williams on a visit to the Bay of Plenty and East Coast districts. During this journey he first heard from the Maoris of the moa, bones of which he was later able to examine. He wrote an important paper, dated May 1, 1842, for the Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science, which was the first report of an observer on the spot pointing out the nature of the discovery.
A few years later Sir Richard Owen (below) would receive fossil specimens, ponder what they were for four years, and then describe zoologically the first moa.
Today, while reports of living Moas may be hard to believe, sightings of the smaller variety do occur, and Gilroy’s news is worthy of a good read. Caution, of course, must be stated, as escaped emus from Australia, loose in New Zealand, may be confusing the current picture of what cryptids are around and what escaped animals may be thereabouts.
The Australian emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Nevertheless, Gilroy’s expedition in pursuit of this information will be intriguing to learn more about. Best of luck to these mates in Oz.
As many as a dozen moa could be fossicking in remote bush in northernmost Hawke’s Bay, according to Australian “hidden animal” hunters.
Next month they plan to resume the search – confident it’s only a matter of time before a colony is found.
The hopes are held by New South Wales cryptozoologist Rex Gilroy, who says hard-track evidence he and wife Heather found in the Urewera Ranges in November is a sign of the existence of the presumed-extinct Anomalopteryx didiformis, otherwise known as the little scrub moa.
The evidence of a track comes six years after the couple found about 35 ground prints they believe to have come from a colony of up to 12 of the moa.
Speaking from the couple’s Australasian Cryptozoological Research Centre in Katoomba, Mr Gilroy told Hawke’s Bay Today the evidence is enough to make them return at the end of February to search for the one piece of evidence he’s wanted for as much as 50 years to prove moa are still alive.
The latest find includes a track and what appeared to have been a recently-used nest in big, dead kauri. Moa had possibly nested there, and moa may have come out at night to move across a small isolated gully and onto a ridge in the area. Mr Gilroy has plaster casts of the tracks.
“The location is in pretty remote country, we need to have more time to investigate, and if I can get something on film, that would be tremendous.”
He’s not yet identifying the site, and, conceding only that the couple have entered the Ureweras from the Hawke’s Bay side, says he doesn’t want a lot of noise in the hunt for the species, which stood up to 1.3 m.
Previous revelations of hidden-animal kind had sparked invasions of media with cameras, bright lights and helicopters, and gleeful claims that it was all for nothing after a month of racket, which was hardly likely to encourage the big birds to make their long-awaited debut in public.
“I’ve devoted my whole life to the research of these creatures,” said 64-year-old Mr Gilroy.
“And the only way to find them is to go into the environment, just one, two or three people, and wait quietly.”
“You’ve got to be silent in the bush if you’re going to see anything,” he said.
“New Zealand is my favourite place, there is some pretty inaccessible terrain.”
He said it was possible that animal life could survive in such circumstances for “hundreds of years” without being seen by human beings.
Wairoa Land Search and Rescue and Urewera veteran Dave Withers says, however, that with large teams of volunteers covering huge areas of the forest park in searches and training each year he would have heard if some sign of the assumed-extinct birds had been found.
“I’ve never heard of them,” he said.
“With the amount of ground our guys cover, 40 to 60 people, they spread out and cover the ground – surely if they were about in this area I would have heard.”
He said there was “the odd wallaby” in the park, and larger-than-average feral cats, but he was not aware of reports of mystery tracks.
Anomalopteryx didiformis was a flightless bird species known colloquially as the Lesser or Bush Moa. It weighed 30kg and inhabited much of the North Island and small sections of the South Island.
The most complete remains, a partially articulated skeleton with substantial mummified tissue discovered in the South Island in 1980, are now in the Southland Museum.
Cryptozoology is the study of or search for animals which fall outside of contemporary zoological catalogues.
The focus is on finding living examples of animals taxonomically identified through fossil records, but which are believed to be extinct, and animals that fall outside of taxonomic records due to a lack of evidence, apart from myths, legends, or unconfirmed sightings. ~ by Doug Laing, “Birdman says moa surviving in the Bay,”
Hawke’s Bay Today, January 5, 2008.
(Thanks to Craig Woolheater for passing this along to me for my comments while I was in New York City, in my own search for more on the Abominable Snowmen.)
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. 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. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. |
But what about mythical and mysterious insects and arachnids? Here is a classic example.
A Killer Worm
But what about the creepy crawlies, the smaller creatures that we deal with every day, whether it be swatting that pesky fly, watching that beautiful butterfly in the air or screaming at that perceived huge spider scurrying up your wall?
The varied species of insects and arachnids make up more than half of all known living organisms on the planet, and can be found in every kind of environment on Earth, so it is only natural that mythical anthropods have a small place alongside other cryptid forms.
It is said to have a preference for the colour yellow, and dwells underground. It also has, some claim, a tail that can emit a electrical charge that can travel metres, and a mouth with many layers of sharp small teeth.
Western scholars and explorers disregard the stories as folklore, but many still believe the creature does exist, especially the locals who say Olgoi-Khorkhoi (meaning "large intestine worm"), as it is named locally, regularly kills camels and lays its eggs in its victims intestines.
Legends have been told of the creature over centuries by Mongolians, but the creature only came to Western attention when a American paleontologist published a book in 1926 and described being part of a "gathering" by Mongolian officials sharing stories of recent sightings of the creature. Professor Roy Chapman Andrews was not convinced by the second hand tales however and concluded the creature was folklore.
Many cryptozoologists believe the creature does exist and many have written about their theories regarding the creature and its identity.
Could a yet unknown species of worm reside under the arid sandy landscape of the Gobi Desert, killing camels and humans with an acidic spray or electrical discharge?
Or perhaps it is a bizarre extra-terrestrial creature that resides in all desert areas of the Globe?
With only anecdotal and second hand reports of the creature, will modern science eventually ensnare the elusive Mongolian Death Worm? |
I've been over at Loren Coleman's new CRYPTOZOONEWS blog reading Are Zooforms Cryptids? and this was my response.
Loren I've always admired the terrific way you've negotiated the potential hazards of cross-contamination between your twin interests in the realms of noumenon and zoomenon as it were.
With this piece though it seems you're not only visibly fully expanding your garuda like wings as you emerge from the limitations of the 'egg' you inhabited over at Cryptomundo but you seem to be declaring an intention to more willingly openly explore precisely the interface the two areas inevitably share even if only to make a clearer demarcation between the two.
I hope though you won't just concentrate on the matter of demarcation because when you say an outsider's bound to be confused by media leaping from eyewitness accounts concerning the likes of hairy bipeds or Lake/Sea Monsters to stories about phantom dogs or glowing swamp creatures I'd suggest its scholars like yourself from other fields who're more likely to be confused or more likely I suggest irritated by the apparent lack of scholastic discipline.
The vast majority of consumers of such media though're more likely to wolf down whatever they're served up so long as it gets their goosebumps going and in many ways they're more important because it's precisely from those legions the next Loren Coleman will emerge since even born scholars have to learn whatever currently passes for 'good' scholarship and even to this day what usually passes for 'good' scholarship is the renouncing of precisely all this "hokey cryptid nonsense".
John Downes 'maintains that many zooform phenomena result from complex psychosocial and sociological phenomena, and suggests that to classify all such phenomena as “paranormal” in origin is counterproductive'.
I'd add to that even the tag "paranormal" can be so vague as to become almost nonsenical.
For instance I've been known in my time to make jokey statements along the lines me and Nick Redfern believe Sasquatch have secret ninja X-men superpowers because of course there are reports almost to that effect.
The thing is though based on numerous personal experiences with 'ordinary' animals not to mention research conducted with such animals by the likes of Rupert Sheldrake [as well as historic accounts of the likes of witches purportedly having paranormal interactions with 'ordinary' animals] those claims may not be quite as outlandish or even paranormal as they initially seem.
For instance ever since I was a kid I've had these phases where something's woken me up in the middle of the night or summoned me to another nearby location solely to come to the rescue of some poor distressed insect like a cockroach [even though my poor white trash early childhood existence consisted of being bombarded on all sides by an insistence such critters should be mercilessly stomped on a task me Dad used to pursue with relish].
But I'm also celebrated in certain quarters for knowing when a spider's present no matter how well hidden because I seem able to detect them throwing out the command to be so frightened or nervous enough of them to avoid any contact [which might explain some animal based phobias].
How this's done I don't know. It might be electromagnetic it might be pheromonal it might even be telepathic but a sensitivity to creatures who can produce this effect may explain some accounts of 'Sasquatch' seemingly mentally ordering people to be scared for their very lives.
It may also explain something that seems to be happening an awful lot lately.
Friends relatives and acquaintances who've hitherto had little or no knowledge of alanborky's nutcasery've suddenly started anxiously bombarding me or people known to me with tales how normally when they're suspicious an intruder's on the premises they improvise a weapon and raise their voices yet on certain recent occasions they've sensed an unseen 'presence' moving about their house or even their bedroom projecting at them such seething menace they not only couldn't get out of bed to protect their kids but they actually pulled the sheets over their heads and shamefully cowered there as if they were little kids for hours on end until the dawn finally arrived.
Then again maybe me an' Nick're right and Sasquatch [and spiders] really DO have secret ninja X-men superpowers! |
Cryptozoology is a strange field for one to become associated with, to say the least. While many perceive it as the pursuit of imaginary beasts that, at best, might only really kiss the face of tangibility within “the goblin universe,” there are also encounters more true to the real world, in which case brushes with the supposed beasts turn up in the unlikeliest places, which often border the everyday.
Amidst the various evolutionary grades of fauna, perhaps the most interesting to extend into the realm of “mystery beasts” are those of the herpetological variety. In other words, we are discussing our kindred fitted with scales: the reptiles.
While we have many tales of incredible encounters with water beasts and saurian monstrosities do exist, we need not look that far beyond the ordinary to find weird tales of mystery beasts. For instance, more than a decade ago, I received the following correspondence from a gentleman in Georgia, who told of a truly strange encounter a group of DOT workers claimed to have by a roadside one hot summer day:
I am very enthralled by cryptozoology, especially the variety dealing with critters which seem to match no others extant, but seem as the denizens of a bad acid trip.
Here in central Georgia several years ago, a retired chiropractor, while driving to a small-town, noticed a group of DOT (highway repair) workers standing in a huddle on the side of the road. Since small town folk tend to know each other, he stopped and inquired about the focus of their attention.
It seems that they had captured what he describes as a rattlesnake with two front legs and claws, from around which course hair hung forth.
The old guy is not a drunk, liar, or one to see things not there. I plan to try to interview the people of that road crew if they're still around. I haven't had time yet, and with cost of gas and long distances in this region…
The fool who had possession of the critter said he wanted to stuff it. I would imagine that a living entity would provide greater proof of it's being a true cryptid.
What was the beast that Clyde described in his letter? As strange as a “legged” rattlesnake may sound, there are instances on record that describe similar discoveries. In January 2015, a snake with legs was found in the home of a resident of Isabela, Philippines, which experts later determined to be a genetic mutation. An almost identical deformity was noted with the discovery of a snake in China in 2009, when the creature was discovered within a home making its way slowly across an interior wall. The creature was found to have a strange, frog-like leg protruding from its body. The strange incident was reported in The Telegraph:
Dean Qiongxiu, 66, said she discovered the reptile clinging to the wall of her bedroom with its talons in the middle of the night.
"I woke up and heard a strange scratching sound. I turned on the light and saw this monster working its way along the wall using his claw," said Mrs Duan of Suining, southwest China.
Mrs Duan said she was so scared she grabbed a shoe and beat the snake to death before preserving its body in a bottle of alcohol.
The snake – 16 inches long and the thickness of a little finger – is now being studied at the Life Sciences Department at China's West Normal University in Nanchang.
In addition to genuine snake species bearing such “vestigial” legs as a result of mutations, there are also species of lizards known to science, known generally as “legless lizards”, which have at times blurred the lines between serpents and their legged kindred among the lizard family. In Vientiane, Laos in the summer of 2011, a rare variety of the skink species, Lygosoma haroldyoungi, was found near the Kaisone temple, which attracted interest for being mistaken as another “snake with legs”.
To further complicate matters, here in the United States there are actually varieties of legless lizards which otherwise appear identical to snakes, apart from their lizard-like heads, ear openings, and movable eyelids that contrast starkly with the physical characteristics of any snake species. To the untrained eye, these slithering creatures might appear indistinguishable from the common garter snake, an often colorful North American grass-dwelling snake of the Thamnophis genus.
Among the tall-tales of early American folklore are the stories that common varieties of snakes might take their own tales into their mouths, in the form of the ancient symbol recognized as the ouroboros, or more simply, the snake or dragon that consumes its own tale. In classical symbolism, this form represented the concept of eternity, or the cyclical self-reflexivity of the eternalistic nature of life itself; alchemists of yore had once adopted it for this reason, as well as the theosophists of more modern circles of thought.
Regardless of the deeper existential interpretations of the ouroboros since ancient times, the frontier tales of a snake that would bite its own tail had been far more practical in nature: quite simply, the “hoop snake,” as it was known, involved a snake which would bite its own tail in order to make its escape by rolling quickly down a hillside, rolling along like a single spinning wheel.
The “hoop snake” is not relegated to American frontier folklore, however; regional varieties have appeared in various traditions spanning the globe, from the orient to the outback of Australia. In 1784, Tour magazine featured the following account of one of the strange beasts in its U.S. edition:
“As other serpents crawl upon their bellies, so can this; but he has another method of moving peculiar to his own species, which he always adopts when he is in eager pursuit of his prey; he throws himself into a circle, running rapidly around, advancing like a hoop, with his tail arising and pointed forward in the circle, by which he is always in the ready position of striking.
It is observed that they only make use of this method in attacking; for when they flee from their enemy they go upon their bellies, like other serpents. From the above circumstance, peculiar to themselves, they have also derived the appellation of hoop snakes.
As far as the reasons why a real, living snake might bite its own tail, locomotion for any purpose is hardly of any likelihood. However, some snakes will become disoriented if they become overheated (a common ailment which may beset pet snakes kept under a heating lamp for too long), which can lead to the creatures biting their own tails and attempting to consume themselves. Certain other species of snakes are known for eating other smaller (and often poisonous) snake species; when in captivity, if these species are kept in too small an enclosure, they may be prone to encounter their own tails and, mistaking it for being another, smaller snake, may begin to consume themselves in a similar fashion, which can require surgical intervention in order to remove the snake from itself in more extreme instances.
Though such circumstances may explain the myth behind the symbol of the ouroboros, it seems less likely that a snake biting its own tail would be capable of locomotion while in this contorted condition. And yet, as a child, my own grandmother had claimed that she and a number of schoolchildren had witnessed a snake moving down a hillside in this manner near Weaverville, North Carolina, some time in the early part of the twentieth century.
Perhaps there is really more to our slithering serpent kindred than most of us would ever realize.
Micah Hanks is a writer, researcher, lecturer, and radio personality whose work addresses a variety of scientific concepts and unexplained phenomena. Over the last decade, his research has examined a variety of approaches to studying the unexplained, cultural phenomena, human history, and the prospects of our technological future as a species as influenced by science. |
Legends of large hairy humanoid creatures lurking in the backwoods of the world isn't a modern phenomena by any means. Our ancestors have documented encounters in their stories and oral traditions for hundreds of years with some beliefs orientating thousands of years ago. Science tells us that modern humans have descended from Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Cro-Magnon, and Neanderthal over millions of years and we know that during these periods there would've be times when divisions in species likely coexisted. As distant relatives branched off, evolving into modern humans, perhaps some of them became isolated or chose to separate for survival. Could Bigfoot sightings really be promising insight, that our flesh and blood relatives still roam the Earth?
Many eyewitness accounts describe creatures who fit closely with one ancient ancestor in particular, Homo erectus. Archaeological record indicates Homo erectus retained many ape-like features and lived between 500,000 to 2,000,000 years ago. They walked upright, were hairy, and did not wear clothing as many modern sightings also indicate. Clothing factors are significant, as with common behaviors attributed to Sasquatch such as throwing rocks, banging on wood, and arranging sticks in patterns. These concepts help emphasize the possibility of Bigfoot being a direct descendant or actual new generations of Homo erectus. Since Homo erectus survived on the planet for nearly 1,500,000 years, it's not unreasonable to think they'd be able to survive for another 300,000 years into present day. Maybe Sasquatch and Bigfoot are so elusive explicitly for this reason, millions of years of experience living in the forests and caves. So far we've only discovered trace evidence, heard unknown vocalizations, and discovered unknown strands of DNA aside from first-hand encounters. Independent researchers and organizations are working to change this by discovering Bigfoot in the flesh.
Undoubtedly one of the most famous, legendary cryptids around the world has to be Bigfoot by in part to countless eyewitness reports, video evidence, foot prints, audio clips, and even DNA findings. The amount of sightings and fragmented evidence suggesting some type of tall hairy humanoid creature exists out there is truly overwhelming. Their resemblance to humans is striking in many ways - Imagine if the Sasquatch population turned out to actually be our living ancestors!
Although the name Bigfoot is traditionally attributed to the North American area, we find numerous accounts of near identical creatures roaming the wild in other parts of the globe; Each area tends to have its own specific native name (and lore) used for referring to these creatures. It comes to no surprise for many trackers and researchers attempting to make the physical discovery that Bigfoots do exist considering evolution of human population alone. Our ancient ancestors branched off from their origins in Africa to settle the world over. Many contributing factors may suggest how Sasquatch is indeed part of our species, breaking off from mainstream groups to survive away from society.
Descriptions of the legendary cryptid, Bigfoot, point to a confusing mixture between Homo habilis and Homo erectus. Archaeological record demonstrates our ancestors did not begin to live in groups or wear clothing until the Neanderthal age, around 30-100 thousand years ago. The record also portrays a transition period when both Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal coexisted, just as Cro-Magnon and Homo sapiens later in the time-line. Mixed traits between the latest two have even been discovered in Portugal, dating to nearly 25,000 years ago. As our ancestors spread around the globe, and started to live in groups together, it doesn't seem out of the ordinary that some of them may have split off during these transition phases. Suppose part of Homo erectus population continued on by themselves during formation of the Neanderthal period, deciding not to wear clothing or live in larger groups, or simply that they were too far away from the groups to pickup this evolutionary change.
† Article 12-11 |
Mass UFO Sighting Across The United States?
Something weird happened on New Year’s eve day. High above the skies of Northern California, strange orange-glowing spheres were spotted traveling across the sky. Then they were spotted as far south as the Hollywood Hills and today we learn that the reports stretch all the way across the United States. Florida residents are describing the […]
California Crop Circle: Braille Message? Update, Added Image We May Have A Winner!
This crop circle has been positively identified as part of a viral marketing campaign for a new computer processor. Scroll down for the image. Two men who wish to remain anonymous, claim to have witnessed the formation of a crop circle in Chualar, California. And they have video. From KSBW News Mysterious crop circles […]
Claimed Interpol UFO Report
The Costa Rican Times seems to be impressed with a story written by Paul Dale Roberts for his website called Hegelianism Paranormal Intelligence (whatever that means.) Roberts seems impressed on his FaceBook page… My South Africa story makes the Costa Rica Times! Except if you look at the article, he posted it himself. Interpol UFO […]
Airline Pilot Avoids UFO
The UK air safety panel has released the report in the near collision of an unidentified Airbus 320 with an even more unidentified object from this past June. From the article in The Mirror A terrified airline pilot ducked to avoid a UFO he feared was going to smash into his plane at 34,000ft. The […]
Morphing UFO Caught On Video
Alien inhabitants of Earth have caught on to the innocuousness of bunches of floating balloons and adjusted their cloaking devices accordingly to now mimic such apparitions. Sadly for them, sharp eyed humans have caught on to this obvious ruse and are capturing them on video on a fairly regular basis. http://youtu.be/1P9cTp-om3Q With the gift giving […]
Ellensbuirg WA UFO Faked
A recent report of a UFO in my neck of the woods has gotten my attention. I found this on OpenMinds.TV Black blob UFO photographed in Washington Posted by: Alejandro Rojas December 13, 2013 A UFO described as a big black blob was photographed over the town of Ellensburg, Washington on Tuesday. The witness says […]
Obama Appoints UFO Disclosure Advocate
Or is it just more disinformation? Who better to present the UFO community with disinformation than an outspoken advocate for disclosure? According to Huffington Post: For all of you who hope the U.S. government will lift the veil on its alleged stockpile of evidence that Earth is being visited by extraterrestrials — take heart. This […]
Russian 1969 Roswell Badly Faked
From an article on VoiceOfRussia.com In 1969 in the state of Sverdlovsky, a UFO was reported to have crashed. It is alleged that a UFO crashed, and was recovered by the Russian military. Video film is shown of the recovery, with close-ups of the UFO itself. There was one dead alien found in the craft. […]
For those coming late to the story… Uploaded on May 30, 2009 ”The Bloop is the name given to an ultra-low frequency and extremely powerful underwater sound detected by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) several times during 1997. According to the NOAA description, it “rises rapidly in frequency over about one minute […]
1981 Columbia River UFO Incident: Audio Recording
4:03 a.m., March 17th, 1981. Saint Helens, Oregon. Sergeant Russell Yokum of the Oregon Police Department was driving down Highway 30, situated west of the Columbia River, when a bright light caught his attention. The light was hovering high above the icy waters and traveling upriver towards the Portland Airport, roughly 20 miles away. What […]
The Chicago O’Hare UFO Incident: 7 Years Later, Still No Answers
I always assumed that most fantastical UFO stories occurred only in the past. The ‘Flatwoods UFO incident‘, ‘The Shag Harbour‘, The Rendlesham Forest incident…. But what occurred one cloudy morning in 2006 at Chicago’s international O’Hare airport could potentially be a modern marvel in Ufology. On November 7th, 2006, an employee noticed a large, dark […]
What Will Aliens Be Like?
The Website ListVerse has a few ideas on what aliens will be like when we finally meet them in an article titled: 10 Traits Aliens Must Have According To Science. This list starts off making the presumption that Alien is equivalent to those who might come a vistin’, rather than life that we might discover […]
Unbelievable UFO Or STSish Snafu?
While I am not very impressed with many UFOs these days, there are exceptions now and then. This being one that has me thinking a bit. The name Stephen Hannard may ring a bell and that’s because we’ve featured his videos here in the past. His youtube channel is StephenHannardADGUK and I’ve been following him […]
Kazakhstan UFO Video
One of the better UFO videos I have seen recently. Recorded, typically, at night and by people in a hurry, they at least create a plausible scenario. The object in question is not mysteriously appearing out of nowhere just as they start filming, rather it seems to have been in motion across the sky and […]
Best MUFON CMS Report Of The Year
I’ve gone through a lot of MUFON CMS entries and know that MUFON is going to snatch up all the best and stash them until they are satisfied. This is one that I grabbed up and took proactive action on before they could black out the name and other pertinent contact info. What that means […]
Here is a video reportedly from Iceland, of a glowing ball suddenly appearing in the sky at low altitude over a small town, descending slowly and vanishing near ground level. The text that describes the video is translated, so a bit strangely worded. Published on Oct 1, 2013 Strange light ball. Akureyri Iceland. English-Dansk. Sat […]
Is This Mothman Seen Flying Over Santiago Chile?
It appears Mothman shows up all over the world and why not? I mean, it is supernatural, right? Actually, it could be anything, even a Barn Owl for all I know. However, avid readers of GhostTheory know that I am obsessed with this cryptid creature. Why? As Van Halen says, “You really got me!” Now […]
McDivitt Gemini UFO Finally Viewable
Brigadier General, James McDivitt, USAF Retired, was the commander on the Gemini IV mission among others. However, it was on that particular space flight in June of 1965 that McDivitt saw what he described in these words: It had a very definite shape – a cylindrical object – it was white – it had a […]
Who Are The Ummites?
I have long thought that IF an alien race were to visit Earth, they might not contact us in a “Day The Earth Stood Still” scenario. Granted I am thinking in modern terms and figuring they would just tap into the internet, or other digital media. The last thing we need is cross contamination with […]
Group Of Neighbors Report UFO Crash Moments After Event
This event happened just last night (09/27/13) as a live podcast show by Youtube’s thirdphaseofmoon was under way. The report starts at 02:33 of the video below with a breaking call where a group of neighbors describe what they believe to be a UFO crash. OK, so we have a neighborhood that provides a mass […]
Police Dash Cam: UFO or Meteor?
Pretty impressive sighting either way. Watch: From the YouTube posting. Published on Sep 26, 2013 A police officers dashboard cam catches a huge green ball of light fall over Manning area of Alberta. Witness statement: Manning, Alberta – On Saturday, September 21, 2013, shortly after 9:30 pm, an RCMP officer on patrol on a dark […]
“Aliens” In Peru
You are just going to laugh at this one… or be so dumbfounded by the claim that you are left speechless. I am posting this only as an example of how desperate people are to get some sort of attention. Without further preamble, I give you…. ALIENS</strong> Or at least what passes for aliens in […] |
Recently, I discovered that in 2007, the late Mac Tonnies, author of The Cryptoterrestrials: A Meditation on Indigenous Humanoids and Aliens Among Us, (NY: Anomalist Books, 2010) wrote this: "A friend who's been sight-seeing in New York recently happened across a most unusual figurine in a toy store. After dropping me an excited message on my answering machine, he emailed me this photo:"
The carrot-colored apparition is none other than the "wrinkled robot" described by Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker, who claimed to have been abducted by apparent alien creatures in Pascagoula, Mississippi in 1973. Needless to say, you don't see too many of these on toy shelves....
At the time, I was wondering, had anyone seen this unique collectible artifact of our popular Fortean culture, as expressed in this "wrinkled robot" item. I found one, and it is now a member of the International Cryptozoology Museum, not because it is a cryptid, but because it is not. It is in the developing "Fortean corner."
Readers Allegretto Kassidy and Chris Savia had informed me this is art ("Project After Dark") by Michael Lau.
The person who had seen this was Mike Clelland, and this photo above, is via Mac Tonnies, originally from Mike Clelland. |
Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 27th, 2009
With decapitations in the wind, as I have discussed elsewhere regarding the Batman rollcoaster decapitation last June, the “Windigo beheading” of last July, and the very recent horrific news from VA Tech, is it surprising that an animal beheading should overlap into the cryptid world too?
Could a big cat be to blame for death of Olivia the ostrich?
Riddle of 7ft bird found decapitated at Somerset zoo
By Steven Morris, The Guardian, London, Tuesday 27 January 2009 14.11 GMT
They are not having too much luck with their ostriches at the Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Somerset.
Just last year their fiery male, Oscar, died after battering himself against a fence while trying to get to a group of tempting-looking emus on a faraway hill.
And today, keepers at the zoo in Wraxall, near Bristol, are trying to work out what terrible fate has befallen Olivia, one of their two female ostriches.
Horrified staff found Olivia very much dead, her head bitten clean off. At first they assumed a tenacious fox had slipped through the deer fence and somehow managed to bring down the 7ft-tall bird.
But from the shadows, big cat experts have emerged to suggest that it might just have been one of the wild cats that, some believe, prowl areas of the south-west of England.
Chris Hall, of Big Cats in Britain, said: “There have already been several sightings in the Bristol and Gloucester area so it’s quite likely that one of the beasts is to blame.
“Ostriches are no pushover and it would have been a very strong creature to try its luck with such a formidable bird.”
The run of bad luck for the zoo’s ostrich flock began when Oscar started charging a fence.
Zoo owner Anthony Bush said: “We rang up Oscar’s owner and asked him why. He told us that Oscar had been in love with some emus. There happened to be two emus in the next-door field.”
Bush moved the emus to where they really belonged – the Australasia section of the zoo – and thought the problem would be solved. Sadly, from the Africa area, Oscar could still see the emus.
He began charging another section of fence until he knocked himself senseless. The vet was called but could not save him.
Bush said he believed it was possible a big cat was in the area. Indeed, a sheep had recently been badly mauled, prompting one keeper to sleep out in the hope of seeing a big cat.
But he believes Olivia may have been spooked by a fox, bashed herself against a fence and then, once she had been incapacitated, lost her head to a fox.
“The sad thing is that if Oscar had still been around he would have seen off the fox. The females are more placid and easily spooked. They are creatures of very little brain.”
Thanks to Tim Chapman for passing this along.
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. |
Friday, November 04, 2011
I received the following email from an anonymous reader who describes an assortment of odd events throughout his life. I'm quite sure some of us could detail a litany of personal experiences though I doubt many people could recall such an array of variations. I have not edited the narrative since I felt it should be completely presented as the writer intended:
When I was 11 years old I had a cousin Patricia who was my best friend. We played together and my sister played with her younger sister Betty. Patricia got sick and went to Grady Hospital in Atlanta. One night mom and dad went to visit Patricia in the hospital and my sister and I stayed home. I was asleep in my bed and in a waking dream Patricia came and kissed me on my right cheek and told me she loved me but had to go. I remember wondering how she did that when my bed was up against the wall but she kissed me on my cheek with a cold kiss. When my parents came home my dad stood in the doorway of my bedroom and said “son wake up I have to tell you that Patricia died tonight”! And I said, “No she didn’t daddy cause she was just here and kissed me!” My dad said you were just dreaming son and turned out the light. I’m 63 now but I remember this like it was yesterday and I believe I will see her again someday!
When I was walking in the woods one day in the 100-acre woods behind our house I saw a dinosaur. I was probably 10 or 12 but I was walking along down the path to the creek thinking about dinosaurs as I did a lot in those days. I was a child fascinated by history and fossils and dinosaurs.
I believe that my focused thinking created the dinosaur in front of me as I stopped suddenly in my tracks and saw a long necked dinosaur eating leaves off the top of a small tree. I stood there not believing what I was looking at all the while knowing I was seeing it! I bolted back home and told my mom I had seen a dinosaur in the woods and she laughed at me. I believe today that my focused thinking created something out of time and space and put it in front of me because I was thinking about it so hard.
When I was serving in Thailand during the Vietnam War I was stationed in a little town on the Thai-Laos-Cambodian border. I was living with my soon-to-be-wife in a bungalow in town when our neighbor, a Laotian girl became possessed by an evil spirit, or so I was told. She was so bad they had to call in special monks in white robes to pray over her.
My girlfriend/wife wanted to go over there and see the exorcism but before she went over she told me “don’t come over there for any reason.” Instead, since I was on a day off I sat on my porch drinking whiskey and getting drunk as I used to do in those days, as there wasn’t much else to do. Later, a friend of her’s came by and asked for her and forgetting what I was told, I went over to the house where the exorcism was going on. As I went up the steps to the upper floor bungalow I walked up to the screen door and looked in and heard the girl, who was standing naked on her bed screaming, stop screaming and point to something just inside the door! She said, “There it is!” In perfect English! I was standing there with my face to the screen door and suddenly I felt as if my face was stuck in a freezer and something was standing there looking at me! The hackles rose on my neck and arms and my wife who was sitting just inside the screen door screamed, “run”! I to this day know something had left the possessed girl to come take a look at me and I was stone cold sober when I got back across the street. This happened in Korat, Thailand in 1969. I had a lot of strange things happen to me in the three years I was in Thailand!
My wife’s second husband died Dec. 22, 2002 and we didn’t go to the funeral because my wife was badly treated by her second husband of 15 years. His name was Carl.
One night approx two nights after his death, at 3:00am we were awaken by a horrible bloodcurdling scream that came from our bedroom door! We both sat up and switched on the lights and looked around and the dogs were looking at the door. The one dog who slept on her bed just inside the door had ran downstairs and was looking back up while the other two dogs were standing up and staring at the door.
We sat there on the side of the bed after looking around the house and finding nothing we both realized we were thinking the same thing. It was Carl who was faced with the realization of how he treated Phyllis and he had to feel the way he made her feel and it hit him all at once. Even though he was dead we heard him scream that night!
My wife and I sold two houses and bought one big house in Douglasville, GA in 1982 and we moved into it expecting to live there the rest of our lives. It was built on the corner of the main street across from the fire station which came in handy when my wife’s mother moved in with us and needed emergency care. One night I was sitting in my rocking chair in the master bedroom watching TV and my wife was in the baby’s room rocking him to sleep. I sat there watching TV and dozed off, I woke up to see a Asian or native American woman standing between me and the TV wearing a burlap bag dress and looking at me with hate as if “I would kill you if I could” look in her eyes! I blinked once, twice and on the third blink she faded right in front of my eyes! This is the same house that my wife and I spent all day putting up shelves and putting stuff up on the shelves in the garage and that night while watching TV we heard a huge loud crash in the garage as if everything we had put up on the shelves and the shelves themselves had fallen. We went rushing into the garage expecting to find a huge mess! Instead there was nothing out of place at all.
This house doesn’t exist today as the county condemned it and burned it to train firemen and tore the rest of it down. I guess the ghost got her wish. Nobody lives there now!
I have been finding a penny a day for years and years! I have found pennies in the strangest places and at the strangest moments. When it first started I was working at the railroad and I had gone about 45 days finding a penny every day until one day I got sick at work and had to go home with the flu. I walked in my front door thinking I haven’t found my penny today and I knew I was going to bed because I felt awful! Because I get too dirty working at the railroad I had to take a shower before I got in bed even though I was sick, so I took off all my clothes and got in the shower all the while thinking “ I haven’t found my penny for today”! Suddenly I heard a coin drop behind me in the shower and I turned around and there in the bathtub with me was a shiny penny! My wife’s explanation was there was a penny on the bed and when I sat on the bed it stuck to my naked butt and when I got in the shower I washed it off! I told her that may be so but all I know is when I asked for my daily penny it fell into the bathtub with me! I have been finding pennies every day since and I take it as God’s notice to me that I should trust in him every day because it says on the penny “In God we Trust! The penny is God’s way of reminding me every day to trust in Him!
My wife and I worked at a real estate company whose office was an old plantation house during the civil war known as the McAdoo House. It was understood that the house was used as a hospital during the three battles that was fought around the house and that the house was haunted. I used to work there late at night on the phone or computer and I and others smelled cigar smoke numerous times. One of the agents also took a picture of the whole team and staff and there on the outskirts of the picture behind the group was a lady dressed in the 1800’s dress with her back to the camera. By the way we had constant trouble with the phones and the computers, as they didn’t seem to ever want to work!
My mother lived in a trailer in Dawsonville, GA and for three months in 2008 I went and stayed with her to look after her and cook and clean. I had to sleep in one of the back bedrooms and every night after I went to sleep I was awakened by a dog barking behind the wall behind my head. Also many times while I was on the phone someone would knock on the back door and when I went to the door to see who it was there would be nobody there. My mother’s second husband and his dog Missy haunted the place. I am sure of it.
NOTE: Please feel free to forward your strange personal experiences or other unusual events...Lon
Real-Life Stories of Supernatural Experiences (Haunted Encounters)
Haunted Georgia: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Peach State (Haunted Series)
Just the Facts? Mystery Aircraft Plunges Into Sea -- Jack the Ripper's Knife -- Pulsating Light From Above
Mystery over aircraft seen plunging into the sea off Scotland
An appeal has been launched to get to the bottom of a "mystery" aircraft seen plunging into the sea off Angus.
Police enquiries so far have been "ultimately fruitless" since the alarm was raised on Tuesday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses who contacted the coastguard at around 4pm remain convinced that a microlight or small aircraft plummeted into waters off the Usan area of Montrose.
Mystery over aircraft seen plunging into the sea
So far no trace of any aircraft has been found and now microlight flyers have been reported missing.
On Thursday, Tayside Police renewed their appeal after an extensive search by coastguard, the RNLI and a helicopter from RAF Kinloss found nothing.
Inspector Mark McInally said: "As it stands just now, the incident is something of a mystery. Eye witnesses are absolutely convinced by what they have seen and yet we have no reports of any missing people or aircraft that would corroborate those reports.
"Clearly, we remain concerned and are determined to establish exactly what may have happened. Anyone who knows someone whose interest or hobby involves flying should check their whereabouts.
"Could it be the case that this was someone who had journeyed to the area alone on a short break or holiday to enjoy this type of pursuit and loved ones remain unaware that they are missing? We’re making every effort to get to the bottom of it.
"The Usan area is popular with walkers and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area on Tuesday, whether at 4pm, or earlier in the day and who saw anyone else in the area."
Tayside Police has checked with police forces across the UK, airports and flying clubs since the sightings of the aircraft earlier this week.
Officers are keen to speak to any local eye witnesses who haven’t already spoken with them to come forward, while they also want to hear from anyone who might know people who own a microlight. - STV - w/ video
UFO Case Files of Scotland (Amazing Real Life Alien Encounters)
Jack the Ripper: Is this six-inch knife used by Victorian serial killer?
It was found among possessions belonging to Welsh surgeon Sir John Williams, a chief suspect in the Victorian murders.
Sir John, known to his family at the time of the killings as "Uncle Jack" was the surgeon to Queen Victoria who lived in London at the time of the slayings.
He fled the capital after the murders and later founded the National Library for Wales in Aberystwyth.
One of his distant relatives has now unearthed the old black-handled surgeon's knife, which he used for operations, and believes it could be the murder weapon.
Tony Williams, 49, Sir John's great-great-great-great nephew, has now published a book, which features the startling image of the knife, to expose his relative's guilt.
He found the blade among a stash of possessions left by the Welshman, including three glass slides which contains smears of a uterus.
Mr Williams said: ''Why would he leave this behind? I am convinced that this is the knife used by Sir John Williams to murder those women.
''It is widely know that the person who carried out the killings would have had significant medical knowledge.
''Sir John Williams was an accomplished surgeon and routinely performed abortions on women. He held surgeries all over London at the time of the murders."
He added: ''Dr Thomas Bond, a pathologist who examined the body of Mary Kelly, said the ripper had used the same six inch knife in all the murders.
''He said it would have been at least six inches long, very sharp, pointed at the top and about an inch in width - a surgeon's knife.
''This is the knife that fits the description that I've held in my hand back in the National Library of Wales.''
Sir John Williams, born November 1840, was a Welsh surgeon and physician who attended to Queen Victoria.
He was raised to the baronetcy by her for his work in 1894.
The medic had a surgery in London's Harley Street the time of the murders - which saw five prostitutes butchered in the streets of Whitechapel in the city's East End.
Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were killed by the ripper between August and November 1888.
They had been expertly sliced open and some had been disembowelled. Two had their uterus's missing.
Many suspects have been put forward for the gruesome killings - but it wasn't until this century that Sir John Williams was named.
Tony Williams began researching his relative a decade ago - stumbling across an archive of his old possessions in the National Library of Wales.
The surgeon helped found the institution when he moved from London to Wales after the killings.
He become its first president back in 1907, before he died in October 1926 - leaving a sum of money, books and a number possessions to the library.
Mr Williams claims the possessions - including his old diary, the knife and some glass slides - proves his ''Uncle Jack'' had the medical expertise and motive for the murders.
He said: ''I looked through the possessions that he left and found the knife along with three glass slides.
''The smears on the glass slides have been tested and are confirmed as being matter from the uterus.
''I know Sir John was obsessed by the fact that his wife, Mary Hughes, could not have children. I think that was his motive."
He added: ''I think he was a Jekyll and Hyde-type character who may have been driven to commit murder because his wife could not have children. He was also known to be working on a cure for his wife's problem.''
A number of other key pieces of evidence also point towards ''Uncle Jack'', including testimony from a witness who saw a victim on the night she died.
George Hutchinson observed Mary Kelly with a man matching the description of Sir John Williams - wearing a long dark coat with a red stone.
The surgeon's colleague Herbert Spencer wrote about the doctor and the way he used to dress - claiming he always wore a dark silk tie held by a pin set with a red stone.
In 1885, three years before the murders, Sir John Williams also claimed he performed an abortion on Mary Ann Nicholls in the infirmary of the Whitechapel workhouse.
The details were unearthed by Tony Williams in his medical notebook. He also found that many pages of Sir John's diary in 1888 were missing.
He said: ''There is compelling evidence in my view that Sir John Williams was Jack the Ripper. When I began to look into this I found a terrible truth - that I was related to this serial killer.
''The knife, his possessions and all the evidence points to it. A lot of members of our family don't really speak about it - I think they are a bit upset.
''But in my mind the case has been solved - it was Sir John Williams.''
Father-of-three Tony Williams, an author who lives in Swansea with wife Catherine, 49, has now released book, "Uncle Jack - A Victorian Mystery".
The publication includes the picture of the knife and the details of his relative's guilt. - telegraph
Jack the Ripper and the Case for Scotland Yard's Prime Suspect
The Complete Jack the Ripper A to Z
'Pulsating light' illuminated rural area three times
(unedited): I was driving on a local road here near Middle Smithfield, PA saturday October 29 around 7pm with my father. We saw a pale pink pulsating light that appeared in front of my truck and illuminated everything including the ground. The light seemed to lasted like 2 seconds then everything went dark again. About 5 seconds later the same light came again and lasted another 2 seconds. Then for the third time after 5 seconds it happened again. We didnt stop the truck but it was very weird what we experienced. I take that road many times during night time and never seen anything like this before. The light illuminated everything from trees, road, houses, etc. and I was doing 35 mile per hour. - MUFON CMS
UFOs in Pennsylvania: Encounters with Extraterrestrials in the Keystone State
Silent Invasion: The Pennsylvania UFO-Bigfoot Casebook - I highly recommend this book...Lon
Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London, has just been published
From Nick Redfern:
Roll up, roll up! For the monster mystery tour, step right this way. Read all about, read all about it, panic on the streets of London!
For many centuries the streets, sewer systems, skies, waters, and darkest corners of the capital have been inhabited by strange creatures. Some folklore, some fact.
MYSTERY ANIMALS OF…LONDON, a new, richly illustrated, fully indexed 385 page volume written by full-time monster hunter Neil Arnold, published by CFZ Press, is a unique surreal safari through the concrete jungle of London, which explores a menagerie of the strange, creatures cast from the Ark, half-hinted and yet persistent in their presence.
Recoil in horror at tales concerning elusive ‘big cats’ on the prowl through London’s leafy suburbs, with yarns pertaining to the ‘beast of Sydenham’, the lioness of Winchmore Hill, the Edgware tiger, and the classic Surrey puma - a long-lasting mystery which Neil proves may well have its origins centuries previous to the 1960s flap which made national headlines.
And then there are the abominable animals said to lurk in the depths of the River Thames and other London rivers, ponds and lakes, from tales of alligators, crocodiles, piranha, snapping turtles and even sharks, to grim legends of monster rats, slithering snakes and serpents.
And don’t forget the aerial oddities, with weird tales of giant birds in the skies over London – eagles, parakeets and monstrous griffins and dragons.
MYSTERY ANIMALS OF…LONDON looks at creaky old tales of animals escaping from private menageries, zoo parks and circuses. And then there are the monsters of the mind, for instance, the case of Hampstead’s phantom ape, the spectral bears of Chelsea, frothing hellhounds at Newgate, a ghostly chicken…yes, you read it correct!
And who could forget the ripping yarns pertaining to mermaids, Spring-Heeled Jack, glowing lions, flying jellyfish, birds of death, the London Underground man-beast, the Stratford Goatman, fairies, hellish horses and the case of the Highgate ‘vampire’.
An essential read on a foggy night for any monster-hunter, historian, paranormal enthusiast or general fan of the macabre and the mysterious.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
On November 1, 1954 in Cennina, Italy Rosa Lotti was walking when she witnessed a big vertical spindle, "like 2 cones joined at their bases." From behind this craft emerged two little men 3 ft tall, who approached her with friendly expressions, the older one laughing. They were speaking a language that sounded like Chinese, 'liu, lai, loi." Approaching Lotti, they snatched from her the carnations and one of her stockings. Lotti ran away. A deep hole in the ground was later found at the site.
Cennina is a small town near Biicine, in the Province of Arezzo. Rosa Lotti nei Dainelli, a forty-year-old peasant woman mother of four children, living at a farm called "La Collina" which is situated in a lonely region between Cennina and Capannolc, had risen early to go down into Cennina to visit the church and the cemetery. She was carrying a bunch of carnations, destined for the altar of the Madonna Pellegrina, whose procession had taken place the preceding evening.
It was 6.30 a.m.
Rosa Lotti rarely went into town, and spent most of her time on her arduous duties on the farm.
On this feast-day morning however she had put on her new dress and started out along the footpath that leads, through fields and thickets, towards the town. She went barefoot, carrying her stockings and her "best" shoes so as not to get them dirty. She would put them on before she came to the first houses.
She reached a point on this path, regularly taken by her, where it passed through a thicket of low bushes. She knew this path perfectly. She had even gone along it many a time at night, without ever having any sort of unpleasant encounter or noting anything unusual.
Arriving in the middle of a small clearing among the shrubs and sparse trees, she suddenly beheld, near a pine tree and on the edge of the little grassy area, a strange and unwonted object that at once aroused in her both curiosity and surprise. It was a sort of huge spindle, fixed vertically in the ground.
The Craft and the "Little Men"
This is how Rosa Lotti subsequently described the strange machine:
"A sort of double cone, over 2 metres high and about a metre wide in the middle." (In La Nazhnc Italiwa, November 2, 1954.)
"Like two bells joined together at their bases." (In La Settimana Incotn, No. 24, Year XV.)
"The object was very swollen out in the middle and pointed at the two ends. It seemed to be covered with leather." (In Il Giornale del Mattlno, November 2, 1954,)
"The outside of it shone as though it was of very polished light metal. On the lower cone there was an open glass door, and inside it could be seen two little seats, little scats like those used by children. In the central part of the spindle, where it was widest, there was a sort of roundish glass, closely following the round shape of the mysterious machine. Rosa Lotti had heard no sound from it." (In La Nazione Italiana, November 2, 1954.)
Rosa Lotti had stopped in her tracks, astonished and curious. But her surprise was only just beginning. From behind the "spindle" she beheld two strange beings emerge. "Almost like men, but of the size of children," was her description.
The two little beings approached her with friendly expressions on their faces. She had plenty of time to make a thorough examination of them, so that she was afterwards able to describe them in the minutest details. About 1 metre in height, they were wearing a sort of grey overall, all in one piece, including the feet. On their backs they had short cloaks of a grey material, and over the one-piece overall they wore a sort of doublet, fastened, right up to the collar, with little buttons "like shining stars." Their trousers were tightly-fitting, "like the long underpants that our men wear in the winter."
Their faces, crowned by helmets, were normal, but small. Both were no taller than a five-year-old infant, but their bodies were in proportion. "It would have taken two of those things to make a man," she said, "but they were very fine looking, even though rather old."
Vigorous, lively, they were talking away "as though they were Chinese. They kept saying: 'liu.1 lai,' 'loi,' 'lau.* 'loi,' 'lai,' 'liu,' " 3
They gesticulated, but with no trace of menace. Indeed, on the contrary, in a friendly fashion, as though they were trying to make themselves understood and to strike up a rudimentary conversation.
The older looking of the two was the more jovial, laughing and obviously trying to establish contact with her. They had magnificent eyes, fjll of intelligence. Their noses were of normal shape, their mouths just like a man's, but their upper lips were slightly curled in the centre, so that even when they were not laughing their teeth were still exposed. They were teeth like ours, broad, strong teeth, but short (as though they had been filed down) and somewhat protruding, like the teeth of rabbits.
Their ears were hidden under two leather discs, and there was a band around their foreheads, al?o of leather.
Approaching Rosa Lotti, who was now terrified, they snatched out of her hands the bunch of carnations and one of her black stockings. When she remonstrated timidly, the one who seemed the older of the two handed some of the flowers back to her, but kept five of them. Then, having examined the structure of the flowers with an air of curiosily, and laughing the while, he wrapped them in the stocking and threw them into the "spindle" through the small opening.
Then they stepped back a few paces from her, and look two "packages" from inside the machine—white objects, circular, which they carried in the hollow of the arm, holding the arm bent with the hand on the chest. The thing seemed to be wrapped in a newspaper, but it was not a newspaper. (La Naz'tone Sera, November 2, 1954.)
Then they turned towards the lady again, but she had seized the moment to escape. After running about 100 metres, she looked back. Everything had vanished. - Sergio Conti - FSR (Sept/Oct 1972)
The following images are text from a PDF file...might be a bit hard to read but I felt it was important to include:
Secrets of the Unified Field: The Philadelphia Experiment, The Nazi Bell, and the Discarded Theory
Close Encounters Of The Fourth Kind: Alien Abduction, UFOs, and the Conference at M.I.T.
Alien Encounters: The Secret Behind the UFO Phenomenon
The 'Sierra Kills' driver offers his side of the story
The following transcript is from "Sierra Shooting from A-Z - Everything you ever wanted to know and probably more":
thedriver: Hey y'all new to the forum just got the Internet, interesting reads.. Just wanted to say what's up.
bipedalist : Welcome, you mean, Thedriver as in "Sierra Shootings" driver? If so, sounds like a wild ride. Welcome to the forums
TimB: I'm really looking forward to another here-to-for participant extending the conversation. Should keep things moving until the new year...Tell us all about yourself "thedriver"!
slimwitless: Ever been bear hunting in the Sierras?
Jodie: Are you "The Driver" that doesn't have internet and is shying away from the public? Or did you read the thread and become a fan of the missing link in the story and decide to join us to liven things up a bit? Either way, you are welcome, look forward to the pot stirring. We can't let this stew sit for too long you know.
Thedriver: I bleed red white and blue, I love hunting, fishing, budweiser, my family, and a hard honest day of work trying to make a living to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths and in the middle of all this I had a crazy ride... Jodie I'm that guy, the generals buddy, the same guy you talked to when he was in la
HOLDMYBEER: So Driver, are you a part of all the secrecy or are you able to speak for yourself?
Thedriver: Speak for myself? I'm not looking to get attacked on here but in writing for myself right now on my new smart phone
HOLDMYBEER: I don't attack anyone. Just wondering if you bought into all the Non disclosure Agreement stuff or if you are able to shed any light on the mystery of the alleged shooting.
Thedriver: Well unfortunately I'm not into all the jazz of all the stuff that happens after and y'all know that cause I have been "quiet" but I was there I know what happened on October 8 2010 in my truck with Justin on what I thought was going to be a regular hunting trip
Tautriadelta: Hello Driver,.. Welcome to the BFF.
Thedriver: And I'm not saying you attacked me that was for everyone who wants to talk to me cause I won't add to the bull or take any from anyone
HOLDMYBEER: Well, good. With not much to go on, a lot of people just start guessing about the facts, and you know how that can go. Why don't you tell us your side?
slimwitless: Welcome to the forum, driver. We'd all like to hear the story from your perspective.
Thedriver: What do you want to know cause that's a long long thing to write what I can say is Justin has told the story as it was the facts are the facts and the only thing that differs is what seat I was in and what went through my mind when it all went down and If you want me to be able to poetically give you and nail biter story that will be difficult seeing as it was over a year ago last month and alot has happened in my life since then that has nothing to do with that day of Bigfoot in general but facts are facts
slimwitless: I understand. What did you think you were looking at when you happened upon the adult?
Thedriver: Honestly my first thought was a person in a bear suit
HOLDMYBEER: Yeah, I guess I would have thought the same.
Tautriadelta: That certainly is a reasonable reaction. Hard for a person to wrap their mind around.
slimwitless: Were you looking at it with binoculars? When did you realize it was something else entirely?
Thedriver: Yes I had my binoculars that is what made it even more strange they were set up for classing mountain sides so it was fuzzy at first but when I cleared them it felt like my heart sank and I did not realize what I was looking at I would say it took a double take but I couldn't take my eyes off of it
slimwitless: Do you have any regrets? Did you guys bring back any physical evidence from the scene?
HOLDMYBEER: I'll bet it was pretty hard to forget.
arizonabigfoot: Welcome to the forums Driver. I might as well get a question out of the way while I can. It's been floated out there that you may have a sample yourself. Is this the case? Did you keep anything from that day, or did you ever go back?
PacNWSquatcher: 'TheDriver'...Do you ever regret not grabbing the bodies, and becoming millionaires many times over?
Thedriver: Honestly I have two regrets first off I wish it had dropped where it stood because I know either way it died and it would have changed everything and second I wish the kid was never shot because it was unnecessary and I'm not about just the fun of the kill it's more to me than that it's an experience and that turned the day sour for me, and no we did not take any physical evidence home THAT DAY
HOLDMYBEER: Driver, something like that experience probably follows you around. I know it would me. When thoughts about that day come into your mind, what do you remember the most. Was it the view through the binocs, or the shooting of the kid or what?
slimwitless: Did you believe or even think about bigfoot before this happened? At what point did that thought occur to you?
Thedriver: I can tell you that a million is not what in after I work hard every day and come home to my loving pregnant wife and my son and I feel great putting in a honest day of work im not looking for handouts if I was I would go on foodstamps, unemployment, and welfare I wasn't raised that way
arizonabigfoot: Do you have anyone advising you on what to say and what to avoid? Are you being coached up or just coming straight out with your version?
Thedriver: Bigfoot is something I believed was a great story but nothing more and I remember most when the big one was shot seeing the two children run out feeling like I had done something wrong but I did not see them and if I did we all would have nothing to talk about cause that shot would have never been taken
Bigfoot is something I believed was a great story but nothing more and I remember most when the big one was shot seeing the two children run out feeling like I had done something wrong but I did not see them and if I did we all would have nothing to talk about cause that shot would have never been taken
Nonnobis: Wow, Thedriver, what an astonishing adventure. Have you felt like you had to keep this story to yourself, mostly? I can only imagine how traumatic the whole thing was.
Thedriver: I'm a grown man and nobody can put words into my mouth I believe in what our country was founded on and I have freedom of speech and can say whatever I want to
arizonabigfoot: When the children ran out, did they remind you of human kids, or were they more like ape like?
HOLDMYBEER: When the children ran out, did they run after the adult or did they run towards you or how did that play out? Did they make sounds?
slimwitless: Thanks for talking about this driver. Is there any truth to the Ken Walker version that you threatened General after the little one was shot?
Thedriver: It's not that I wanted to keep it to myself Justin talks to y'all and we talk to eachother and that has always worked out just fine for me
So the kids ran on all fours unlike the adult untill it was shot and the chased the adult, and I don't know who Ken is but I never threatened him we exchanged words like wtf why would u do that but never threatened him
slimwitless: Do you still have your half of the flesh sample?
Thedriver: I do have my part of what we recovered I'm holding onto it
slimwitless: Thanks. How do you guys know the sex of the adult?
Thedriver: They ran DNA tests and came to the conclusions they came to I don't know how all that goes down I have seen nothin just what Justin tells me
TimB: Did I read it correctly- the young creature was shot for the fun of the kill?
HOLDMYBEER: So Driver, what is next for you? You said your life has changed a bunch since the shooting. You have plans to do something with Olympic Project or something tied to sasquatch?
slimwitless: Okay, thanks. How many times have you been back to the site? Are you actively involved in the investigation or the book?
Thedriver: Right now I plan on calling it a night getting up for work in the mornin and going to work like I do everyday bf was not my life and is not my life and as of right now I'm going to keep spending my time on work and family that's what my priorities are and try to make ends meet.
Impossible Visits: The Inside Story of Interactions with Sasquatch at Habituation Sites
The Discovery of the Sasquatch: Reconciling Culture, History, and Science in the Discovery Process
Close encounters / possible abduction with manta-ray shaped UFO
Case Number: 33098
Log Number: US-11032011-0008
Submitted Date: 2011-11-03 03:54 GMT
Event Date: 2011-10-31 02:28 GMT
Distance: One mile or less
(unedited) As usual, I was sleeping at this time of the morning, just like anyone else would be in my neighborhood. But also in the norm of things, when they (Aliens) choose for me to witness something that they are doing or something that is going to happen, they make sure I am there for it. At exactly 2am I awoke startled with anxiety over something that was about to happen. I proceeded to get dressed, grab some coffee and head out the door to sit on the front porch and wait and see what was the urgency of their call. At exactly 2:20am the horses in the field next door were spooked and ran furiously for the barn. At 2:28am flying downward at a 50-degree pitch was a brilliant green Plasma Ship with wave like motion of opal around and with tail that reach out over a hundred feet in length behind. The ship was in the shape of a huge Manta-ray that seemed as though it were trying to use it's wings to slow down it's decent. When approximately sixty feet above the ground, it vanished as if it went interdimentional. The only sound was that of what could be heard by the animals. And all this happened within approximately 4 minutes.
The only feelings left behind were the same as they always are, the longing for home, wishing they would finally set my mind at ease. So many years of constant communication and yet no real commitment. Feelings of being used.
Over the past year or ever since that last ship I spotted approximately a half mile from my home, my health continued to get worse. The ship in mention, was the ship that beamed a light that shown from my head to my toes, feeling as if I were being scanned. Every joint, bone and muscle in my body ached for weeks. Within the past year, I gained over a hundred pounds in water and the doctors cannot figure out why. Now only recently, it is going in reverse, since the last UFO spotting mentioned above.
Also, about a week or so ago, I woke one morning to find something very shocking, something that had never happened before, that I can remember. My ankles were black-n-blue as if I had been tightly shackled. This went away within hours but, happened again a few days later and was noticed by a roommate. - MUFON CMS
Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida
Woman disembowels man for breaking her window
A Midlothian mother who disembowelled a man with a pink knife because he broke her window has been jailed for 45 months.
Jade Parker, 23, from Dalkeith, had earlier admitted attempting to murder Anthony McMahon outside her home in Mayfield on 18 October 2010.
When they rowed over the broken window and she threatened to stab him he said: "Go on then."
She was told her remorse appeared genuine at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Mr McMahon had known Parker for years and she called him "Uncle Tony" the court heard.
Solicitor advocate Krista Johnston, defending, said: "He had known this young lady since she was seven or eight years old and did not think she had it in her, did not think she would do it."
Continue reading the main story
The injury bled profusely and Mr McMahon's intestines spilled out of the wound”
Laura Thomson Advocate depute
However, the lawyer said, a combination of drink and a wish to show off in front of two men, one her boyfriend, led Parker to lash out.
Advocate depute Laura Thomson said: "She stabbed Mr McMahon in the stomach using a pink knife.
"The injury bled profusely and Mr McMahon's intestines spilled out of the wound."
Minutes later, Parker was trying to help her 40-year-old victim and was calling 999 the court heard.
Sentencing her on Wednesday, judge Lord Brailsford told the mother-of-two that her remorse appeared genuine and she had no serious previous convictions.
The judge continued: "However I have to have regard to the gravity of the offence and the fact that you used, for whatever reason, no doubt drugs and alcohol played a part, but you chose to use a knife."
The court heard that she and her boyfriend did not want the company of "alcoholic" Mr McMahon and sent him away, claiming that Parker wanted to go to bed.
He was "angry" when he later caught sight of her returning home after buying more alcohol.
Mr McMahon wrapped a cup in a bag and broke a window at Parker's home.
After the stabbing, paramedics had to hold Mr McMahon together as he was taken to hospital, where he spent 48 hours in intensive care.
Doctors said his life was in danger.
Police questioned Parker who said she was "raging" after the window was broken.
They found the pink kitchen knife with a seven inch blade in Parker's fridge and noted "a strong perfumed smell."
The court heard that for years Parker had struggled with drink, drugs and post-natal depression. - BBC
Magical Viking stone may be real
The ancient race are believed to have to discovered North America hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus.
Now experiments have shown that a crystal, called an Iceland spar, could detect the sun with an accuracy within a degree – allowing the legendary seafarers to navigate thousands of miles on cloudy days and during short Nordic nights.
Dr Guy Ropars, of the University of Rennes, and colleagues said "a precision of a few degrees could be reached" even when the sun was below the horizon.
An Iceland spar, which is transparent and made of calcite, was found in the wreck of an Elizabethan ship discovered thirty years ago off the coast of Alderney in the Channel Islands after it sank in 1592 just four years after the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Viking legend tells of an enigmatic sunstone or sólarsteinn that, when held up to the sky, revealed the position of the sun, even on overcast days or below the horizon, the study reveals.
One Icelandic saga describes how, during cloudy, snowy weather, King Olaf consulted Sigurd on the location of the Sun. To check Sigurd's answer, Olaf "grabbed a sunstone, looked at the sky and saw from where the light came, from which he guessed the position of the invisible Sun"
Using the polarisation of the skylight, as many animals like bees do, the Vikings could have used to give them true bearings.
The Viking routes in the North Atlantic were often subject to dense fog and the stone could also be used to locate the sun on very cloudy days.
The researchers said such sunstones could have helped the Vikings in their navigation from Norway to America before the discovery of the magnetic compass in Europe.
They would have relied upon the sun's piercing rays reflected through a piece of the calcite. The trick is that light coming from 90 degrees opposite the sun will be polarised so even when the sun is below the horizon it is possible to tell where it is.
They used the double refraction of calcite to pinpoint the sun by rotating the crystals until both sides of the double image are of equal intensity.
Navigation was based on tables showing the position of the sun in the sky at various times of year, prior to the use of the compass by Europeans, around the 12th century.
Added the researchers: "The Alderney discovery opens new possibilities as it looks very promising to find Iceland spars in other ancient shipwrecks, or in archaeological sites located on the seaside such as the Viking settlement with ship repair recently discovered in Ireland."
The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A. - telegraph
NOTE: I own several pieces of Icelandic Spar and the principle of locating the sun is valid if the shape and size is correct. As a metaphysical tool it is considered a 'cure all' stone for clearer vision & communication, wellness and general cleansing. It works to clear and activate all of the chakras, improving the flow of energy throughout the subtle bodies. Meditation with Icelandic Spar / Optical Calcite can help to improve one's perception of the physical world and of the self, creating a shift in those who experience predominantly negative emotions. Personally, I don't use it in my grids since I am not a metaphysical or Reiki healer...Lon
The Crystal Bible - I highly recommend this book for those who are starting to use crystals...Lon
Crystal Bible 2 - I highly recommend this book for those who are starting to use crystals...Lon
The Chakra Bible: The Definitive Guide to Chakra Energy - I highly recommend this book for those who are starting out with Chakra principle and therapy...Lon
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
The Tatzelwurm is a mysterious cryptid that makes its home in the Alps and is a beast of legend in many Swiss communities. Reports of this mysterious creature vary in description, some sighting claim the Tatzelwurm to be lizard-like while others more bizarrely claim the features of a cat.
A common description of the enigmatic Tatzelwurm is that of a creature between 2 and 6 feet, completely covered in scales and with no hind legs but rather a long snake like body. The Tatzelwurm has 2 front legs and is said to have very big bright eyes and feline like ears which some witness’s claim gives the Tatzelwurm the appearance of a cat covered in scales rather than fur. Another notable feature is that the Tatzelwurm can apparently expel poisonous fumes that are strong enough to kill a human.
Before dying the man told of seeing a tatzelwurm (German for “worm with claws”) 5 – 7 feet in length with a snake-like body, clawed front legs and a large feline-like head with sharp teeth.
The creature can become extremely ferocious; If the creature doesn’t run away when it sees a person, it will turn and run toward the person emitting a high pitched call and would try to bite the person.
In 1828, a peasant supposedly found the corpse of a Tatzelwurm which by the time he had managed to bring it home crows had apparently eaten half of the creature. Even so, the Tatzelwurm built up quite a following of believers and was even considered fact in the nineteenth century. Its now believed that even if this creature did actually exist that because sightings are so rare now it may be completely extinct.
It is widely believed that the Tatzelwurm is actually some kind of rare salamander with characteristics resembling a Gila Monster, most notably the preferred habitat of underground burrows in mountainous areas. This could also explain the reports of poisonous fumes as the Gila Monster is extremely venomous and one of the worlds only venomous lizards, though it is not native to the region. The description of the Tatzelwurm even fits that of a Gila Monster even if it is some what of a loose fit. Another theory is that this creature could be some kind of giant skink, although skinks are also not native to the Alps.
The Tatzelwurm is said to have normal hibernation periods; sleeping during the winter in crevices on mountainsides (this is the reason for the name “Stollenwurm”) or they will even sometimes sleep in hay in a hay loft. In the following two centuries, many reports were received about a strange monster lurking in the Alps and attacking the livestock of farmers in remote villages.
There are many other tales of the legend of the Tatzelwurm. The first tale is that of a young girl who was working on a Swiss farm. While chopping down bean poles she accidentally disturbed the burrow of a Tatzelwurm and was attacked. The Tatzelwurm in this account was described as being of a gray coloration and about the size of a common domesticated cat with a fleshy hairless body and possessing only two front legs. According to the story the Tatzelwurm glared at the girl and she ran away describing big bright eyes to intense to meet.
Another story tells that of a man and his son out gathering herbs in the mountains when the man suddenly heard his son scream and seemed to be paralyzed in fear staring at a rock. The man sprinted to his son only to see a ‘gruesome monster’ under the rock near his son which hissed like a snake and had the face of a cat with big bright eyes. The man managed to stab the Tatzelwurm with a sharped stick easily fleshing the flesh. According to the story the ‘green blood’ of the creature sprayed out and burnt the mans leg making his journey home long and painful due to his limp.
In July 1883 or 1884, Kaspar Arnold saw a Tatzelwurm on the Spielberg, near Hochfilzen, Tirol, Austria. He watched it from a mountain restaurant for twenty minutes and was certain it only had two legs.
A two-legged Tatzelwurm leaped 9 feet in the air toward two witnesses near Rauris, Salzburg, Austria, in the summer of 1921. It was gray, about 2–3 feet long, and had a head like a cat.
In 1924 the five-foot-long skeleton allegedly was found by two men, who said it resembled a lizard’s.
In 1934, a Swiss photographer named Balkin claimed to have photographed a Tatzelwurm near Meiringen, Switzerland, but his photo was probably a faked image of a ceramic fish.
In the summer of 1969, a local man reported a 30-inch-long animal with two hind legs near Lengstein, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. It seemed to be inflating its neck.
In 1990, two naturalists found the skeleton of a lizardlike animal in the Alps near Domodossola, Italy. Giuseppe Costale saw a gray, crested reptile moving in a zigzag fashion on Pizzo Cronia in the same area on two occasions, in October 1991 and September 1992.
In the 1960′s a photograph emerged which was supposedly taken of the mysterious creature. This was given to a Geneva newspaper from a source unknown. Most researchers and cryptozoologists who have seen the photo are in agreement that it is probably a hoax – most likely by a mayor of a Bavarian town attempting to attract tourists.
In 1970, reports of an alleged Tatzelwurm were published in the Swiss newspaper La Tribune de Geneve by Georges Hardy.
In 2000 a strange skeleton was forwarded to a local college. Some scientists said at the time is the first physical proof of the Alpine Tatzelwurm. Along with the skeleton came a sizable donation as well. The original owner of the skeleton remains a mystery. The law firm of Gunterhaus Ltd. in Germany handled the donation and refuses to divulge the name of the contributor or why the Geneva Institute was selected to be the recipient.
As recently as 2009, many reports were made in the Tresivio area of Italy, near the Swiss border. Authorities chalked up most of these reports to "missing monitor lizards" that had escaped their masters. Some of the sightings were even said to be of "raptor" dinosaurs! Only the oldest residents of Tresivio called the mysterious creatures by the name they always knew them as..."basilisco" or basilisk. That was the Italian name for Tatzelwurm...a creature almost faded into non-existence.
The Tatzelwurm is also known in other European countries under different names:
* Stollenworm (Tunnel Worm)
* Bergstutzen (Mountain Stump)
* Springwurm (Jumping Worm)
* Arassas (French Alps)
Flying Cryptids, including: Rod (optics), Jersey Devil, Turul, Thunderbird (cryptozoology), Kongamato, Owlman, Tatzelwurm, Popobawa, Ahool, ... Manaul, Mothman, Wakwak, Santelmo, Ekek
Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature
Walking in the Bavarian Alps (Cicerone Guides)
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Date: 1974 Time: Between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Saturday)
Approach Direction: From the West. Departure Direction: To the East. Witness_Direction: Facing Southwest.
Description: Although this sighting happened in 1974, I was afraid to go public with it because of my paranoia of the Government and the ridicule of my friends or family. What I am about to tell you needs further investigation because there were numerous witnesses at the time. Yet, it never was mentioned by the media. This sighting happened when I was a Sophmore in High School at Ft. Stockton, Texas. Ft Stockton is a small town of 10,000 in far west Texas on the way to El Paso.
At that time, my dad was a Route Delivery Driver for the Dr. Pepper Company, out of Pecos Texas. I remember that it was a Saturday because Ft. Stockton was his main route on Saturdays. We were on Main street and we were making a delivery to a small Convenience store called "Pick Pack Groceries"
Just as my dad parked the truck in front of the store, he reached across my brother, and slapped me on the chest. Then he said, "You boys ever see a UFO?" I replied, "No, Sir." Then he said, "Well, there's ya one right over there." Then he pointed out his driver side window toward a street called "Colpits Street." There was an Elementary School just a few yards from the corner of Main and Colpits and right up above the school was a Silver object about the size of a Football Field. It hovered about 50 feet above the school and it was shaped like a boomerang. From my position I figured that it was about 10 to 15 feet thick.
But the strangest thing about the incident was, how the people in Ft. Stockton reacted to it. As my dad got out of the truck, he said in a rough voice, "I don't want you boys watching that damn UFO. We got work to do." So my brother and I unloaded the cases that he needed, but every once and awhile I would glance over to the School to make sure that the silver boomerang was still there. I even noticed a couple of cars that pulled over to the side of the road and people getting out and pointing to it.
After we unloaded the truck, I had to go inside of the store to help my dad stock the shelves. But the first thing that I noticed was how weird every one was acting. There were at least 15 or 20 people in the store and not one person was reacting to the boomerang across the street. And it could clearly be seen outside of the store windows. So I asked the man behind the Cash Register if he could see that shiny thing above the Elementary School across the street. Then he replied, "Yeh! What is that thing." And I replied, "My dad says that it's a UFO." "That Right?," he replied. "Strangest thing I ever saw," he said as he continued to ring up a customer. "So, you can see it?" I asked. Because I was confused as why no one was reacting to it.
I thought that every one would drop what they were doing and rush outside to gawk at it. But the Cashier just rang people up like it was an every day event. And everyone else was acting the same way. They were milling around the store gathering up chips and dips and checking out at the register like nothing was going on. So I had to get confirmation that I wasn't the only one seeing things. "So you can see that?" I asked one more time as I pointed out the store window. "Yep!" he replied. But it didn't end there. I knew that we would be making deliveries for the rest of the day and I was disappointed because our route would carry us away from the silver thing.
But my disappointment didn't last very long. I was sitting near the door on the passenger side of the truck as we drove down Main street. My door faced toward the south side of town and Ft Stockton is as flat as a pancake. The Tallest buildings were downtown and they weren't any taller than two stories. But the Junior High School was at least three stories high. And there it was. Another one, was hovering over the Junior High. And I saw one more, or it could have been the same one hovering over the far edge of town near the south. The only thing on that side of town was the main Hospital and a Trailer Park. I got the impression that it was over the trailer park. The whole incident lasted more than three hours, because that is the time that it took us to make our deliveries as we traveled east down Main street.
Every time we took off to the next stop I would look out of the passenger side window for the silver boomerangs and I saw them throughout the rest of the day. But it was how the people reacted that blew me away. People were going about their business like nothing was going on, even though occasionally a car would pull over and people would get out to point in the same direction that I was looking. But it still didn't end there. Our last delivery was to a Gas plant about 40 miles east of Ft. Stockton. Once again I was disappointed because we were leaving something that was utterly phenomenal. But believe it or not, I could see it far to south as it passed us, as we traveled east. I even got the impression that it was following us. Then, there it was again. Another one was hanging over the community of the Gas Plant.
My dad looked terrified and he warned us once more to pay attention to our work and not be staring at the UFO. So he parked the truck facing away from the boomerang. Then we unloaded the drinks and my dad went back inside the office to settle up. While he was gone my brother and I waited in the truck. Then my brother grabbed a magazine from underneath the seat and started to read it. I was astonished at the way he was reacting to everything thing, because I felt like a kid in a candy store. All I wanted to do was get out of the truck and stare at the big silvery thing, but I feared my dad more. So I asked my brother if he could see it. He replied "Yeh! Why?" "Well, don't you even care?" I asked him. "Daddy says that it's a UFO. But every body's acting like it isn't even there." then he replied, "Yeh, and Daddy told us not to be watching it. So I isn't watching it. If you want to watch it that's your problem. But I aint getting in trouble.
I'm going to read this magazine." Then I looked out of the rearview mirror and watched it as I thought about it. I wondered why my dad was so terrified and remembered thinking that they were taking everyone. Including my dad. He was gone for two solid hours. When he came out of the office, he still looked terrified and he never said a word. As we drove off I noticed that the boomerang was gone.
On the way back to town I kept looking for it, but I never saw it. So, I decided to ask my friends about it the following Monday after I went back to school. But I never did. I completely forgot, even though I searched the News Papers for weeks for any kind of story. There were even rumors of a rash of sightings and cattle mutilations. But that particular sighting was never even mentioned. It wasn't a blimp and I knew that our government didn't have that kind of technology back then. I know that there were numerous witnesses and my brother is still alive today. So he can confirm everything that I have written. If there is anyone from Ft. Stockton that remembers anything remotely similar I sure would like to hear from them.
Color/Shape: Silver like Foil - Shape of a boomerang and the size of a football field.
Height & Speed: hovered 30 to 50 feet above town - south side of Ft. Stockton departed east of Ft. Stockton.
TV/Radio/Press: Never Reported.
Thank you to UFOINFO for this report. http://www.ufoinfo.com/
Additional Information Gathered by HBCC UFO Research (Diagrams and Graphics as well
Reply to HBCC UFO Research - Brian Vike.
Mr. Vike, Thank you for taking an interest in my story. You are only one of a hand full of people that I have ever shared this with, but my wife encouraged me to get the story out. I would like to find more witnesses from Ft. Stockton though. Last year I sent an Inquiry to the Ft. Stockton News Paper "The Pioneer" and I got one response. Someone sent me an E-mail and they told me that they remembered the rash of sightings in the 70's and then they told me about one of their own experiences. He said that he was afraid of going public with his story, but he told me about a cattle mutilation that occurred on his fathers' ranch. Then he told me of other sightings he and his family had witnessed. But he begged me not to tell anyone.
Now I would like to explain a little bit about my own story. I worked on a sketch like you asked me to but I went a little further. I have been a photographer and an artist for most of my life so you should really enjoy the photos I am sending you. I enhanced them in a software program called Photoshop. So the attachments I am sending you are huge. Just in case you want to make yourself an enlargement or two.
My wife and I live in San Angelo Texas, about 200 miles east of Ft. Stockton. So, to make a long story short, my wife and I drove through Ft. Stockton to see my mother 60 miles west in Ft. Davis. On the way back I took photos from the actual spot that I saw the silver craft.
One of the photos I sent you, shows one of the boomerangs hovering over a building behind some trees. This is the School I wrote about. Ft. Stockton Elementary School. (1st thru 3rd grade) There are two pickups in the photo, one stopped at the intersection on Colpits Street and the other traveling east on Main Street. The scene is almost identical to what I saw, except for a couple of things. I noticed that I was standing too close to Main Street when I took the photo. My dads' truck was parked closer to the store. So it would have been 30 feet back. Another thing that I noticed were the trees. I don't think the trees were that tall at that time. Then there is the boomerang itself. What I saw, always reminded me of a giant silver wing. It was thick at the front and then it tapered toward the back, and it was more rounded. The picture I sent you makes the bottom look flat, but I think it was more rounded.
The other photo I sent shows the same object as it "would have" appeared if I were standing in front of the Ft. Stockton Junior High. The Junior High School was less than half a mile from Main Street. So I could clearly see it because it was so big. The objects I saw were hovering over all of the Schools in town. Which brings up another question.
My dad was known for making me and my older brothers skip school on some occasions to help him with his route. He usually made his Dr. Pepper Deliveries in Ft. Stockton on Saturdays, but it could have been a Friday, because I can't understand why a craft would be hovering over school if no one was in them. So, it is really hard for me to pinpoint the exact day and year.
My dad owned a gas station for two years before I left home. I graduated in 1974, which meant the incident must have occurred in 1972. But for the life of me, I cannot remember the exact month. It was a bright sunny day and I do remember that school was almost over for the year, which means that it was sometime between March and May of 1972.
Thank you to the witness for the wonderful and very interesting sighting report. Also I would like to thank the gentleman for the wonderful diagram and graphic work to show what this object looked like. Also I will be doing an telephone interview with this witness in the next couple of days. - UFO Info (UFOInfo.com) / HBCCUFO.org, Brian Vike, Director
NOTE: there has been speculation that an underground facility may be present in the area of Fort Stockton and may be connected with an tunnel system that reaches northwest into Alamogordo - Albuquerque - Los Alamos - Archuleta Mesa (Dulce Base)...Lon
FINAL EVENTS and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife
Texas UFO Tales: from Denison 1878 to Stephenville 2008
NEW UFO Flap Over Kansas City Area?
The following MUFON CMS reports were filed for sightings in the Kansas City area over a 24 hours period - unedited:
Ok, I was having a boring halloween tonight. I have just gotten back from my school basketball tryouts, and i was planning on going trick or treating with my girlfriend tonight, but i didn't. I instead stayed home, watched southpark, and the chiefs game. Before the chiefs game, i went outside to check on my dogs for about 20 minutes. About 5 minutes after i had gone outside, I saw something moving rapidly across the sky. The Object stopped from time to time, Maybe every 5 minutes, But it moved fast and rapidly. Now, My home is in Peculiar, Missouri. This object was in the direction of Lee's Summit, Missouri. I think it was in Lee's summit, but it MAY have been in Raymore.
Nothing really made me notice it at first, I just looked up at the sky, and boom. There it was. This object had very bright lights that seemed to go on randomly, and it moved very rabidly. As i said, it hovered from time to time. I have heard from some of my friends that they saw something move in the sky too. One of my friends from Lee's Summit said that they went outside on their front porch, and they saw something move rapidly across the sky. Another one of my friends was in a car with a group of people. They were about to go to a Halloween party, and they all said they saw something. I looked up Lee's Summit UFO sightings, and i have found out that UFO sightings in that area are very common. I lost sight of the object, when it seemed to look as if it was descending. It MAY of landed, but i am not for sure. I had a weird reaction, I was scared, and i ran inside. However, i went into the sunroom, and continued to look out the window at the object. After the sighting, i talked to my mom. She said that it was probably just an Airplane or a blimp for the monday night football game. I said that airplanes do not hover, and that blimps probably do not move and change direction as fast as the object i saw.
1. on my front porch my dad was letting dogs in and he noticed it
2 vary bright lights
3 plane but it was not moving and had moving lights on it
4 hard to describe a shape , but the lights moved along it axis and fallowed each other then it would pause over a spot and let of a bright glow ..... like an exploshion , it was there for a while hovering and moving back and forth acrost the sky
5we joked that it was a ufo vary light harted , we where amazed by the brightess of the lights
6 we went back in the house and it was drifting off
I was sitting on my driveway in a chair, handing out candy for halloween, very clam out no clouds beautiful evening moon was at a crecent, just enjoying the peacefulness, then i look up at the sky facing south i saw in the sky 2 bright objects, at first i thought they were jets in formation with there lights on, as i kept watching they werent moving they were hovering, then the one a little lower, lights got dimmer and dimmer, i was in awe never have ever seen anything like this, then the other one did the same thing just slowly dimed its light's out. best way to discribe it would be the Phoinex light's all over again with this being in Belton Missouri and only 2 of them and for a shorter time by best guess is they were there for a min or 2 i watched them for at least one min.
My wife and I were driving to take our child trick-or-treating. My car was heading west on Hwy 50 and had just passed the Hwy 7 exit. On the north side of Hwy 50 to the North West I saw a long line of lights moving accross the sky to the north. I pointed at them and told my wife to look because it was such a very long line of lights. They quickly changed direction and moved South East bound right at us. The line of lights moved up as the bottom of the disc shaped ufo was exposed. The bottom was covered in a very large amount of spot lights. As the disc came closer and decended it tilted so far up that the bottom part of the disc with all the spot lights was completely visable. One of the spot lights on the bottom caught my eye as the rest of them shown down. The bottom was curved just like a saucer. It was so gigantic and low to the ground I decided to slow down to 50 mph and took the first U-turn available. Cars all around me were slowing down. I passed Hwy 7 again and turned North. I watched the ufo decend and then hover to the North West. The night sky lit up with a flash of light in a perfect circle around the ufo. I kept my eyes in the sky but didn't see it again. I did notice shortly after the ufo sighting an unusual amount of normal aircraft activity was everyhere. Two planes flying at the same low altitude came from the East flying West bound. They flew right over the location the ufo seemed to land but kept going.
as iwas driving home from a friends house i saw what appeared to be searchlights in the sky but they went in random directions; there were three in all,, one went across the sky horizontally back and forth, one appeared and shot straight out then disappeared, then another did the same thing only in a different direction. i had stopped my car and watch; the lights were coming from what looked like a bright star, but it grew even brighter,,,,,,, then turned a reddish color and started moving. it blazed accross the sky and then slowed down andstarted to blink, red/white and then grew very dim and disappeared. i didnt see itanymore.i have noticed things like this a few timse out here, we're in a very rural area with very little air traffic.. we call them blinkies, and at times have seen up to 27 of them in a 10 minute period or so. sometimes they seem like they have a dim white glow around them,,, other times they just literally appear from nowhere and either blink, or suddenly start moving. they can stop and hover, grow very dim, get very bright, change to a reddish color, and scoot extremely fast accross the sky. they can change directions like a barrel racer, and can get very low to the ground at times. i used to be very scared of them, but ive seen them so often out here now( as well as about 9 other people) that i know im not crazy. i noticed a internet posting about lights seen in lees summit, mo., and thats not very far from here(about 20 minutes drive on the back roads). thats how i found your website.
Halloween night around 8, heading to Swopeparkway Health Center on Bluepkwy in Kansas City MO for a trick or treat event, I saw one of the parking guards pointing and I looked and it was a huge circular object in the sky with lots of lights, I tried to get it on my camera phone but it took off really fast, It was lots of people outside who witnessed it, It looked like the bottom of a flying saucer, huge....., I was really shocked because it was in the area where I saw another ufo about a month ago, I NEVER thought I would see anything like that again in my life, but I did, shocking....MUFON CMS
UFOs in Missouri: True Tales of Extraterrestrials and Related Phenomena
Mystery of the Men in Black: The UFO Silencers
Dracula author's first vampire sketch found
The private journal of author Bram Stoker, in which he sketched his first thoughts about his legendary creation 'Dracula', has been unearthed after more than 100 years.
The thin, unmarked book was discovered on a shelf in his great-grandson's home on the Isle of Wight in Britain. It had been passed down by Noel Dobbs' ancestors for more than a century before arriving in his home, the Daily Mail reported.
Dobbs was unaware of what the book was until an American researcher contacted him to ask if he knew about a journal his famous ancestor had written.
The book that was signed "Abraham Stoker" had 305 entries dating from 1871, when Stoker was in his 20s. The journal also contains romantic poems.
Dobbs sent photocopies of a few pages to his cousin, Dacre Stoker, a professor in South Carolina, who has now written a book about his famous ancestor, based on the journal.
"When I saw it, I was amazed. I thought, 'The Holy Grail! We've found it!'" said Dacre Stoker.
"There is so little written by Bram about Bram. Family, scholars and fans wanted to know what made the man who wrote Dracula tick. And here we had a major set of clues," Dacre Stoker said.
His book, "The Lost Journal", will be published in March 2012 to mark the centenary of Bram Stoker's death.
The last entry of Stoker's journal in 1881 hints at a major character he would use in "Dracula", a man who was driven to eat living things including flies. A passage says: "A man builds up his shadow on a wall bit by bit by adding to substance. Suddenly the shadow becomes alive."
Actor Christopher Lee made the character of Dracula immortal in a 1958 movie. - ibnlive
Works of Bram Stoker. (25 Works) Includes Dracula, The Lair of the White Worm, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, Under the Sunset and more. (mobi)
Girl Accidentally Hangs Herself At Haunted House
A 17-year-old girl was found hanging by a noose inside a haunted house Thursday night, FOX 2 Now Saint Louis reported.
Patrons of the halloween attraction, Creepyworld, may have even walked past her, believing she was a "scary prop."
A haunted house coworker found the girl unconscious, and she was rushed to the hospital.
While authorities continue to investigate into what happened, KSDK reports that the girl remains in critical condition.
Capt. Ron Arnhart of the Jefferson County sheriff's office told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the girl was an actress who works with the company, and that the noose was usually used as a prop for visual effect.
"How she wound up in there is still under investigation," Arnhart told the paper. "Right now, it looks like an unfortunate accident."
Although the girl's name was not released, reports say that she is from Fenton, Missouri. - THP
‘Continent Killer’ Asteroid On Possible Collision Course With Earth
On the heels of the return to Earth of a pair of satellites — NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) and the German-built Röntgensatellit (ROSAT) — over the past two months comes a report of another object set to collide with our planet.
Only this one is a 20 million ton asteroid that is currently heading towards us at 23,000 miles per hour, and could collide with our planet in approximately 25 years, Alex Hannaford of the Telegraph wrote on Sunday. The asteroid in question, Apophis, is more than 800 feet wide, comprised of a mixture of rock, ice, and dust, and has been dubbed “the continent killer.”
“There are two scenarios,” Hannaford writes. “The first, and thankfully most likely, is that Apophis will fly by in April 2029, the year it is due to make its first ‘close approach’, and that’s the last we’ll see or hear of it. The second is that during that approach, it’ll pass through what scientists refer to as a ‘keyhole’ — a small area of space that can alter the asteroid’s course due to Earth’s gravity.”
“If this happens, it’ll be on a massive collision course with us seven years later, likely to be April 13, 2036 — Easter Sunday,” the Telegraph reported added, noting that experts with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California claim that it is “too far away” to predict which of the two possibilities is most likely, but that they should be able to know more in the near future.
“We don’t know precisely where Apophis is headed but we will soon, when it becomes observable again, probably in 2012 or 2013,” Paul Chodas of the U.S. space agency’s Near Earth Object (NEO) said. “Once we get radar on it we will be able to nail down its orbit and we will know the chances of it going through the keyhole and hitting in 2036. By that time, it could be a four in a million chance, and that could very well go down to zero.”
That might not be the end of it, though, as Chodas told Hannaford that the asteroid could find another one of those “keyholes” — small regions of space that can alter the course of a passing asteroid, due to a planet’s gravity — meaning that even if it misses the planet the first time, it could theoretically return and collide with the Earth’s surface later on. - redorbit
Asteroids: A History (Smithsonian History of Aviation & Spaceflight Series)
Asteroids and Meteorites: Catastrophic Collisions with Earth (Hazardous Earth)
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'Phantoms & Monsters' Available Titles |
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on January 23rd, 2006
In the previous entry here on Cryptomundo titled, "Answering the Bigfoot Skeptics", Ben Radford throws out the old "belief" card. Calling those of us who are Bigfoot researchers "Believers", or worse yet, using that term for those of us who have had a visual encounter with one of these cryptids is demeaning in my opinion.
I don’t use the phrase, "Seeing is believing." I use the phrase, "Seeing is knowing." It is not about believing. It is about knowledge. Knowledge that there is a vast amount of evidence that points to the validity of the existence of this animal. It is knowing that there is something out there that is being ignored by mainstream science. I know that I saw something that defies explanation as anything other than a hair-covered, bipedal primate. The details of my personal experience are available on the Texas Bigfoot Research Center website.
John Green, veteran Bigfoot investigator has said:
"Let’s get this business about belief straight. The believers are the scientists, they’re the ones who are clinging to a belief. The people who think that there are Sasquatches are the ones who are investigating – the ones who have become convinced on evidence. The scientists are the ones going on pure faith and don’t actually know much about it and make darn sure they don’t know anything about it." – John Green
And fellow Cryptomundo blogger Loren Coleman has been heard to say:
Belief is the providence of religion, and believing has more to do with faith than science. I accept or deny the evidence, the patterns of reports, the eyewitness testimony, and those investigations inform me as to whether or not I feel this is an event, a hidden animal, and/or a cryptid of interest to cryptozoology. – Loren Coleman
What do the readers of Cryptomundo have to say about the term "Bigfoot Believers"?
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005. I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films: OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou. |
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Atari video game burial of 1983 was an infamous event in video gaming history, in which Atari dumped thousands of video game cartridges, allegedly including a large number of copies of its video game adaptation E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, into a New Mexico landfill. It was one of the consequences of the North American video game crash of 1983.
In September 1983, the Alamogordo Daily News of Alamogordo, New Mexico reported in a series of articles, that between 10 and 20 semi-trailer truckloads of Atari boxes, cartridges, and systems from an Atari storehouse in El Paso were crushed and buried at the landfill within the city. It was Atari's first dealings with the landfill, which was chosen because no scavenging was allowed and its garbage was crushed and buried nightly. Atari's stated reason for the burial was that it was changing from Atari 2600 to Atari 5200 games, but this was later contradicted by a worker who claimed that this was not the case. Atari official Bruce Enten stated that Atari was mostly sending broken and returned cartridges to the Alamogordo dump and that it was "by-and-large inoperable stuff."
On September 28, 1983, The New York Times reported on the story of Atari's dumping in New Mexico. An Atari representative confirmed the story for the newspaper, stating that the discarded inventory came from Atari's plant in El Paso, Texas, which was being closed and converted to a recycling facility. The Times article did not suggest any of the specific game titles being destroyed, but subsequent reports have generally linked the story of the dumping to the well-known failure of E.T. Additionally, the headline "City to Atari: 'E.T.' trash go home" in one edition of the Alamogordo News implies that the cartridges were E.T. As a result, it is widely speculated that most of Atari's millions of unsold copies of E.T. ultimately wound up in this landfill, crushed and encased in concrete.
Starting on September 29, 1983, a layer of concrete was poured on top of the crushed materials, a rare occurrence in waste disposal. An anonymous workman's stated reason for the concrete was: "There are dead animals down there. We wouldn't want any children to get hurt digging in the dump."
Eventually, the city began to protest the large amount of dumping Atari was doing, a sentiment summed up by one commissioner with, "We don't want to be an industrial waste dump for El Paso."
The local manager ordered the dumping to be ended shortly afterwards. Due to Atari's unpopular dumping, Alamogordo later passed an Emergency Management Act and created the Emergency Management Task Force to limit the future flexibility of the garbage contractor to secure outside business for the landfill for monetary purposes. Alamogordo's then mayor, Henry Pacelli, commented that, "We do not want to see something like this happen again."
The story of the buried cartridges has become a popular urban legend, which in turn has led some people to believe that the story is not true. As recently as October 2004, the E.T. game author Howard Scott Warshaw himself expressed doubts that the destruction of millions of copies of the game ever took place, citing his belief that Atari would have recycled the parts instead in order to save money.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
You have to admit, it does make a kind of twisted sense: After all, we've been feasting on their fibrous, nutrition-packed stems, leaves, tubers, and fruits since we began to actually eat the salad that came with our steaks so, naturally, there must have been a certain ... well, 'desire' for reciprocity. In other words if we eat them why shouldn't they want to eat us?
For all you geeks out there – and, yes, we know who you are – it's commonly thought that the first depiction of a salad making a meal out of a man comes from Dr. Carl Liche, writing in 1881. J.W. Buel echoed the idea in his Land and Sea in 1887. Unluckily for Liche and Buel they've been since exposed as 'imaginative' instead of 'accurate.' Hate to disappoint but true man-eating plants are a total myth.
But that doesn't mean that the next time you sit down to feast on a supposedly defenseless potato there aren't other forms of plant life that are also having a tasty meal of, while not us humans, then most definitely other animals – and sometimes rather large animals.
The poster-plant for botanical carnivores has got to be the legendary Venus Flytrap. A resident of swamps and bogs, the flytrap has evolved a dramatic solution to its lack-of-nutrient diet: it catches flies – and pretty much anything big enough to get caught. What's amazing about this plant is its mechanism. Anything that happens to stumble between the two halves of its unique mechanism will find itself in caught in a quickly-snapping-shut botanical bear trap. What's even worse is that after being caught the Venus then fuses those leaves together, turning them into a kind of stomach to digest its prey. What's extra-fascinating is that the trap has two triggers, and that both of them have to be tripped for the leaves to snap shut, to avoid misfires.
While the flytrap looks like something out of a monster movie it rarely grows to any really impressive size – unless you happen to be a housefly. But one carnivorous plant that really is impressive, and recently discovered, is what's called a passive hunter. Instead of using snapping traps its family instead has evolved fluid filled pitfalls lined with very slippery sides, and baited with a very alluring perfume.
Pitcher plants come in a wide variety of shapes, types, and sizes – including a special one native to the Philippines. Most pitchers feast on bugs and sometimes small lizards: pretty much whatever's unfortunate enough to get seduced by the plant's alluring smells and is small enough to fit down its leafy throat. While its mechanism is similar to its smaller kin, nepenthes attenboroughii (named after journalist and TV presenter David Attenborough), has traps that are large enough to catch not only bugs, lizards, and – what's more than a bit scary – rats.
Another device carnivorous plants use is to make its prey stick around long enough to be digested. The sundew, for instance, has leaves covered with dozens of tiny stalks, and each stalk is covered with very, very, very sticky stuff. When a bug happens to walk across these leaves it gets – you guessed it – very, very, very stuck. What's more, though, is that the plant then contracts, bringing more and more of those stalks into contact with its prey, completely trapping and then digesting it.
While there are other plants that can, and do, eat whatever they can catch there is at least other plant that deserves at least a mention and one very special one that seems to be the best candidate for what could be a real maneater.
There are lots of things the very versatile bamboo is known for: building material, food, and everything betwixt and between. What's not as commonly known is that the bamboo is a botanical racehorse. Got a spare day to kill and want to see the fastest plant in the world grow two feet (in the right soil on the right day)? Then plop your behind down and stare at some bamboo. Okay, it might not be THAT thrilling but it is a plant that you can actually watch grow – which, no matter how you slice it, is pretty impressive.
But then there's the other, the monster, the beast, the chlorophyll creature that could – if any plant could be – considered a bona fide killer. Innocently imported to the US in 1876 from its native Japan, it was sold as a botanical miracle: ink, paper, jelly, tea, you name it and you could make it from this wonderful plant. But what no one could expect that this so-called marvel would have darker roots.
Kudzu is its name and right now it covers – in some cases quite literally – a huge part of the Southeastern United States. While bamboo is a racehorse at two foot a day, Kudzu is hardly a slacker at covering half that distance in the same amount of time. In the South there are homes, cars, houses and entire communities that have been hungrily, potentially, covered – and subsequently strangled – by this ferociously determined plant.
Sure, kudzu may not be carnivorous, but it's green infestation, it's emerald conquest, it's verdant domination is definitely worth a mention – and maybe a serious shudder of fear. Or, as they sometime say in the South: "A cow won't eat kudzu, but kudzu will definitely eat a cow."
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Mongolian death worm (Mongolian: олгой-хорхой, olgoi-khorkhoi, "large intestine worm") is a creature purported to exist in the Gobi Desert. It is generally considered a cryptozoological creature (cryptid): one whose sightings and reports are disputed or unconfirmed.
It is described as a bright red worm with a wide body that is 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 m) long.
The worm is the subject of a number of extraordinary claims by Mongolian locals - such as the ability of the worm to spew forth sulfuric acid that, on contact, will turn anything it touches yellow and corroded (and which would kill a human), as well as its purported ability to kill at a distance by means of electric discharge.Though natives of the Gobi have long told tales of the olgoi-khorkhoi, the creature first came to Western attention as a result of Professor Roy Chapman Andrews's 1926 book On the Trail of Ancient Man. The US paleontologist was not convinced by the tales of the monster that he heard at a gathering of Mongolian officials: "None of those present ever had seen the creature, but they all firmly believed in its existence and described it minutely.
The olgoi-khorkhoi is said to resemble a cow's intestine. It is reported to be red in color, and is sometimes described as having darker spots or blotches. Sometimes it is said to have spiked projections at both ends. The worms are purportedly between 2 and 5 feet long, and thick-bodied. They are believed to somewhat resemble polychaetes, in many respects, looking much like a land-dwelling Bobbit worm.
Roy Chapman Andrews (an American explorer, adventurer and naturalist who became the director of the American Museum of Natural History), in his book «On the Trail of Ancient Man» (1926) cites Mongolian Prime Minister Damdinbazar who described (1922) the worm allergorhai-horhai:
«It is shaped like a sausage about two feet long, has no head nor leg and it is so poisonous that merely to touch it means instant death. It lives in the most desolate parts of the Gobi Desert…»
In 1932 Andrews published this information again in the "The New Conquest of Central Asia" book, adding: «It is reported to live in the most arid, sandy regions of the western Gobi». Andrews didn't believe in this animal's reality.
Czech explorer Ivan Mackerle described the animal from second-hand reports as: "Sausage-like worm over half a meter (20 inches) long, and thick as a man's arm, resembling the intestine of cattle. Its tail is short, as [if] it were cut off, but not tapered. It is difficult to tell its head from its tail because it has no visible eyes, nostrils or mouth but may have them on some occasions. Its colour is dark red, like blood or salami..."
The worm is said to inhabit the southern Gobi Desert. The Mongolians say that the olgoi-khorkhoi can kill at a distance, either by spraying an acid-like substance or by using an electrical discharge. They say that the worm lives underground, hibernating most of the year except for when it becomes active in June and July. It is reported that this animal is mostly seen on the surface when it rains and the ground is wet.
The Mongolians also believe that touching any part of the worm will cause instant death. Its venom supposedly corrodes metal and local folklore tells of a predilection for the color yellow. The worm is also said to have a preference for local parasitic plants such as the goyo.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Pope Stephen VI (died August 897) was Pope from May 22, 896 to August 897.
He had been made bishop of Anagni by Pope Formosus. The circumstances of his election are unclear, but he was sponsored by one of the powerful Roman families, the house of Spoleto, that contested the papacy at the time.
Stephen is chiefly remembered in connection with his conduct towards the remains of Pope Formosus, his last predecessor but one. Doubtless under pressure from the Spoleto contingent and fueled by Stephen's fury with his predecessor, the rotting corpse of Formosus was exhumed and put on trial, in the so-called Cadaver Synod (or Synodus Horrenda), in January 897. With the corpse propped up on a throne, a deacon was appointed to answer for the deceased pontiff, who was condemned for performing the functions of a bishop when he had been deposed and for receiving the pontificate while he was the bishop of Porto, among other revived charges that had been leveled against Formosus in the strife during the pontificate of John VIII. The corpse was found guilty, stripped of its sacred vestments, deprived of three fingers of its right hand (the blessing fingers), clad in the garb of a layman, and quickly buried; it was then re-exhumed and thrown in the Tiber. All ordinations performed by Formosus were annulled.
The trial excited a tumult. Though the instigators of the deed may actually have been Formosus' enemies of the House of Spoleto (notably Guy IV of Spoleto), who had recovered their authority in Rome at the beginning of 897 by renouncing their broader claims in central Italy, the scandal ended in Stephen's imprisonment and his death by strangling that summer.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Super Chicken is a segment that ran on the animated television series George of the Jungle. It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. It debuted September 9, 1967 on ABC.
Super Chicken (voiced by Bill Scott with a wavering parody of a Boston Brahmin accent) and his lion sidekick Fred who wore a sweatshirt with a backwards "F" on the front (voiced by Paul Frees impersonating Ed Wynn), would usually begin their adventures with the battlecry that went something like: "Quick, Fred, to the 'Super Coupe,'" which was an egg-shaped air vehicle in which Super Chicken and Fred would fly to the rescue of innocent victims of crime.
Super Chicken's secret identity was well-to-do Henry Cabot Henhouse III (whose name was a play on Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.); Fred acted as his butler/servant, etc. When danger reared its ugly head, he would take his "Super Sauce" (often from a martini glass) and don his "Super Suit," which consisted of a plumed cavalier's hat, cape, Wellington boots, mask and a sword.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Gypsy Robe is a ritual robe used for the opening of a Broadway Musical.
Broadway musical chorus members are referred to as gypsies to signify their continuous travel from job to job in show after show. The chorus member with the most Broadway credits wears the robe and circles the stage three times moving counterclockwise. Other cast members look on and touch the robe for luck.
The ritual dates to 1950, when Bill Bradley, a chorus member in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, sent a dressing gown from one of his fellow performers to a friend performing in Call Me Madam. A feathered rose from Ethel Merman's costume was attached to the robe and it was then given to a chorus member in Guys and Dolls. The robe continued to be passed from one show to another, each time with a memento added on.
The ritual is now more formal, with rules about how it is presented, worn, and displayed. When robes are full of artifacts, a new robe is started. Retired robes are kept at the Lincoln Center library, at the Smithsonian, and at Actors' Equity.
In 2005, Brynn Williams from the Broadway cast of In My Life became the youngest recipient of The Gypsy Robe at age 12.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Charles Osborne (April 2, 1894 – May 1, 1991) hiccupped continuously for 68 years (1922–1990). Osborne, listed as "Charles Osborne" in the Social Security Death Index, was from Anthon, Iowa, U.S., and he was entered in Guinness World Records as the man with the Longest Attack of Hiccups. The hiccups started in 1922 and persisted for a total of 69 years. His condition also led him to be a guest on Ripley's Believe It or Not! in 1936, ABC's That's Incredible! in 1980, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1983, and to be featured as a question in the board game Trivial Pursuit, and even appeared in an article by Dear Abby.
An outside source estimated that Osborne hiccuped 430 million times over the 68-year period.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Let's play a game: animal, mineral, or vegetable?
The answer? Two out of three. Ladies and gentlemen: the wonderful, and let's not forget weird, world of fungi.
But first a ridiculously quick science lesson, and an explanation for the opening above: scientists consider fungi to be part of a separate and unique kingdom, in that they aren't plants and they're not animals -- so they really are two out of three.
It's this 'not one and not the other' that make fungi wonderfully – and somewhat disturbing – to study. At their most identifiable they an fundamental part of our diet: buttons, portobellos, shitakes, oysters, morels, chanterelles, and more – including the expensive yet ubiquitous truffle. But fungi are also essential to make many of our foods ... well, food: without them we wouldn't have cheese, beer, wine, bread and too many others to name. If that isn't impressive enough, our odd not-quite-an-animal, not-quite-a-plant, is also indispensable to medicine: penicillin, the cornerstone of antibiotics, was mold found in a Petri dish, after all. In fact some experts claim that if anything were to happen to our fungal friends humanity would be, at worst, extinct, or at best, pretty miserable.
But mushrooms and yeasts and molds are only the public face of the fungal world. Beyond beer, wine, cheese, and medicine there's a stranger side – in fact a rainbow of oddness. Mushrooms, you may think, are brown or white, right? But fungi can also be spectacularly colorful: the Parrot Waxcap is as green as grass, the Crimson Waxy Cap is sunset crimson, and the Slimy Spike-cap is even bright purple. There are even varieties of mushroom that aren't just colorful but actually glow in the dark: Omphalotus olearius, the Jack o' Lantern, for example, is a celebrated bioluminescent fungus, as is the Australian ghost fungus.
Even when fungi are brown and dull appearances can be deceiving: the aptly named stinkhorn, for example, produces the aroma of rotting meat to attract flies, which help the mushroom spread its spores. Speaking of spore-spreading, the puffball mushroom and its various relations do it in a very dramatic fashion, quite literally shooting their spawn into the air when touched.
But for all their color and their clever tricks, fungi have an even odder side, one that might make you look at that blue cheese in your sandwich, or that beer you were planning to have with lunch, a little differently – if not with out-and-out fear.
Sure, fungi have given us much but they can also take it away, and not just for people who mistake an amanita phalloides for an amanita caesarea: Cryptococcus gattii, though rare, is alarmingly fatal and is airborne. How fatal? Well, it's considered to be one of – if not the – most lethal fungal infections you can get. There are other deadly fungi, and as most of them are extremely opportunistic and durable, they can spread wildly and are all but impossible to kill. Just think athlete's foot mixed with a rattlesnake.
It's fungi's ability to grow just about anywhere that makes it so amazing. If you name a hostile environment there's more than likely some form of mushroom or yeast that will not only grow there but prefer it over anywhere else. An extreme version of this is when researchers stuck their instruments into one of the most poisonous places on earth and found not only a species of mushroom growing there but one that actually appears to be feeding on the toxicity. How nasty is this place? Well, all you need to say is one word to shudder at the thought: Chernobyl.
But strangeness and fungi don't end with radiation-feasting mushrooms, for there are quite a number of them that feast on other things -- including animals. Nematophagous fungi, for instance, grow miniscule rings that, if a nematode happens to squirm into one, rapidly contract, trapping the unfortunate lunch ... I mean 'worm.' If this makes you a bit nervous take a bit of consolation in that the popular oyster mushroom is also a nematode killer – and it's also tasty, so while it eats them we also eat it.
But eating isn't the only dark thing fungi do. One particular species has an extremely disturbing lifecycle – and a terrifying one ... if you happen to be an ant. Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, if it gets half a chance, will infect an ant and (ahem) eat parts of its brain, causing the poor little insect to basically become the walking dead The fungus finishes it off only after it clamps itself to the underside of a leaf, just where the fungus wants it to die – a location that works really well for the fungi, but definitely not the ant.
Yes, they have given us much: all those mushrooms and other amazing fungi. Without them we would have very bland food, let alone no booze, and would probably die a lot quicker without antibiotics. Some of them are as pretty as flowers, a few may be deadly to the unlucky or the tragically ignorant, while further species lurk in the soil for the unwary nematode, but – basically – they have been our friends for a very long time.
Besides, we'd better watch our step: while the jury is out on the subject, many experts point to a certain forest in Oregon. What's special about this hunk of land, that particular stand of trees? Well, the honey mushroom that lives there, and occupies over 2,200 acres of that forest, may very well be the largest organism on the earth.
So we had better treat them well -- all those wondrous fungi -- just in case that they, or just that single huge mushroom, should wake up and remind us of all they've done for us ... or could do to us.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A peanut gallery is an audience that heckles the performer. The term originated in the days of vaudeville as a nickname for the cheapest (and ostensibly rowdiest) seats in the theater; the cheapest snack served at the theater would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to show their disapproval. The phrases "no comments from the peanut gallery" or "quiet in the peanut gallery" are extensions of the name.
In the late 1940s the Howdy Doody show adopted the name to represent their audience of 40 children. |
long-absent from the comments section--but not from our hearts--i got a chance to catch up with our good pal, nic carcieri the other day and was asking him what he'd been up to.
what he'd been up to was quite a bit as nic just recently finished a short film that he did in conjunction with the south county hospital and the narragansett fire department in rhode island. the piece is a psa directed at teens dramatically illustrating the results of drinking and driving. he's presented the film at local high schools and movie theaters to great response and earlier this month posted it to youtube.
it's a powerful piece, driving home the terrible consequences of drunk driving and outlining the irrefutable fact that being responsible starts before you take that first drink.
check it out for yourself.
great job, nic~!
how many of us can say that we did something like this that actually saved lives...?
in a week and a half craig and i will be at HEROESCON in Charlotte NC--JUNE 3-5!!
we'll have all the cool perhapanauts shwag that the airlines will let us bring and a brand new exclusive heroescon one-sheet featuring a local cryptid that got a lot of ink a few years back~!
a preview of this cool and colorful print will be posted here next monday and wednesday!! don't miss it!
hope to see you at the show!!
and here are a couple of images i grabbed from here and there and thought were funny.
smell ya later~! |
At last, the Odedi revealed: the most mysterious bush warbler
Although I have more than my fair share of work that I need to catch up on, what the hell….
In March of this year Mary LeCroy and F. Keith Barker published their description of the Odedi Cettia haddeni, a bush warbler from Bougainville Island of the North Solomons Province in the SW Pacific (LeCroy & Barker 2006). Bougainville Island will be familiar to you if you’ve read about obscure and/or recently extinct birds, as it was famously home to the Moustached kingfisher Actenoides bougainvillea (a species which hasn’t been seen for four decades, and may well be extinct), among others.
Cettia, the bush warbler genus, is represented by 14 species, most of which live in SE Asia, but there are also several species that inhabit the islands of the SW Pacific. We have one member of the genus here in Europe: Cetti’s warbler Cettia cetti (though it’s not a European endemic, as it also occurs across Asia). People here don’t ordinarily call it ‘Cetti’s bush warbler’, but they do elsewhere in the world (in India for example, where it’s but one of eight Cettia species). Cetti’s warbler is a skulking bird that tends to stay hidden in river-bank foliage, its distinctively explosive song giving its location away. Will and I used to go find them along overgrown canals when we lived in Gosport (well, I used to go find them. Will just came along for the ride).
Incidentally, it’s a good example of a bird whose range has increased substantially within recent history. Early in the 20th century it was apparently restricted to the Mediterranean region, but it’s been gradually spreading northward and today occurs as far north as Sweden (or at least that’s what some of the books say: in the field guides it isn’t shown as extending further north than southern Britain).
Bush warblers are particularly newsworthy right now (to my mind at any rate) given that the just-published oscine supertree of Jønsson & Fjeldså (2006) found Cettia to be diphyletic, with C. cetti grouping with the tesias* and Urosphena (the stubtails) while the Japanese bush warbler C. diphone grouped with the Broad-billed flycatcher-warbler Tickellia hodgsoni and Orthotomus (the tailorbirds). Admittedly, the idea that Cetti’s warbler might group with tesias and stubtails, both of which are radically short-tailed, seems odd, but then total evidence is the game.
* Tesias are one of a number of poorly-known tropical passerines for which the common name is the same as the technical generic name. Other examples include prinias, yuhinas, minlas, newtonias, oxylabes, niltavas, liocichlas, apalis, camaropteras, eremomelas… the list goes on.
Results contrary to those of Jønsson & Fjeldså (2006) were found by LeCroy & Barker (2006): based on cytochrome b sequences, they found Cettia to be monophyletic, with C. cetti as a basal member of the clade and stubtails as the sister-group. The island endemic forms of the SW Pacific formed a subclade within Cettia, thereby supporting Orenstein & Pratt’s (1983) contention that this was probably the case. It’s been suggested that the island-endemic bush warblers descended from a wide-ranging colonizing ancestor that originated from a continental source. This is the standard stepwise dispersal model favoured for the evolution of island endemics: it’s recently been shown that, remarkably, some continental passerine radiations descended from island passerine clades (Filardi & Moyle 2005), but there’s no indication that this occurred in bush warblers.
Anyway, if island-endemic bush warblers have descended from a widespread colonizing ancestor, then the members of this clade are somewhat patchily distributed in the region, and their absence from some islands and island groups (such as New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago) seems odd. Maybe bush warblers were present on these islands and have since become excluded by more recently evolved species (the ‘taxon cycle’ model), or perhaps they’ve been made extinct by people. Such is supported by the fact that extinct bush warbler species have been reported from Tonga (Steadman 1993, 1995). Or… maybe bush warblers actually do inhabit some of these islands, but await discovery. This is possible given that other members of the group are recent discoveries: there’s the Odedi of course, but also C. carolinae from Tanimbar in the Moluccas. It was only named in 1987 (Rozendaal 1987).
What makes the Odedi further interesting is that, prior to 2004, it was a mystery animal known only from ethnic reports and from its vocalisations, and in fact in the annals of obscure ornithology it has a relatively long and interesting history. In 1975 Jared Diamond noted his 1972 discovery of an unknown mountain-dwelling passerine on Bougainville Island, known to the local speakers of the Rotokas language as the kopipi, and to the Nasioi speakers as the ódedi. Diamond never saw the bird but did describe its thrush-like song (Diamond 1975). Over the following years several other ornithologists were to learn about and encounter the Odedi, including Don Hadden and Bruce Beehler, both well known specialists of the birds of the Solomons and surrounding Islands. Hadden heard the bird calling on many occasions between 1977 and 1980, usually during misty and/or wet weather, but he was never able to catch one. Beehler (who I’d say is best known for his work on birds-of-paradise) published a brief paper on the bird in 1983 and thought it most likely that it was a species of Vitia (Beehler 1983), a genus regarded nowadays as synonymous with Cettia (Orenstein & Pratt 1983).
Hadden was eventually able to obtain photos of the species, and he included one in his 2004 book Birds and Bird Lore of Bougainville and the North Solomons (Hadden 2004). Even better, at long last, he managed to obtain a specimen in January 2000, and subsequent specimens were procured later in the year and in 2001. As Hadden and others had predicted, the Odedi proved to be a rather plain, short-winged, chestnut-coloured bush warbler. Compared to other bush warblers of the SW Pacific, it is huge (fully 4 grams heavier than any other bush warbler), notably dark, with a wider bill, a more robust tarsus and longer toes.
So in view of Hadden’s long quest for this species, culminating in its discovery, it is fitting that LeCroy & Barker (2006) have named it after him.
Given that the Odedi was known from its vocalizations and from ethnic reports prior to the procurement of the first specimen, does this mean that - pre-2000 - it was a cryptid? I would say yes. And if people who are regarded without question as card-carrying zoologists of the utterly ordinary type are actually out there chasing down ethnoknown species like the Odedi, are they actually cryptozoologists? That’s less easy to answer, because cryptozoologists are more usually regarded as dedicated to the pursuit of cryptids alone, whereas Hadden and others don’t search for species like the Odedi to the exclusion of all others. But I personally don’t see any problems with the idea that ‘ordinary’ zoologists actually do engage in cryptozoological research at times, it’s just that they tend not to identify the research as such. As it happens, there are actually a few small passerines known from observations or photos, but not (yet) from specimens. Future post on that to come. Among others.
The photo above was borrowed from…
It doesn’t depict an Odedi (sorry), but a Japanese bush warbler C. diphone.
Refs - -
Beehler, B. 1983. Thoughts on an ornithological mystery from Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. Emu 83, 114-115.
Diamond, J. 1975. Distributional ecology and habits of some Bougainville birds (Solomon Islands). Condor 77, 14-23.
Filardi, C. E. & Moyle, R. G. 2005. Single origin of a pan-Pacific bird group and upstream colonization of Australasia. Nature 438, 216-219.
Hadden, D. 2004. Birds and Bird Lore of Bougainville and the North Solomons. Dove Publications Pty (Alderley, Queensland).
Jønsson, K. A. & Fjeldså, J. 2006. A phylogenetic supertree of oscine passerine birds (Aves: Passeri). Zoologica Scriptca 35, 149-186.
LeCroy, M. & Barker, F. K. 2006. A new species of bush-warbler from Bougainville Island and a monophyletic origin of southwest Pacifc Cettia. American Museum Novitates 3511, 1-20.
Orenstein, R. I. & Pratt, H. D. 1983. The relationships and evolution of the southwest Pacific warbler genera Vitia and Psamathia (Sylviinae). Wilson Bulletin 95, 184-198.
Rozendaal, F. G. 1987. Description of a new species of bush warbler of the genus Cettia Bonaparte, 1834 (Aves: Sylviidae) from Yamdena, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia. Zoologische Mededelingen 61, 177-202.
Steadman, D. W. 1993. Biogeography of Tongan birds before and after human impact. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 90, 818-822.
- . 1995. Prehistoric extinctions of Pacific Island birds: biodiversity meets zooarchaeology. Science 267, 1123-1131. |
Raw posts and updates from our writers with info too timely or uncategorizable for print. What, we said something stupid? Chime in, buddy.
Cryptid Alert! View rare film footage of a Great Emancipator.
By Nick Brown [ Tue Jul 9 2013 2:10 PM ]
Though most people generally accept the existence of Abraham Lincolns as fact, there has been very little scientific proof (beyond photographs, eyewitness accounts, etc.) to confirm it. Until now. This newly uncovered film footage of a Lincoln in its natural habitat provides perhaps the most compelling evidence of their existence to date. If you see one of these in the woods, don’t shoot it. Yes, I’m looking at you, Mr. Booth.
Bigfoot captured in solar eclipse photo.
By Nick Brown [ Mon May 21 2012 4:53 PM ]
Yesterday I took this photo of the solar eclipse from the muddy, needle-strewn parking lot of the International Cryptozoology Museum, but it wasn’t until later, amid much dubious wood-knocking from celebrity scat monger Loren “Fakey Footprint” Coleman, that I noticed a startling figure in the foreground. Is it a hairy little man? Is it a hobo looking for a kind hearted lady to feed him a hot meal? Or is it the legendary Corn Ape? You decide!
Cryptid Alert! Feel the wool of a living woolly mammoth!
By Nick Brown [ Wed Feb 8 2012 3:48 PM ]
Do you believe in true love? Do you believe there are living woolly mammoths in Siberia? As if for Valentine’s Day, this spectacular footage of a woolly mammoth crossing a river hath created a new spark of wonder in my black heart. I have always and forever remained hopeful that a few of these guys were still hanging around. I gave up on the glyptodon and megatherium, but never on my number one mammal, the woolly mammoth. Or maybe it’s a just bear with a fish in his mouth, and love is fake and woolly mammoths never existed. Happy Valentine’s Day, fake woolly mammoth. I don’t know what to get you.
Cryptid Alert! A Russian Yeti is in custody.
By Nick Brown [ Thu Jan 5 2012 3:46 PM ]
A large, sad monkey (hereinafter the Yeti) has been arrested by Russian authorities on charges of impersonating a bear, dragging livestock and producing incomprehensible sounds. He looks sad and they should just let him go.
Cryptid Alert! Bigfoot!
By Nick Brown [ Thu Dec 1 2011 3:46 PM ]
Legendary yeti hunter Ivan Marx will now share some exciting words about North America’s favorite ape thing. Finally, there’s something about the yeti that makes sense.
Cryptid Alert! Bigfoot has been caught on video again!
By Nick Brown [ Fri Mar 25 2011 10:47 PM ]
Thomas Byars of North Carolina filmed the snarling beast with his handy video camera. Notice how the yeti takes tiny steps, as though it's sharted its costume. Which would explain the horrid smell.
Cryptid Alert: There’s a new photograph of the Loch Ness Monster.
By Nick Brown [ Fri Nov 26 2010 12:40 PM ]
Amid recent speculation that Nessie was finally dead, monster lovers can breathe a sigh of relief. Landscape designer Richard Preston has produced the latest conclusive evidence of a living prehistoric monster in Scotland. Whew.
By Devin D. O’Leary [ Thu Jun 24 2010 3:04 PM ]
Check him out. That’s Horseboy over there. He was recently spotted loitering on an otherwise unremarkable street in Aberdeen, Scotland. He’s the latest bit of weirdness to turn up on Google Street Views. (My personal fave? Angry Norwegian Scuba Divers!) London’s Daily Mail was the first to report on the mysterious equine-man’s existence. Who is he? What is he? Is he pals with Bat Boy? The world may never know.
Cryptid Alert: Loren Coleman Is Skeptical about Ben Radford’s Chupacabra(s) Theory
By Nick Brown [ Tue May 25 2010 4:24 PM ]
Internationally renowned cryptozoologist Loren “Come to My Cryptozoology Museum” Coleman has weighed in on Alibi columnist Ben Radford’s theory that the chupacabras is actually Natasha Henstridge. Though he congratulates Ben on his ingenious explanation of the chupacabras phenomenon, Coleman plays the skeptic this time. It’s backwards day!
Coleman and Radford are actually on friendly terms; Ben spoke highly of him at our company Christmas party a couple years ago. Nevertheless, Loren bashed Ben for taking a hike a few months ago. Oh, well. I took a poke at Coleman once with hilarious results.
Cryptid Alert: Giant Owls and The Albuquerque/Rio Rancho UFO and Paranormal Forum May Meeting
By Nick Brown [ Wed May 19 2010 4:49 PM ]
The New Mexico branch of the League of Western Fortean Intermediatists (hereinafter LOWFI) will be meeting this Saturday, May 22, at Manzano Mesa room four, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Then they’re going to Applebee’s.
Valles Caldera Forest Restoration Monitoring at Valles Caldera National Preserve
Head to this national preserve where lead educator Brittney Van Der Werff teaches about forest health, restoration and management.
Sky Smeed and Joe Mack • Americana, folk at Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
Colors of the Southwest at New Mexico Museum of ArtMore Recommented Events ›› |
In the New Orleans area, panther hysteria is at fever pitch
With residents reporting near daily sightings, you'd think we were under attack.
Truth is, the myth of the black panther in Louisiana - and throughout the United States - has a long phantom existence, according to physiologists and biologists.
Maria Davidson, the large carnivore program manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, calmly explained that the only black panthers in existence are black jaguars found in South America and black leopards that live in Asia and Africa.
The North American black panther generally falls under the term "cryptid," a creature whose existence has been suggested but is not recognized by the scientific community and has been deemed highly unlikely. Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster fall under that category.
They also have been called "phantom cats," "alien big cats" (ABCs), and in certain circles, the sightings have been dubbed "panther paranoia."
And while some people, including local law enforcement officials, discuss the possibility of a black cougar in our midst, Davidson assuredly said black cougars do not exist at all. They come only in tawny and fawn colors, ranging from light gray-brown to a brownish orange.
In fact, she said, Louisiana does not have a breeding population of cougars - in any color - and that the last cougar found in the state was in 2009 and that animal was genetically linked to a population in New Mexico.
Last weekend, two panther sightings were reported, one in St. Tammany Parish and one in Plaquemines Parish. A few days earlier, a man in St. Bernard Parish said he and his wife saw one sitting a block from their garage, staring at them calmly, before darting into nearby woods.
Several other reports of sightings have streamed into Davidson's office and to the news media.
The recent fervor began several weeks ago, when a woman purportedly spotted a panther in a tree behind her house. Plaquemines Parish sheriff's officials went out with Davidson to investigate.
Davidson said she later confirmed that the footprints belonged to a dog.
Recently a photo began circulating on Facebook, and soon made its rounds on local television news channels, that a Plaquemines woman said she took on Sunday. Davidson said the photo certainly is of a house cat, likely measuring about 3 feet from nose to back of tail.
Other supposed black panther photos have come to her attention in the past few weeks, and she said all were much too blurry to decipher.
Plaquemines sheriff's Sgt. Robert Cullum went to the original black panther sighting in Phoenix on Plaquemines' east bank and has searched each day with hunter dogs, trained to track deer. He said he saw a 6-foot-long black cat.
A week or so after the original sighting, residents reported that the cat had moved south to the riverside community of Davant, and now Cullum predicted it is in the Bohemian area, farther south along the parish's east bank.
A Plaquemines sheriff helicopter still regularly circles the area.
Also chiming in, Lake Borne Levee District Police and levee contractors in the Violet area have reported panthers in the area.
And last Thursday, a couple in Violet called the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office and reported a panther near their home. St. Bernard sheriff's officials, especially after news broke about it on Monday, searched the woods there for the past two days to no avail.
Meanwhile, a Folsom couple recently reported to television media that their home surveillance cameras caught a panther on film Saturday. They have not reported it to government officials, and Davidson said on Tuesday that she yet heard of it.
Donna Davis said she now won't let her eight grandchildren out of the house at night.
"There is no refuting from this video what he is. It is very obvious, very clear," she said. "From head to tip to tail it's almost 6 feet, 7 feet and he has a girth to him like you can't believe. It's a massive, massive cat."
She and her husband Randy Davis have horses on their 20-acre property but say none has been injured. She said they have now added better lighting and are using live chickens to bait the panther in hopes of getting a better shot on film.
Erin C. Dupuis, a clinical psychologist at Loyola University, said one explanation for the recent flood of panther reports is the "availability heuristic."
The recent barrage of media reports about panther sightings scare people, thus making a significant impression on their psyche. In turn, they begin thinking about panthers more and they begin to have the impression that more black panthers exist than actually do, she explained.
"Now, when I go to my backyard I am primed to think that what I see is a black panther, even though it might just be a big cat or dog that is blurry in the side of my vision," said Dupuis, who studies how people think about their social environment.
Another explanation Dupuis posed is the "confirmation bias," which states when people think something exists, they seek out information that confirms those beliefs.
Davidson said when a pet goes missing, people often will jump to the conclusion that it was a panther, or a cougar, instead of the neighborhood dog, a coyote or an even simpler explanation: that the cat simply ran away.
"It's a phenomenon that we talk about quite often actually, just among the professionals who deal with it," Davidson said.
And after the state Wildlife and Fisheries Department debunks stories about roaming black panthers, explaining that they do not exist in the area, Davidson said people often try to find another explanation, and resort to stories about how wild, exotic pets must have sprung loose from their owners.
According to urban myth, in St. Bernard's Poydras area before Hurricane Katrina, a man owned two panthers -- one brown and one black. When the deluge came, he let the beasts loose and for the past five years they've been out in the marshes.
St. Bernard officials say no records were kept from before the storm and most of the pre-storm staff in the local animal control department have since left town, making research into the story difficult.
But, any owners of the world's six big cats -- tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs and cougars -- must receive a permit from Wildlife and Fisheries, and Davidson said none has been issued.
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 504.826.3321. |
WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS Allagash Brewing.
You've got a week off, and you're staying home. You've decided to do all the stuff you tell everyone else about when they ask why you live in Maine. Lighthouse tours, window-shopping, and long walks on beaches round out your thoroughly L.L. Bean-inspired schedule. But wouldn't you know it? It's raining. It's not even a light rain that can make the coast more mystical, but one of those pissing downpours you just can't wait to get out of. Your best-laid plans are screwed. Lucky for you, we have just the thing to cure your summer-vacation blues: Maine, from the inside.
Roll with the homies
Toss out the preconceived notions of the typically gaudy, neon-infested galactic bowling alley, and replace that image with clean hardwood floors and ruddy brick walls. Throw in a performance stage for good measure and, voila, you have Bayside Bowl. A bowling alley with class, it just opened in the former space of Skillful Vending on Alder Street. With a fully equipped stage (not to mention bar) BB can turn aside from the lanes and serve as a bright new music venue. Just last weekend, local rockers Marie Stella debuted their new EP, Trust, along with Dead Man's Clothes (this year's Bimpy winner for Best New Act) and the Art of Shooting. While primarily a bowling alley, it's also a full restaurant (good if your plans didn't involve a rained-out lobster bake). You can even get served at the lanes, to nosh while waiting your turn.
Bayside Bowl | 58 Alder St, Portland | 207.791.2695 | baysidebowl.com
Meet the (non-)local wildlife
Not every museum greets its guests with an eight-foot-tall Bigfoot replica. Guarding the entry of the bizarrely offbeat exhibit, Bigfoot is just one of the dozens of "cryptids" showcased at the International Cryptozoology Museum. (For the uninitiated, cryptozoology is the study of hidden, semi-mythical animals that have yet to be officially discovered and documented.) Alongside Bigfoot, the museum has displays on other famous cryptids, chief among them the Chupacabra and the Loch Ness Monster. Loren Coleman, Maine's leading cryptozoologist, has crammed the kitchen-sized space with more than 1200 items collected over the last 50-odd years. The author of more than 30 books on unusual and unexpected creatures, Coleman can tailor tours to visitors, personalizing the experience to your background and interests. There are one-of-a-kind movie props, and even casts of cryptid footprints (shown to "serious" cryptozoologists). Even the toys, like a Bigfoot action figure, take on new significance, as evidence of cryptids' influence on popular culture.
International Cryptozoology Museum | 661 Congress St, Portland | 207.518.9496 | cryptozoologymuseum.com
Be the canvas
Even if the weather hides the scenery, take heart: the Maine coast, as depicted at the Portland Museum of Art, is always in clear view. This summer, the "Winslow Homer and the Poetics of Place" exhibit shows 28 pieces of scenic, 19th-century oil paintings from the revered Maine artist. But the museum stays modern too, with "Division and Discovery: Recent Work by Frederick Lynch," a unique series of painted geometrical patterns that sprawl over pieces of painted pinewood that should be your first stop when you arrive. The museum has guided tours and self-guided audio tours on iPods available for lending. When you're done walking the four floors of galleries, grab a seat in the auditorium for the weekly "Movies at the Museum" art-house film experience. Foreign and independent films, documentaries, dramas, and classic films will keep you entertained inside until long after the downpour subsides. |
Posted by: Loren Coleman on April 27th, 2006
I must say, we didn’t have to wait long for some interesting new Mystery Cat reports, did we?
On Thursday, April 27, 2006, FoxNews began reporting that two “wild cats” have been spotted at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland (home to Air Force One), according to media watchdog Bufo Calvin. One of the “wild cats” was later reported to be brown, and the other one, black, according to the media.
Calvin mentioned that this was “somewhat reminiscent of a search on a military base that happened in my area (the Mt. Diablo region of the San Francisco East Bay) that Loren Coleman” once discussed in his writings. Yes, and Mark A. Hall’s and my Panthera atrox thoughts go hand-in-paw with these multicolored cryptid felids, of course.
Cryptozoology author Matt Bille mentioned the news over at today’s earlier “Increase in Mystery Cat Encounters?” entry on this blog, and wrote this in his comment: “Loren’s timing in posting this is almost Fortean.”
Yes, sometimes it does happen.
News reports are being filed and filling in the picture of what’s happening.
One Maryland reporter, Guy Leonard, detailed the latest in his article, “Search still on for elusive ‘large cats’ near Camp Springs,” moments ago:
Air Force security personnel and Prince George’s animal control officers continued to search for two large cats, possibly mountain lions, near Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs Thursday evening.
Initial reports claimed that one or two mountain lions were on the loose in the area, causing three elementary schools to be locked down. But the Air Force would only say the animals had been identified as large cats and could provide no more detail.
The reports started at 10:30 a.m. when a large brown cat scaled the fence of the base and dropped onto Allentown Road. The second animal, reported as black, is believed to be still on the base.
Reports continued late into the day with confusion as to the number nature and size of the animals.
After the usual background info, other specific details emerged:
Princeton, Skyline and Francis T. Evans elementary schools went into lock down because of the reported sightings. Pupils were dismissed at the regular time if they had transportation. Those who would have left school on foot were held until their parents could pick them up.
Source: Business Gazette, Maryland, April 27, 2006.
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. |
Launches, Lots Of Launches & Events
The Collins Press is delighted that Paul Clements will be speaking about his latest book, Burren Country – Travels through an Irish Limestone Landscape, at the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing in Lismore Castle, County Waterford on Thursday 9 June at 8.00 pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.
The Classics Reading Group at The Gutter Bookshop, Thursday 9 June – 6pm until 7.15pm. At Swim Two Birds by Flann O’Brien is The Classics Reading Group book for June. Sorry, this Reading Group and its waiting list, is currently full.
Green Lamp Editions is delighted that Declan Kiberd will launch Conor Fennell’s A Little Circle Of Kindred Minds: Joyce In Paris in the Irish Writers’ Centre, 19 Parnell Square Monday 13 June, 7.30 pm.
No Exit Press will have the Irish launch of Brother’s Lot by Kevin Holohan in The Gutter Bookshop on Wednesday 15 June – 6.30pm until 8pm. Described as ‘unforgettable’ and ‘wonderfully dark’ this satirical novel explores the hypocrisy of old-school Catholic education in a down-at-heel Dublin school. Free and everyone welcome.
The Gutter Bookshop presents Poetry Night on Thursday 16 June – 6pm until 7.15pm. If you enjoy reading, listening to, or writing your own poetry come along to our Poetry Night. Attendees can read from their own work, or from poets they admire or if you prefer you can simple come along to listen. Free and everyone welcome.
Little Island is delighted to invite you to celebrate the publication of a new book, The Cryptid Files: Mexican Devil by Jean Flitcroft. The launch will be held on June 16 at 6.30 pm in Dubray Books, Blackrock, Dublin. Please RSVP to ELaina O’Neill, email@example.com
Mercier Press will launch Famine Galway’s Darkest Years by William Henry on Friday 17 June at 8 pm at the Galway Rowing Club, Woodquay, Galway. It will be launched by Bernard O’Hara. |
Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught is out now and just waiting for the eager brains of gamers everywhere to see it, thereby giving it meaning and existence. You see, the life of DLC is tough from an existential standpoint. I mean, how would you feel if you existed, but couldn't be seen or held in any kind of physical sense? That'd be rough if you ask me, and kinda sad. Thinking about it really makes me just want to hug Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught and tell it that it is real and that it doesn't matter if it will never be physically held or awkwardly used as a coaster during a hot, crowded Superbowl party in an overpriced loft.
This seems like an untapped market for clinical psychologists.
Well, it's over now, Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught. You've been released on the Xbox 360 and you'll never be alone again.
For full details, follow the jump. You can also visit Call of Duty on Facebook, and on the web. Make sure you follow Infinity Ward @InfinityWard and find Activision at www.activision.com. Remember, they're alone also and need love and attention just like Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ONSLAUGHT DLC PACK NOW AVAILABLE
FIRST, EXCLUSIVELY ON XBOX LIVE
First DLC Pack for Call of Duty: Ghosts Delivers Epic Offering Featuring Four New Maps,
All-New Dual-Purpose Weapon, Iconic Horror Character Michael Myers, and the Initial Installment in Extinction's New, Four-Part Episodic Storyline
For the Definitive Online Experience
Fans can Purchase the Onslaught DLC Pack Individually,
Or as Part of the Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass Discounted* Bundle
Football Superstars Clay Matthews and Jamaal Charles Headline
Call of Duty: Ghosts Celebrity Grudge Match to Celebrate Onslaught DLC Pack Launch
Santa Monica, CA - January 28, 2014 - Onslaught is here. The first of four massive, Downloadable Content (DLC) Packs for Call of Duty®: Ghosts, the definitive online experience, and #1 most played multiplayer title on Xbox Live for Xbox 360 kicks-off today. Launching first, exclusively on Xbox Live for both Xbox One and Xbox 360, Onslaught features four classically designed, smaller to medium sized Call of Duty® multiplayer maps delivering the fast-paced multiplayer experience fans love, the all-new "Maverick" dual-purpose Assault Rifle/Sniper Rifle, and "Episode 1: Nightfall," the first installment in Call of Duty: Ghosts Extinction's four-part episodic story that follows humankind's first contact with the Cryptids.
"Onslaught delivers a ton of exciting, new content for Call of Duty: Ghosts fans to enjoy on next gen and current gen alike," said Daniel Suarez, Vice President of Production, Activision Publishing, Inc. "It begins with a diverse set of maps that personify that classic Call of Duty-style of fast, frantic and exhilarating action. It doesn't stop there, because Infinity Ward and Neversoft have taken it to another level; whether it's becoming Michael Myers from Halloween as you pursue your opponents, to creating the first dual-purpose weapon in Call of Duty history, or crafting a new chapter in Extinction that introduces new characters and even a three-story tall Cryptid alien boss, Onslaught has something for all Call of Duty players, and we're excited fans can finally get their hands on it."
Onslaught is included as part of the Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass, which gives fans access to four epic Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Packs** planned for release this year - Onslaught, Devastation, Invasion and Nemesis - at the discounted* suggested retail price of $49.99. Additionally, Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass holders get instant access to the Team Leader Digital Pack, which comes with a unique multiplayer character head, weapon camo, reticle, player patch, card and background.
Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught delivers a variety of new offerings for fans to dig their teeth into, starting with four new multiplayer maps. "Fog" is a chilling homage to classic horror films, set alongside the banks of a murky lake. Players skilled enough to pick up the map's unique Field Order can become the embodiment of terror by donning the mask of Michael Myers, one of cinema's most iconic horror characters of all-time, as the entire soundscape changes to the eerily familiar Halloween theme music.
"BayView" is a coastal Californian boardwalk that offers players fast-paced run-and-gun gameplay amid a seaside town. Clever players will be able to climb onto the map's moving trolley to engage enemies, as well as call in devastating artillery strikes from the Naval Destroyer anchored offshore.
"Containment" drops players into a raging battle amidst a war-torn Mexican village, where the action centers on the crippled remains of a small bridge holding a hi-jacked truck leaking radioactive material.
Onslaught's fourth map, "Ignition," is a completely reimagined version of "Scrapyard" - the fan-favorite multiplayer map from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2, placing players into a deserted space launch facility with frenetic action amongst abandoned warehouses, flame trenches, a massive transport crawler, and dynamic map elements that can take players out if they're not paying close attention.
Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught also introduces the first installment in Extinction's new, four-part episodic narrative with "Episode 1: Nightfall." As the initial foray into this single, connected story that will be told across each DLC Pack launch throughout the year, "Episode 1: Nightfall" takes fans to a remote research facility hidden deep within the Alaskan wilderness, where a small recon team must infiltrate the facility to find out what happened to the mysterious Nightfall Program. This expanded Extinction storyline introduces new characters, plus two all-new alien species, and debuts an exclusive Venom-X weapon that pulverizes the Cryptids, as players delve deeper into the story of what happened following mankind's first contact with the Cryptids in Colorado.
On top of the new maps and first episode of the Extinction narrative, Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught arms players with a new, dual-purpose addition to the multiplayer arsenal with the "Maverick." Outfitted with a lightweight wood stock, the "Maverick" can be selected in either the Assault or the Sniper Rifle class, depending on players' play style and preference.
In celebration of today's Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught launch, Activision and Infinity Ward are pitting pro footballers Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers against Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs in a Grudge Match for the ultimate Call of Duty bragging rights. Matthews and Charles will each captain a team comprised of members of the development team at Infinity Ward, online personalities and fans in an intense head-to-head battle. Gamers can review highlights on the Call of Duty Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CallofDuty.
From Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Call of Duty: Ghosts is rated "M" (Mature - Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language - content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older) by the ESRB. Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught is available today for both Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft. The DLC pack is created by Infinity Ward, with additional development by Neversoft. For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com/ghosts, www.facebook.com/CallofDuty, or follow on Twitter @InfinityWard.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Mainland China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected release date of the Downloadable Content (DLC) Pack offerings for Call of Duty: Ghosts, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
# # #
ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY GHOSTS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.
*Based on DLC Season Pass suggested retail price of $49.99, and four DLC Packs at a suggested retail price of $14.99 each.
**Downloadable content in the Season Pass may be sold separately. If you purchase the DLC Season Pass, do not also purchase these standalone DLC Packs, as you will be charged for them. DLC Season Pass and DLC Packs may not be available on all platforms or in all territories. Pricing and release dates may vary by platform. Call of Duty: Ghosts game required; sold separately. |
Dedicated to 5 year old Georgie Filer V whose motto was "Be Happy" and Eddie Pedrick, my grandsons who drowned.
In Special Reports this week's files cover: Mars Anomalies and Alien Headdress, Nefertiti Sculpture on Mars, Pharaoh Akhenaton and Nefertiti Had an Extraterrestrial Connection, CT Scans Suggest That Pharaoh Akhenaten Was Tutankhamen's Father, and Haiti Needs Your Help
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena were spotted over: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
UFOs were observed in Canada, Italy, Hungary, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and UK/England.
The purpose of these files is to report weekly the UFO eyewitness and photo/video evidence that occurs on a daily basis around the world and in space. These Files assume that extraterrestrial intelligent life not only exists, but my hypothesis is that the over a thousand UFOs reported each month represent technologically advanced spacecraft conducting surveillance of Earth. I personally became interested in UFOs when I was ordered to intercept one over England while flying for the US Air Force. The US Air Force under Project Blue Book investigated UFOs for more than twenty years, we continue this research.
I believe the God of the universe has spread life throughout the cosmos and UFO's are visiting us in ever increasing numbers.
The Filer family joins the rest of the world in grieving the loss of life and massive destruction in Haiti.
I have circled more building-like structures in the image at right: Thanks to Norman Bryden http://www.marsstructures.com/00160008.html
Mars 50 foot Bridge at 58 55S 51 21E. Also buildings and face to left of line Thanks to RICHARD BUCHLI D.V.M. DOROTHY BUCHLI W.B.W.
Notice the similarity of the face and the Headdress in this Mars image.
3500 year old Egyptian bust of Nefertiti dated 1355 BC in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin
This image is a 3500 year old engraving in Amarna, Egypt of Pharaoh Akhenaton and his Royal wife Nefertiti who was an eighteenth dynasty pharaoh, who ruled over Egypt between 1353 - 1334 BCE. He is one of the most pivotal figures in world history - he invented monotheism, and his religion formed the basis of Judaeo-Christianity and Islam. His true identity is still debated, and he may be connected to extraterrestrials based on his unusual appearance and large cranium. Akhenaton was married to Nefertiti who is considered has the most beautiful woman of the ancient world. The couple had six known daughters and two possible sons. One of Akhenaton’s sons is thought to be Tutankhamen known as the boy-king of ancient Egypt.
During the early part of Akhenaton’s reign, the artistic style made a sudden transition from the traditional Egyptian style of portraying people with ideal, perfect physiques, to a new and rather jarring style portraying people and (Akhenaton in particular) as they really looked. In this family scene the three children are Merytaten (being kissed by Akhenaton) Meketaten (sitting on Nefertiti's lap) and Aknkhesenpaaten (the baby on Nefertiti's shoulder) are shown with the religious disc of Aten. In the Ancient Egypt Book by the National Geographic Society it states, “Did he really look like this? And if he did, what caused his deformities? Many attempts have been made to suggest a disease or condition that would account for Akhenaton’s appearance: Akhenaten was a woman in guise of a man; Akhenaten was a man presenting himself as a maternal deity. He suffered a malfunction of his pituitary gland. None of these theories his satisfactory. His six daughters are the problem. Any disorder that could drastically affected his appearance would also made it unlikely for him to father children. After all his whole family was made to look like him.—even Nefertiti. Notice the crowns worn by the adults that seem to cover their large craniums? The three babies also have elongated skulls indicating some sort of serious abnormalities. Akhenaton upset the pre-existing religious establishment in establishing the sun god Aten as the supreme and only deity. Aten was depicted has a disc with lines hanging down, a not a very accurate depiction of the sun.
Akhenaton ordered the closure of all temples in which other deities were worshipped; in consequence, the corrupt high priesthood could not continue to amass riches from the god-fearing Egyptian populace. Later, Akhenaten was ousted and expelled into the Sinai peninsula leading some, most notably Sigmund Freud, to speculate that Moses was in fact Akhenaten. The priesthood installed a puppet leader - Tutankhamen - and, after regaining power, began to eradicate evidence of Akhenaton’s reign.
CT Scans Suggest That Pharaoh Akhenaten Was Tutankhamen’s Father
Akhenaton’s son Tutankhamen is the most well-known pharaoh because his tomb was discovered intact and, more importantly, because it contained the magnificent gold mask that has become an icon of Egypt. Egyptologists examining an unidentified mummy discovered in a tomb close to that of Tutankhamen’s have obtained forensic evidence which supports the theory that Akhenaten was the boy-king's father.
A mummy was discovered in 1907, in tomb KV55 in the Valley of the Kings and was identified as Akhenaten by an international team of archaeologists led by Zahi Hawass the Director of Antiquities. Hawass used computed tomography (CT) scanning to look inside the mummy's wrappings to reveal Akhenaton’s mummy top shares a number physical traits with Tutankhamen, lower image that was probably afflicted with the same hereditary conditions from which the boy-king is believed to have suffered.
Like Tutankhamen, the mummy was found to have an elongated skull due to a congenital condition called dolichocephaly, in which abnormally early fusion of the bones of the skull during development restricts the width of the head. And, also like Tutankhamen, the mummy was found to have cleft palate, impacted wisdom teeth and abnormal curvature - of the spine. It is therefore probable that the individual had a genetic link with Tutankhamen.
Hieroglyphics surrounding the defaced cartouche also suggest that the mummy is Akhenaten.
Hawass and his team cautiously believe that the mysterious mummy is the heretical pharaoh or other members of Tutankhamen’s family. There are many worship scenes showing "disc worship" images that show Akhenaten standing in front of an altar, offering something to the Aten Disc with hands, with Nefertiti. There are numerous images of the disc that is identified has Aten the sun god. I suggest this image could represent a spaceships. (Picture from The Art of Ancient Egypt by Gay Robins)
Carl Sagan in 1966, co-authored the book "Intelligent Life in the Universe" with Russian astronomer I. S. Shklovskii. This book provides extraordinary evidence supporting the likelihood of extraterrestrial life and the likelihood that ET came here to spread religion. These scientists provide superior wisdom for scientific belief in what now seems to be a subject unthinkable for mainstream science. Carl Sagan’s work indicated Mars might have life but the whole universe may be teaming with it. " Sagan discussed the amazing evidence in Sumerian writing claiming that extraterrestrial intelligence came to Earth and provided education to mankind. The following quotes from Intelligent Life in the Universe, page 461 may raise a few eye brows:
“With the numbers we have discussed, it seems possible that the Earth has been visited by various Galactic civilizations many times (possibly 10 10,000 years], during geological time). It is not out of the question that artefacts of these visits still exist--although none have been found to date--or even that some kind of base is maintained within the solar system to provide continuity for successive expeditions. Because of weathering and the possibility of detection and interference by the inhabitants of the Earth, it might have appeared preferable not to erect such a base on the Earth's surface.” “"
If we assume Earth has been visited in the distant past by Extraterrestrials, statements in our religious texts that claim messengers reached Earth from Heaven make sense. Genesis states, "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also afterward when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old and men of renown." There are ancient texts that claim ET came to this planet, created humanity, and fought battles among themselves and other alien species. They instructed man in sciences like astronomy, mathematics, metallurgy, and agriculture and many others.
Zecharia Sitchin, in his book "The Stairway to Heaven." states, The Akkadians called their predecessors Shumerians, and spoke of the Land of Shumer.” It was the land whose name - Shumer - literally meant the Land of the Watchers. It was indeed the Egyptian Ta Neter - Land of the Watchers, the land from which the gods had come to Egypt." Perhaps Pharaoh Akhenaton and Nefertiti Had an Extraterrestrial Connection
There was a terrible Earthquake and suffering in Haiti. These people need your help.
Haiti Needs Your Help, Now!
Hope Alive Clinic is wonderful organization doing great work in Haiti with five medical clinics. The Mariani Clinic is located in the suburbs of Port of Prince and six miles from the Epicenter of the Earthquake. One of their Doctors in at the Mariani Clinic Dr. Paul, has not checked in or has been heard from. Please pray she is ok and working in Port Au Prince, where she lives. We have received word that a team of four Doctors have reached the Mariani Clinic. They are treating what injuries they can and working with our Haitian staff. They will assess the condition of the clinic building. Eyewitness reports are that there is a "mass exodus" leaving the capitol because of the looting and the stench of death. They are headed North and West. We work with a church in Aquin, which is further west and on the Southern Coast. They and the city are fine and are already seeing refugees from the capitol. We are planning to send supplies to them, again, when the shipping lanes are open. Hope Alive is accepting supplies to be shipped to Haiti. I can personally vouch for these organizations and know they are doing excellent work. Anyone who donates will receive a free subscription to Filer’s Files. Donations are tax deductable and you can donate online, securely with PayPal. Go to: http://www.hopealiveclinic.org/
The devastation caused by the earthquake is mind boggling. Tens of thousands are dead. Tens of thousands injured. Piles of rubble marking the near total collapse of the country’s fragile infrastructure. My wife and I have been to Haiti, and have sponsored children such as Saintanie with New Missions who operates 20 elementary schools, a high school, a business school, a Bible College and medical clinic. Dozens of buildings have been destroyed and they need your help. Today, Amphibious Relief with the Navy and Marines are making food drops to New Missions. Haitian leadership at the mission is mobilized for distribution and ground support. I can personally vouch for these organizations and know they are doing excellent work. Anyone who donates will receive a free subscription to Filer’s Files. Please go to either one of these organizations and donate. Time delay only adds to the disaster. http://www.newmissions.org/
TUCSON -- The airplane was approaching Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson at approximately 4:15 PM MST on August 8th, 2009. We first witnessed the object hovering in a locked position. The witness saw the object drop a few thousand feet and got his video camera and rushed outside in time to catch the object approaching the airplane from behind. The object made no sound, completely silent and appears to merge with the aircraft. There was an attempt to take the video to the media, unfortunately, every affiliate rejected the video due to lack of evidence. There was no report in the city of a missing airplane, nor did the Air Force Base report anything missing. Many of the news affiliates did confirm that they had received calls on August 8th from various sources, claiming they had seen a UFO. They refused to believe that the Air Force base would withhold information about a missing airplane. John E. Combest writes, I think you will find this video most interesting. The airplane that appears to be abducted by the UFO is a large, four-engine turboprop plane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9cZ8F1KTTM&feature=fvw
NORTH LITTLE ROCK -- I was filling my car with gas at the Shell Station located at 3100 JFK Boulevard on January 15, 2010, and heard a loud constant low bass noise coming from the sky. I stepped out from under the awning, and saw three high flying triangular aircraft flying in a triangular formation. They were dark green or gray in color. Later my husband showed me various images of aircraft and the B2 bomber looked similar to the three planes in formation. Right behind the B2s was a silver reflection of UFO. It was flying back and forth right to left, left to right as it flew north. The movement reminded me of a pendulum on an old-time clock. The loud roar continued for several minutes after the planes were out of sight.
I saw another UFO about June 26, 1992, when I was driving south on College Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas about 7:45 in the morning. I saw an oval-shaped gray or silver craft. The most striking thing about this object is that the bottom half of it looked like it was illuminated with a bright white light. Thanks to MUFON CMS
MODESTO -- R. David Anderson received this report from a professional married couple. On January 13, 2010, approx. 11:20 PM, my husband and I were in our backyard to take the dog out when he said, "Look what IS that?" and pointed up. There was something flying completely silent, steadily at a moderate speed - and we had the impression it was somewhat low-flying, and fairly large in size. It was definitely not a balloon, moving too evenly and directly. No "wobble" or any variance in its trajectory or speed - very smooth, perfectly straight line, perfectly consistent speed. It flew directly over us on its path, moving of its own power - as if gravity, air resistance or any of our conventional laws of physics were not an issue.
There were no definite lights, however the entire object was dimly luminous and was certainly the source of the light. It was kind of phosphorescent with no visible markings at all. It was not really bright, but sort of similar to how a light looks when turned low on a dimmer switch, or even less. It didn't have finely exact definite edges - it was dim enough to appear somewhat diffuse, though the shape was completely discernable, and incomparable to anything known. The sketch shows the shape like a horseshoe crab.
The object continued on an absolutely straight path, traveling SE, and eventually we lost sight of it, after about 30 or 40 seconds. It did not change in dimension, in other words, as it got further away, it didn't necessarily get commensurately smaller, we were unable to see its luminosity from that distance anymore, as opposed to it getting smaller and smaller.
We had a feeling of wondering or awe. Ten minutes after our experience, a loud fighter jet, flew over really low and fast, and flew towards the object.. We NEVER have low flying jets in our area. We just thought that was weird. Thanks to R. David Anderson www.mysteryportals.com
FORT COLLINS -- My wife and I were walking in the park on January 16, 2010, when we noticed a few folks pointing up at the sky at a large black slow moving triangle. It was not extremely high and was changing shape as it moved across the sky, but my husband suspected it was the light hitting it on the different sides to the craft. I called my father-in-law who has a telescope and he later reported back that it was indeed changing shape. His initial sighting was of a stealth shape triangle, but moving backwards! As he watched it shifted into a rectangular box before floating into a cloud. I snapped a cell phone picture. Thanks to MUFON CMS
LAUREL -- On January 9, 2010, around 2:30 PM, I was driving and looked up and saw the brightest light I have ever seen during the day. It was as bright as the sun and the size of a truck. It was a few miles away and about 60 degrees up in the air the color was like an orange white. A few days before I saw this one of my friends had told me they had seen the same object when they were leaving their house. The light was no plane. I still don't know what to think of it and it may have been something from Dover Air Force Base.
Note: A check of weather conditions showed that skies were clear at the time of the sighting. The object likely was not a balloon given that it disappeared after a few seconds. The fact that additional witnesses saw the same thing strengthens the quality of the sighting report. Thanks to William Puckett UFOS Northwest http://ufosnw.com
JENNINGS -- I was outside at about 10 o clock on January 4, 2010, and I was looking up at the stars, and noticed one of the stars getting brighter then dimmer. I went in to get my camera, and have photos of exactly what I saw. At one point the orb was as bright as the moon. This is not the moon. It had got really bright then went back to the size of a star again then vanished. The weird orb began to move and left weird patterns and streaks. Thanks to MUFON CMS
PETOSKEY – Unusual images were captured on the no flash game camera on location in woods behind the house. There have been a number events recorded over the last several months. Please note flash at 14 seconds on Deer 223 shown here. We have no idea what was photographed on deer 232, but this was at 9:15 AM, on November 9, 2009. The last one was just an unusual flash then darkness. Thanks to MUFON CMS
LAS VEGAS – I went next door to the neighbors house on January 15, 2010, and we were outside talking about government conspiracy theories, and the female neighbor stopped talking and told me and her other house hold members to look up at the sky. She pointed up at a star-like circle shaped object that was blinking bright white and would fade to where it was not as bright. It was the brightest thing in the sky. My first instinct was that it was a plane. But as we kept watching it, it would only move up a short distance at a time. It has been up in the sky for about an hour now, moving into a diagonal direction. We first noticed it around 8:53 PM. We were debating on calling the cops, but we never did.
I have two photos of the object taken at 9:40 PM. I called the neighbors back outside and we continued to watch it for about 10-15 minutes. We noticed that the object would flash white, blue, and red colors. I continue to go outside and it is still sitting in the same place as it was the previous time of my neighbors and I witnessing the object. When we first saw the object it would move slowly diagonally, but now it sits in the same place in the sky. It is no longer bright, but now is a red dim color, and looks a lot bigger then when we first seen the UFO. In the photos before uploading them onto my computer the object looks like a small white dot. After uploading them I noticed that they are not circular. We have witnessed UFO's in the night sky several times from the neighbors drive way. I am hoping we find answers. Thanks to MUFON CMS
WESTMONT -- We are long time subscribers to Rense and enjoy your regular first Tuesday of the month visits. I lived in New Jersey from 1954 to 1965. We are natives of Washington State and currently live there. Rense had a guest last spring that contended that if you've seen a number of UFOs, then you have probably been on them. Having seen a number of them up close over the years, with little or no memories of what transpired, I decided to undergo hypnosis and was returned to the first experience which was in Westmont when I was eleven. We have covered a number of them since thru a series of regressions.
I am reluctant to call them abductions; more like friendly visits that were very nurturing, friendly and even protective. I feel like I am one of them out of the customary uniform. If you have read "Alien Interview" about the Roswell crash, then, it pretty well sums it up for me. From a 1979 visit, I am left with the strong impression that there is something out there that will affect us. I don't know how many visits that I've had. It seems like every 2-3 years, they swing by and say hello or give me a hard time about my bad attitude. They are not alive as we know it, but are basically spirit entities in an electrical suit suitable for deep space travel in this dimension and insist that all of this is really trillions of years old. I don't know how many more regressions I'll do, but I do need more info in an effort to connect the dots. Keep up the good work. Thanks to Don Avery
FORMULA -- Joe Carlin writes, “On January 17, 2010, about 4:15 AM, I was laying in bed with my eyes closed, but I wasn't asleep. I was just resting for a bit. While I was laying there with my eyes shut I saw what appeared to be a table top or desk top made of wood and a paper on it. It was close up so all I saw was the paper and wood. The paper was wider than it was tall and had two equations on it. Each equation was in its own rectangular box which was also wider than it was tall. They appeared to be written in black marker. The paper was white. The first equation I don't remember too well except part of the equation had division in it. The second equation was this:
"-14 - 5 = 11nnyy "
The first equation may have had an " s " or possibly " nnss " in it. For some reason I recall these letters but they weren't in the second equation, the first equation was more complex than the second. When I saw these I was awake and was able to move my eyes when they were shut to look at the equations just as if they were on a desk in front of you and you could look in different areas of the page to see what you want to see. When I opened them and shut them again the equations were gone however, after about five seconds of having my eyes shut I had a flash of light. Nothing further. The entire event from start to finish lasted between 10 - 15 seconds. Nothing else was on the page, the equations only. They were side by side on the page and written somewhat large, similar to one inch block letters but written in italics.
When I Googled nnyy it came up with Biochem reaction and the second was in reference to the earth’s elastic layer and the intrusion of magna. I have no idea if this is related in any way. That's all that I have right now. I have passed my test as a field investigator now. I'm looking forward to possibly doing a joint investigation with my mother. Have a good night and I will continue to try to find any related information regarding this. Let me know if you find out anything. Thanks to Joe.
COPIAGUE -- I took several pictures of the sky on January 18, 2010, because I wanted to see if i could get a good image of the moon and its shadow. In the sky I did not see the image that appeared in the photos with my naked eye, neither did my daughter. I used a cannon rebel xsi digital camera. The reason all the images appear in double or should I say smeared is because the lens was kept open approx. 4 seconds to allow enough light for exposure. The spherical object that appears in two completely different areas( one above right, the other below left) is the only thing that moved considerably. It also has the appearance of a bluish green reflection on its upper side .I would like to know if this is possibly an object in the sky or some sort of digital effect. THANKS TO MUFON CMS
DURHAM -- This is the UFO I photographed on January 3, 2010. I was out looking for a guy that was drunk and hollering at the UFO? You could tell of the silhouette was oval and UFO was shaped like a blimp. I videotaped it and have a UFO disappearing on tape. I have been visited by three of them but I don't have a vivid memory of it. I have pictures that show that wormholes are real and have nothing to do with black holes. It has everything to do with gravitational pull and forces of gravitation.
If there is a beam of power placed at one time and place it can open a rift in time and space that can be travelled through and then safely land. It has to do with a beam of power that is so confined that It can cut a slice out of time and space.
When time and space is actually one of the same. To find and use the wormholes will be a thing for the future generations. Only the government will have access to such technology.. Thanks D. W. Howerton Industrial wiring technician and MUFON CMS
FOSTORIA – These objects were tvideotaped by George Ritter on July 19, 200, over a nearby farmhouse. Both objects were moving at high speed.
GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (GSP) -- I saw bright lights just above the tree tops` at 5:40 PM, Friday, on December. 18, 2009, when I felt frightened because I thought a plane was going to crash. Then I could tell how slow it was going and its movement was level with the ground. I watched it move slowly just over the houses without a sound. Then it stopped dead and did not look like a plane. It just hovered over a house. A white light shined down like it was looking for something. I rolled down my window and knew it wasn't a helicopter, it had no blades and no sound. It looked flat on both sides and round in the middle when it was coming toward me. It looked like a rounded off triangle, fat near the middle and closed to the front.
It flew over me and I could see two large yellow stripes on the metallic. underside. It stopped and started to rotate as if to turn what I thought as the front toward me. It made a swishing hydraulic sound as it turned, it tilted up slightly. It may have been rotating to move sideways straight ahead very very slowly. It was a solid craft, no wings or propellers. Two large red lights and a string of brilliant bright white small lights around the sides. I'm not sure if the small lights moved or its rotating made it look like they were flashing around the craft. I watched it stop over the retirement village. The area is on one of the GSP airport flight paths. It was going in the direction of the airport but very low and slow.
I was so close I could see indentations or seams on the bottom, maybe for landing gear? or how it was put together... I see aircraft frequently but I don't know what this was. It stopped again, hovered, rotated and made no sound until it rotated. A plane or helicopter that was hovering that low would have blown out every window in these houses. It had no vibrations, and no air movement. Thanks to MUFON CMS
PIGEON FORGE – My Mom took this photo on vacation on January 9, 2010, I just got pics back and this was on it. What do you think they are?
Note: It appears that the above photo has been edited and is not the original photo output from the camera. However, it is not believed that the photo has been fabricated. It is suspected that the photo was taken outdoors, but this is also not known. Additional information has been requested. During the analysis the lighting and contrast were changed to better reveal the lights. The lights could have been a reflection, but this is not known. The weather was inclement with mostly cloudy skies. The cloud base was estimated at about 3,000 feet. Thanks to William Puckett UFOS Northwest http://ufosnw.com
SAN ANTONIO -- I was in my backyard taking pictures of the stars on January 10, 2010, when I noticed a red orb floating. It faded in and out. The orb was changing colors from orange to red. It would stay on for 3 seconds fade out and reappear after a second. I watched it for a couple of minutes and setup my camera. The shutter speed was set for 8 seconds, the aperture was set on f5 and I believe the ISO was set either at 1600 or 3200. I took the picture and the object and it disappeared. The object was north of my location was about 45 degrees.
MCALLEN ---A family residing near the intersection of North Main Street and Kendlewood Avenue reports having recurring UFO sightings. Objects seen are metallic spheres that are often observed shining light beams down to the ground below. Three family members (mother, son, and uncle) state that these spheres often move from very high up in the atmosphere down to several hundred feet above the observers. There are sometimes 3 or 4 of these spheres present at the same time. The uncle and son have shone flashlights and an astronomical green laser pointer at the spheres, and the spheres have responded by shining their own beams back at them and by swooping down as if to take a closer look. The son expresses fears about continuing to signal the objects and states that he is concerned about what the objects might do to his family as a result of the signaling. Thanks to MUFON CMS
37.3472 N 77.0559 W – On January 13, 2010, it started as I noticed the lights that appear each night. I know they are not conventional aircraft because with my camera I can see the brilliant multicolor display of colors. These things are too high up to be a hoax. The website that tracks the space station says the ISS is over the Pacific when I see these lights. On one photograph you can see a triangle shape. I don’t know what these things are. If any investigator wants to see a UFO in action this is your chance. Either it’s not from this world or many sightings will be explained, but someone with the right equipment needs to investigate. I am looking at the lights right now. Photo has been enlarged. Thanks to MUFON CMS
SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO -- I went to bed on January 14, 2010, and awakened at 6 AM, by my girlfriend telling me to come see this object. I saw a red and white object moving slowly. We went outside to see two circular objects that were red white and blue lights and we looked at the one in front. There were 14 small blue objects that were flying towards the red light. Then the blue lights would go to the red light and then leave. There has been a lot of unusual activity here, so tried to shoot with my video camera as it went dead.
Note: It is difficult to interpret exactly what the witnesses viewed. Their sighting sounds unusual. Thanks to William Puckett UFOS Northwest http://ufosnw.com
BAGHERIA -- On January 10, 2010, a series of rods or critters were videotaped by Francisco Porsio flying over Northern Sicily at 16:31:53 near the Mediterranean Sea. They appear to be intelligent objects flying in a formation of six. They make a sudden whining sound as they pass over at extremely high speed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csLnXiqa96A
HÓDMEZÕVÁSÁRHELY – Photo was taken at sunrise on May 1, 2009 and captured this orb UFO. “Thanks to MUFON CMS
TOKYO -- I was in line to enter the Nippon Budokan, to view a title boxing match, and decided to take out my 6.0 mega pixel digital Sony camera and take some pictures of the front of the building to keep as a souvenir on June 12, 2008. I took the picture and then took a quick look at the picture in my camera and noticed something on the top right corner of the photo. Suddenly a strange unpleasant feeling just jolted up my body. My body told me to look up, so I did. That is when I saw the hovering silver disk like shape emitting some sort of eerie black shade underneath. I began to sweat. The flying object was just hovering and I turned to tap the gentleman that was next to me to look. When I looked back, the disk was gone. Thanks to MUFON CMS and Ken Pfeifer MUFON N.J. http://www.worldufophotos.org
When I woke up I took this picture, when I checked I saw this UFO. Thanks to MUFON CMS
This picture was captured yesterday January 19, 2010, at 11:29 AM. A brown color UFO object on the cloud, please add this attached picture to case 18817 file . more details from: http://ufo-spacelife.blogspot.com/
MOSCOW –Michael Cohen reports, “Russian Ufologists and crypto zoology fans are excited by another UFO or possible cryptid that was photographed over the Kremlin in Moscow.
The event occurred on December 21 at around 7 pm just days after at least a hundred witnesses sighted a mammoth pyramid UFO over the Kremlin. A photojournalist had set up a camera for a timed shot. When the picture was developed the UFO or mystery creature was noticed.
The question as to whether it is an alien UFO or an unknown life-form is now being debated. Some believe this is a six winged creature that cannot be picked up by human eyes.
Noted too was the fact that the object appeared on December 21, the date of doomsday 2012. In China, where this particular anomaly is often photographed, these type of UFOs are called 'light sticks'. Some researchers believe they might be some sort of ghost-like dragon creature rather than extraterrestrial UFOs. firstname.lastname@example.org Source: API News
RAF LYNEHAM, WILTSHIRE – On July 22, 2009, John Powell captured this image of a UFO above the RAF’s C-130 near the air base. The MoD’s said it won’t investigate the sighting of the mysterious object apparently tracking a military plane in Wiltshire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N_D8sD3pms&\mp;NR=1
Pat Marcatillo in his Hamilton home began collecting UFO literature in 1955. When I was in sixth grade, a friend of mine bought a book called “Flying Saucers from Outer Space” by Donald E. Keyhoe, who was an ex-Marine who collected reports of UFOs. We both read the book and were very excited by it. That’s where it started.
In 1963, I went into the backyard and saw a great white light on the horizon and my wife came outside to watch it with me. It took about five minutes to get overhead, got real bright, and then ... P-SHOWWW! ... it took a sharp right turn and it was gone. I got back into UFOs that night. Since 1984, I have run UFO meetings the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. fort 25 years. The meetings are open to anyone, and if people want to talk to me about it, they can call me after 9 a.m. at (609) 631-8955.
In 1990, I wanted to learn more, so I put together a conference. People came from all over, so now we have two conferences each year. The next one is May 8-9 at the Ramada Inn in Bordentown, NJ. http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010/01/18/news/doc4b53de690fd29596425974.txt
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Please subscribe or see the Filer's Files website for images in this weeks issue. |
Long before they were recognized as real creatures, animals like the giant squid, the kangaroo and the mountain gorilla were all thought to be little more than tall tales or zoological curiosities. Could it be possible that other unknown beasts are still lurking on the outskirts of the civilized world? Legends of 8-foot-tall ape-men, swamp monsters and other unidentified creatures have existed for centuries and each year brings fresh eyewitness accounts, unexplained photographs and heaps of new speculation supporting the existence of these “cryptids.” Read on for a field guide to mysterious creatures from around the globe.
Just like the creature itself, the Cajun legend of the Rougarou can take on multiple forms. Originally derived from French stories of the “loup-garu,” or “wolf man,” the monster is most commonly described as a bayou-dwelling werewolf with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp teeth. The beast is usually said to be a cursed man who must shed another’s blood in order to break its spell and reassume human form, but the tale varies according to the teller. In some versions, the Rougarou can turn its victims just by locking eyes with them; in others, it takes the form of a dog or pig rather than a wolf. Still others paint it as a shape shifter that can assume different human and animal forms at will. Because it can switch its appearance so easily, some even conflate the creature with the legendary Skunk Ape of southeastern U.S. swamp lore. In most Louisiana parishes, the Rougarou myth is employed as a kind of cautionary tale. Children are told that the fiend will come for them if they don’t behave, and Catholics are warned that it hunts down those who break Lent.
So named because of its notoriously foul stench, the Skunk Ape is allegedly a seven foot tall gorilla creature native to southern Florida and parts of Louisiana and Arkansas. Sightings of the brown-furred cryptid peaked in the 1970s, when hundreds of Floridians claimed to have spotted the creature loping through the swamps and along country roads. In response, a Florida state representative even tried to pass a law making it illegal to “take, possess, harm or molest anthropoid or humanoid animals” in the event that a live specimen was discovered. The Skunk Ape supposedly resembles the Bigfoot in appearance, though witnesses note that it emits a nausea-inducing odor described as everything from rotting eggs and cabbage to an overflowing dumpster. While the National Parks Service has repeatedly dismissed the creature as a hoax, witnesses and researchers have collected dozens of footprint casts, hair samples and even grainy photographs supposedly showing the beast in action. One of the most famous snaps dates to 2000, when a Sarasota woman captured a photo of a large, unidentified ape stalking through her backyard. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Caucasus Wild Men of Russia
Also known as “Almasty” or “Almas,” these cryptids are said to dwell in the remote regions of the Caucasus Mountains in western Russia. Stories of wild men feature prominently in local Circassian folklore, where they are described as cunning beings known for stealing crops and attacking hunters. According to most accounts, the creatures resemble brown-furred Bigfoots in appearance, but they are much smaller (usually only five feet tall), less hirsute and behave more like humans than apes. There have been hundreds of wild man sightings over the years, but perhaps the most famous tale concerns Zana, a supposed “Almasty” who was captured in the Caucasus in the late 19th century and imprisoned by locals. According to some researchers, the Almasty and creatures like it may even be the remnants of Neanderthals that survived into the modern era. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Indian Mande Burung
The Mande Burung, or “forest man,” is a large, bipedal creature supposedly native to the steamy jungles of eastern India. The beast is something of a legend among the local West Garo hills tribespeople, who have passed on stories of a gorilla-like animal for decades. Those who have spotted the Mande Burung say it is covered in grey and black fur, stands nearly ten feet tall and may weigh up to 700 pounds. One of the most notable encounters dates to 2002, when a team of government workers who were in the jungle to study tigers claimed they saw a giant ape lumbering through the foliage. Other witnesses have discovered hair and mysterious 18-inch-long footprints, but so far no one has managed to snap a photo of the elusive anthropoid. Eastern India was home to a species of massive ape known as gigantopithecus until as recently as 200,000 years ago, leading some to argue that the Mande Burung may be a holdover from a bygone age.
On the morning of February 9, 1855, residents of Devon, England awoke to find a series of mysterious footprints in the freshly fallen winter snow. According to some accounts, the trail followed a meandering 100-mile course through the countryside, often traversing walls, gates, rivers and even the tops of houses. The prints appeared to have been made by a creature walking upright on two legs, but they also had the bizarre shape of a cloven hoof like that of a donkey. Most frightening of all, the path showed that the beast had crept to the threshold of many people’s front doors. With no explanation for the trail, the town’s more pious residents became convinced the marks were made by none other than Satan himself, and stories of the “Devil’s Footprints” soon found their way into the national papers. Skeptics blamed everything from badgers and unusual atmospheric conditions to runaway weather balloons, but the matter was never settled. More than 150 years later, some still believe the Prince of Darkness once took a midnight stroll through southwest England.
Wild Man in the Woods
Human cultures have always told tales of animalistic “ape-men” living in the remote and unmapped areas of the wilderness. These “wild men” first gained prominence in medieval Europe, where they were a common feature of art and folklore, but the myths have cropped up independently in different societies around the globe. Wild men can take on different forms. Some cultures frame them as hunter-gatherer hominids resembling Neanderthals, while others see them as cryptozoological behemoths like the Yeti or the Sasquatch. In each case, they are described as being hairy, feral and generally more ape-like than humans. Most historians argue the creatures are most likely legends based around early encounters with gorillas and other primates, but some believe they may be a kind of collective memory of humanity’s Neanderthal past. Still others see the accounts as proof that “missing links” like the Bigfoot and the Almasty still walk the earth and may have even migrated to different continents along with prehistoric humans.
The Chinese Yeren
China’s version of the Bigfoot, the Yeren is an ape-like “wild man” supposedly found in the mountainous Hubei Province. Wild men and large primates have been a part of Chinese mythology for centuries, but stories of yeren encounters first ramped up in the 1970s, after a government expedition discovered footprints, fur, droppings and a nest belonging to a previously undocumented animal. Since then, hundreds of eyewitnesses have reported Yeren sightings. According to most accounts, the beast stands between six and eight feet tall, sports a thick coat of red and brown fur, and has protracted arms and massive hands. Despite its size, it is said to be quite peaceful, and usually flees into the forest when spotted. In recent years, Yeren-hunting has become a cottage industry in Hubei Province. One nature preserve even offered a 500,000-yuan (around $80,000) reward for anyone who managed to capture a specimen. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Beast of Bladenboro
In late 1953 and early 1954, the small North Carolina mill town of Bladenboro was rocked by a string of unexplained and gruesome animal deaths. In the span of a few days, several dogs were found slaughtered; their jaws broken, their skulls crushed and all the blood drained from their bodies as though a vampire had feasted on them. Those who spotted the culprit described it as small, cat-like creature with a frightening voice that sounded like a crying woman or child. Many speculated the beast might be a mountain lion or even a rabid wolf, but police posses and hunting dogs failed to track it down. Locals soon became terrified that the killer would turn its attention to human prey, and as the hysteria mounted, around 1,000 big game hunters and would-be monster slayers descended on Bladenboro. A dead bobcat was eventually held up as the “vampire,” but many locals speculated the real creature had simply stalked back into the safety of the swamps. Reports of big cat sightings trailed off in late-January 1954, but the legend of the “Beast of Bladenboro” endures to this day. The town even holds an annual “BeastFest” in honor of the incident.
The Honey Island Swamp Monster
A famous legend from Louisiana tells of a frightening hominid that stalks the deepest recesses of the bayou. The monster is said to be around seven feet tall, with strange amber eyes and a coat of matted grey hair. Eyewitnesses claim the creature resembles a man and is capable of running, swimming and even climbing trees, but its most distinctive feature is its putrid scent, which some say resembles the smell of a rotting carcass. The Honey Island Swamp Monster first got attention in 1974, when hunters Harlan E. Ford and Ray Mills found giant four-toed footprints next to a dead hog with its throat ripped open. Ford later caught the creature on film, and since then many trappers, fishermen and hunters have told tales of spotting it in remote sloughs of the bayou. One particularly colorful legend claims the monster was the result of interbreeding between swamp alligators and a group of chimpanzees that had escaped from a circus train. This cryptid is often considered the same as the Skunk Ape, and a regional variety of Bigfoot.
The Alligator Man
A blood-curdling hybrid of mammal and reptile, the “Alligator Man” is a humanoid creature with the scaly body of an alligator and the head of a razor-toothed man. Stories of these strange mongrels often appear in swampland folklore from the southeastern United States, but they are especially common in the Louisiana bayou and the Florida Everglades. Legend has it that the beasts have lurked in the marshes since the 1700s, traveling in packs and even learning to use small tools. The creatures are often associated with “Jake the Alligator Man,” a taxidermied oddity on display at a roadside museum in Washington.
A legendary resident of the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the Bigfoot supposedly stands seven to twelve feet tall with red or brown fur and gargantuan feet measuring up to 24 inches long and eight inches wide. Stories of wild men and forest dwelling giants are found in Native American myths dating back to the pre-colonial era, but the modern Bigfoot legend began in the late-1950s. Since then, researchers and amateur Bigfoot hunters have presented hundreds of plaster footprint casts, photographs and film clips as proof for the beast’s existence. Perhaps the most famous footage is a 1967 film taken by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, which purportedly shows a female Bigfoot trudging along a creek near Orleans, California. The Patterson-Gimlin film stands as the most compelling piece of Bigfoot evidence, but many skeptics have written it off as a simple man-in-a-suit fake. Even if the film is a hoax, polls still show that nearly 30 percent of Americans think Bigfoot is out there somewhere, and a few prominent scientists—including the famed primatologist Jane Goodall—have even gone on the record with their belief. |
Drew Saturday can earn a lot of money as a stripper!
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“Are we there yet” Zak asked. “Almost. Bout 10 more min.” Drew said to her son. They were on there way to a museum that displays ancient artifacts because well on the phone said there has been a thief that is stealing 1 thing a night every night. So far no one has been able to stop him.
About 10 min. later they arrived. “Hello Saturdays glad you could make it” He said as they walked out of the airship. “So were is the footage” Doc asked “Right over here” He said as they walked in the museum.
“See right there” he said after pausing the tape. “That’s the thief. it looks just like a kid no older than Zak” Drew said confused. “Y thats what we thought but there is more than meets the eye” He said showing them the tape were he totally beat all the guards and police up.
“Wow” Zak said wile watching the tape. “Hey can i get a copy of this to take home it would look awesomeon a big screen t.v.” Zak said. His mom looked at him as if to say not happening. “Or i mean for research note the enemy” He said eyes glued to the t.v.
“Well I’m thinking a good way to catch him would be to wait for he to come and then surprise him” Doc said. “Ya but if you want to put out bait your fire sword would be a good one” Paul said. “Your right” Drew put her fire sword on the chair by her then went to the other huddled thinking of a plan.
“So do you think this will-” “AAAAAAAA” They heard Drew sceam. “Drew what is it” They said well Zak said mom. “Look at this” she said handing them a note. Doc read it out loud. “Black arrow can strike at day light to! P.s. that would have been a good plan but i’ll be ready for it now” He read.
“Black arrow” They said confused. “That’s something else. Ya see that what he calls herself, Black arrow” Paul said. “Ya well he toke my fire sword so he will pay” Drew sceamed.
3/1/09 10:00 AM SS – YOU ARE FIRED!
”WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU CRAZY OLD BAT?!” Van Rook shrieked. ”You are fired’
V.V. Argost repeated. He continued to sit at his desk while scowling at the Russian man.
”So my concussion grenades hit Munya!” ”Yes and he could have been killed. It was verypainful for me to witness his injuries. He is in bed now and won’t be able to protect me for a very long time.” ”Are you going to cry again like you did when my grenades wounded Munya?”
The strange man continued to scowl. ”I contacted your other employers and they no longerrequire your services. You can go now.” The Russian wanted to hit him. ”What about my final pay?” ”You should have thought about that before you injured my servant.”
Van Rook proceeded to remove his mask at a snail’s pace. His black hair reached his waistand happened to be the same color as his beard. He snarled while throwing his helmet at Argost who gasped and dodged it. ”It’s a shame I missed!” he muttered. His angry expression was about tobecome permanent. He literally turned his back on V.V. Argost who stood and walked by him.
The Russian observed him entering a room and ceased walking momentarily. He saw him approachingthe half-human/half-spider who was barely awake. Argost took one look at his injured servant and started to cry. He took his hand and held it against his wet face. ”What a crybaby!” he muttered.
He proceeded to depart from the airship.
*Crying will not heal Munya!* Van Rook thought. The twigs snapping under his boots caused him tosmile a tiny bit. They reminded him of bones being broken in his strong arms. He hoped to come across a cryptid so that he could break its neck. There was nothing else for him to do now.
He insisted on wandering until he heard noises nearby.
Drew, Doc, and Zak Saturday attempted to pacify the snarling Waheela that approached them Continue reading
DISCLAIMER: SS belong to its rightful owners.
TRAPPED IN THE ATTIC
V.V. Argost frowned while wandering through the home of the Saturday family. *My Kur Stone has to be here somewhere! I know Van Rook’s apprentice stole it from me!* he thought.
He scowled while observing the masked mercenary sticking his head in the refrigerator. ”You are not going to find my Kur Stone in there” he spoke. ”I’m hungry, you crazy old bat’
the Russian snarled before shutting the door.
Argost’s scowl and silence remained before he gestured. ”Follow me to the attic.
It’s the only remaining place to explore.” Van Rook’s mask hid his cruel grin. ”Are the bats in the attic on your mother or father’s side?” he inquired. He observed Argost’s confused expression before following him to the top floor.
The Russian saw multiple boxes which he ripped apart. He was curious when he found a framed photo within one of them and picked it up before placing it in his black pouch. He and Argost were alert when the door began to swing shut thus locking them in. He raised his fist towards it until he lowered it. ”I forgot to wear my wrist blasters!” he groaned. ”Idiot!” Argost muttered while folding his arms across his chest.
The strange man’s golden eyes were wide when he reached into his grey and white cloak.
”I didn’t remember to bring my Mongolian Death Worm venom” he admitted. ”Who’s the idiot now’
Van Rook jeered. He proceeded to throw himself against the locked door a few times. ”If I can’t find the Kur Stone here, I could always try to locate a camera and host Weird World” Argost muttered. He scowled while watching Van Rook’s attempt to escape.
”It seems as t Continue reading
This post features No one else but the cutest teens from Secret Saturdays drawn stuff and involve them in all sorts of perverse situations 😉 Drew Saturday Here is the scene and of totally frenzied immoral that are digging into! Secret Saturdays porn personages are way too naughty that they are eager to copulate in all the wrong places each day and in every possible way!
DISCLAIMER: SS belong to its rightful owners.
NOTES: I honestly have no idea where Argost is from. Lucette Argost and Amadour are my OCs. I was trying not to make Lucette a Mary Sue. This is my interpretation of his origin.
BIRTH OF A MONSTER
V.V. Argost cried out as his black bodysuit clad body hit one of the grave markers in the French cemetery. He looked up while scowling at the Saturday family. His golden eyes were wide when the tip of Drew’s fire sword touched his throat. ”Tell us why you’re in Paris or you’ll become a new addition here!” she spoke. She observed him gasping when he glanced at the fallen tombstone behind his body. She viewed his distressed expression.
”Who is Lucette Argost?” Zak inquired while he stared at the damaged grave marker. The bizarre man looked sad for a minute. There was sorrow in his yellow eyes as a frown formed on his fanged face. ”Well? Aren’t you going to answer my son?” Drew demanded. ”I thought you wanted to know why I was in France” her enemy spoke. His eyes increased in size again when the blade pressed against his neck thus drawing a tiny bit of blood.
”I was born in this country many years ago. It was a very cold night….” ”We don’t wish to know your life story, Argost!” Doc spoke. ”I don’t know which is scarier.
The cemetery or your birthday!” Zak commented. V.V. Argost scowled again.
”Anyway, my parents did not welcome me into this world” he continued. ”I don’t blame them’
Zak whispered to Fiskerton. ”I was born disfigured and my own mother could not bear to glance at me. My father wrapped me in a black blanket and took me outside.” ”So Lucette Argost isn’t your mother?” Drew whispered. ”No. Please don’t interrupt me again, my dear lady. Where was I?”
The female Saturday lifted her weapon slightly. ”A woman found me on her doorstep and took me into her home. She Continue reading
It’s time for special edition Secret Saturdays in shape of porn anime. personages are back again and with a bunch of new sex episodes and that will make your schlong 😉 Those Secret Saturdays hentai girls are anxious for some hot sex – they get banged where they are caught receive big pokers in 😉 |
(unidentified hair - thank you, MK Davis, for microscopic views)
(human chest hair - sample from online library -above)
(monkey hair - sample from online library - above)
In this post, I will be covering three factors about Sasquatch hair that might make you look at their hairy covering as more than just a primitive-man-like feature. My hope is to show how these unique attributes come together in a way that might have helped give rise to concepts of Sasquatch being able to cloak, go between dimensions, or be psychic.
Let's think "this world" first before we head into uncharted and mysterious otherworldly territories.
Carl Linnæus, the great biological classifier, introduced a new species of man, Homo ferens, in 1758, characterising the creature as mutus, tetrapus and hirsutus (a mute quadruped covered with hair). The attribution of hairiness was probably influenced by the legend of the hirsute wodewose, but a number of feral children are thus described, as we shall see. Linnæus provided anecdotal case histories of varying reliability: Jean de Liège, a Lithuanian bear-boy, the Hesse wolf-boy, the Irish sheep-boy, the Bamberg calf-boy, the Kranenburg girl, the two Pyrenees boys, Wild Peter of Hanover, and the savage girl from Champagne (source link)
The hair admittedly threw us off. In the 1950s and 1960s when these outdoors-people* were being sighted, we had no frame of reference for a person covered in hair except to say "ape." (*Note: They are only feral if they were once "domesticated").
Thickened body hair is not unusual at all if one is dealing with the elements. Man has a way of adapting due to needs. You can ask any Alaskan in the winter why he doesn't shave and he'll tell you (through his thick facial hair) that "I'm protecting myself."
If you have hairs that vary slightly in their overall color tone (some are dark, some are reddish some are rather colorless), a skin base beneath (anywhere from deep blue gray to gray tan to copper reportedly), and the nearly translucent hairs, you have the ability to blend into just about any scene, capture dappled light from the sun filtering through the forest, and the darkest of shades of trees and forest floor. If you stood still, to the viewer scanning the woods, you would become truly camouflaged. If you were overall dark, you would be a tree, if you were overall auburn, you would blend into mid tones such as foliage.
When you consider that translucent and reflective hairs would also have a tendency to reflect back what is around and in front of it, as well, the entire body of hair would be mirroring what's surrounding it. Cloaking? Of a sort, yes!
And when the overall being is seen in full sunlight in the open, he is very likely to be most vulnerable. Good thing these fellas like the nighttime, but so long as they remain in the forests in the daytime, they can manage to be quite ill-defined.
See this clear fishing line against a leaf? If you stopped in front of that leaf, might you be a bit camo'd?
In this picture above, see how where the light hits the fibers - it lights up too, picking up uninterrupted dappled light and remaining as bright as the light instead of just something dark that was lit by light. It essentially becomes the light and dark where the forest is light and dark.
This explains a bit about how Sasquatch might be hard to photograph - his edges would blur against his background and he would seem to be part of the trees and bushes. You know those blobsquatch pics people swear is a Sasquatch and all you see is a tree? Hmmm....
See how Mr. Bunny stays still and hopes you don't notice? So does the Sasquatch! (below)
(The shadow casting to the left at his/her feet gives him/her away--oops! And in fact if you look closely, one of his/her friends might be standing directly behind him/her - you can see the foot's edge on the left side of the one in the front's feet.)
I'd like to thank my colleague in research, Steve Summar, who brought up the concept after learning that polar bears do not have white hair, but have transparent hair. This had me intrigued with the potential, knowing how the military works to make reflective garments that could project the surroundings back at the eye.
(concentric ring-like shapes around the shaft)
This realization for me began with viewing a microscopic look at a part of a hair.
First, let's discuss spider hairs - Spiders do not rely that much on their eyesight (which is rather poor) but more on organs that can sense the slightest trembling of the web. It is not strange that the legs contain many sensors that can detect such vibrations in the web. It is easy to demonstrate this by holding a tuning fork against the web. The spider will leave its retreat thinking its the beating of the wings of an insect. The insect leg hairs have nerve cells on them that act as "feelers" for his brain.
Humans have something similar in their nose and ear hairs -
(Source link) Cilia (inner ear hairs) have long been considered as 'sensory cellular antennae', responding as chemo-sensors, mechano-sensors and thermo-sensors, although their roles in development were not well understood until recently.
When presenting this concept to a respected colleague, Thomas Finley, he referred to this as a "sensor grid." A very apt description of this outer covering from this astute cryptid artist!
If the hair on one's body was a giant sensor able to detect incoming information, he would have an added sense that we do not have and cannot even begin to understand. We get goosebumps or we get tickled if our skin is stimulated properly, but imagine if we had hairs with sensors not just in our nose and ears, but all over cilia!
Here's some possible input this individual might be able to detect: Changes in barometric pressure or humidity, sound frequencies of anything moving in the forest including sensing infrasound, temperature variances, vibrations, earth geomagnetic shifts, and even adjusting for temperature control if it's too cold or hot! If one had a body covered in a "station" that picks up all this information and feeds it instantaneously to the brain to interpret, imagine how "psychic" this person might seem? Where are they getting their advanced knowledge and almost precognition from?
Hell, what if their entire bodies picked up sound signals acutely from everywhere like one giant ear? Do you think they might have some foreknowledge of what's coming?
What if they knew the weather was shifting and could prepare properly and adjust thermally? No more of that ridiculous "Sasquatch is a snowbird" heading south in the winter and north in the summer nonsense.
What if they were napping in the daytime and felt vibrations of someone moving in the distance and it woke them up?
What if birds flapping their wings to escape intruders were felt in their bodies and processed by their minds as a familiar rhythm that heralded intruders?
The possibilities are endless!
Just look at us hairless ones. If we lose our vision, we work the other senses more, but it's hard for us to imagine not having that sensory input. How would we survive without seeing? It gives us so much information!
Now, imagine if we had this sixth sense of hairs with nerve cells? We might not even want to wear clothing or, if we did, we would want to leave much of our body hair exposed. It would be like wearing ear muffs and expecting to hear!
I might have messed with your heads enough today, but when we talk about another branch of man evolving alongside of us, we have to consider all the possible outcomes from their skulls and brains to the hormones that create their height and hairiness. Some adaptive features like hairiness might have involved the need for body hair with nerve cells. We might have once had them as an ancient man, but as we moved into agriculture and living indoors and out of the elements, such things were no longer necessary. In fact, goosebumps could even be a relic of our past reactions to raising hairs to pick up signs.
"THE TRUTH ABOUT LONG HAIR"
This information about hair has been hidden from the public since the Vietnam War. Our culture leads people to believe that hair style is a matter of personal preference, that hair style is a matter of fashion and/or convenience, and that how people wear their hair is simply a cosmetic issue. Back in the Vietnam war, however, an entirely different picture emerged, one that has been carefully covered up and hidden from public view.
In the early nineties, Sally [name changed to protect privacy] was married to a licensed psychologist who worked at a VA medical hospital. He worked with combat veterans with PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Most of them had served in Vietnam.
Sally said, “I remember clearly an evening when my husband came back to our apartment on Doctor’s Circle carrying a thick official looking folder in his hands. Inside were hundreds of pages of certain studies commissioned by the government. He was in shock from the contents. What he read in those documents completely changed his life. From that moment on my conservative, middle-of-the-road husband grew his hair and beard and never cut them again. What is more, the VA Medical Center let him do it, and other very conservative men in the staff followed his example.
As I read the documents, I learned why. It seems that during the Vietnam War, special forces in the war department had sent undercover experts to comb American Indian Reservations looking for talented scouts, for tough young men trained to move stealthily through rough terrain. They were especially looking for men with outstanding, almost supernatural tracking abilities. Before being approached, these carefully selected men were extensively documented as experts in tracking and survival.
With the usual enticements, the well-proven smooth phrases used to enroll new recruits, some of these Indian trackers were then enlisted. Once enlisted, an amazing thing happened. Whatever talents and skills they had possessed on the reservation seemed to mysteriously disappear, as recruit after recruit failed to perform as expected in the field.
Serious causalities and failures of performance led the government to contract expensive testing of these recruits, and this is what was found.
When questioned about their failure to perform as expected, the older recruits replied consistently that when they received their required military haircuts, they could no longer ‘sense’ the enemy, they could no longer access a ‘sixth sense,’ their ‘intuition’ no longer was reliable, they couldn’t ‘read’ subtle signs as well or access subtle extrasensory information.
So the testing institute recruited more Indian trackers, let them keep their long hair, and tested them in multiple areas. Then they would pair two men together who had received the same scores on all the tests. They would let one man in the pair keep his hair long, and gave the other man a military haircut. Then the two men retook the tests.
Time after time the man with long hair kept making high scores. Time after time, the man with the short hair failed the tests in which he had previously scored high scores.
Here is a Typical Test:
The recruit is sleeping out in the woods. An armed ‘enemy’ approaches the sleeping man. The long haired man is awakened out of his sleep by a strong sense of danger and gets away long before the enemy is close, long before any sounds from the approaching enemy are audible.
In another version of this test, the long haired man senses an approach and somehow intuits that the enemy will perform a physical attack. He follows his ‘sixth sense’ and stays still, pretending to be sleeping, but quickly grabs the attacker and ‘kills’ him as the attacker reaches down to strangle him.
This same man, after having passed these and other tests, then received a military haircut and consistently failed these tests, and many other tests that he had previously passed.
So the document recommended that all Indian trackers be exempt from military haircuts. In fact, it required that trackers keep their hair long.
The mammalian body has evolved over millions of years. Survival skills of human and animal at times seem almost supernatural. Science is constantly coming up with more discoveries about the amazing abilities of man and animal to survive. Each part of the body has highly sensitive work to perform for the survival and well being of the body as a whole.The body has a reason for every part of itself.
Hair is an extension of the nervous system, it can be correctly seen as exteriorized nerves, a type of highly evolved ‘feelers’ or ‘antennae’ that transmit vast amounts of important information to the brain stem, the limbic system, and the neocortex.
Not only does hair in people, including facial hair in men, provide an information highway reaching the brain, hair also emits energy, the electromagnetic energy emitted by the brain into the outer environment. This has been seen in Kirlian photography when a person is photographed with long hair and then rephotographed after the hair is cut.
When hair is cut, receiving and sending transmissions to and from the environment are greatly hampered. This results in numbing out.
Cutting of hair is a contributing factor to unawareness of environmental distress in local ecosystems. It is also a contributing factor to insensitivity in relationships of all kinds. It contributes to sexual frustration.
In searching for solutions for the distress in our world, it may be time for us to consider that many of our most basic assumptions about reality are in error. It may be that a major part of the solution is looking at us in the face each morning when we see ourselves in the mirror.
The story of Samson and Delilah in the Bible has a lot of encoded truth to tell us. When Delilah cut Samson’s hair, the once undefeatable Samson was defeated.
Reported by C. Young
(Via United Truth Seekers)
Nice discussion of translucent hair qualities |
Posted by: John Kirk on April 28th, 2007
The annual Cadborosaurus season is about to move into high gear. Operation Caddyscan is a Cadborosaurus research group comprising Jason Walton, Dr. Ed Bousfield, Dr. Paul Leblond and myself. We have been in existence since 1998 and the focus of this group is solely the marine megaserpent of British Columbia and adjacent coastal waters known as Cadborosaurus.
Sightings have been thin on the water in recent years, but with a new high resolution camera enclosed in a waterproof casing installed at a secret site on Vancouver Island we are hopeful that we might be able to capture further Cadborosaurus activity in addition to some footage we captured in 1999. The footage we shot then is by no means definitive, but what is interesting is that the locomotion of the creature seen in that footage is unusual to say the least. Up to now we have been using video cameras and a digital video camera that captures sixty stills a minute, so the new camera will be a highly useful addition to our arsenal.
Cadborosaurus may also have been videotaped in San Francisco Bay by Bill and Bob Clark a few years ago. While I personally cannot see the megaserpent in the Clark footage, others feel there is a case for it being there and have extensively and exhaustively studied the Clark footage and so we will just agree to disagree about conclusions. However, Bill and Bob’s diligence and hard work in search of this creature is to be applauded.
What is interesting about Cadborosaurus sightings is that there are a number of witnesses that have seen the animal more than once in the same locale. This rarely happens with cryptid sightings, but there are a variety of reasons behind why some witnesses see Caddy repeatedly. One is that the cryptids may be following schools of fish including the many salmon runs we have each year off the coast of British Columbia.
Although Caddy was seen in 2006, we have no sighting reports to show for 2007 yet. We remain optimistic that the location of our camera will afford us a better chance of capturing at least one image of the beast. We have had some terrific shots of killer whales from our camera position and so if a Cadborosaurus was to pass through the camera’s field of view, we would get a very good image indeed.
Any British Columbians who have a sighting of Cadborosaurus are encouraged to contact the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club through the website at bcscc.ca. We will treat each report with respect and the strictest confidence.
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. |
We’ve been talking a lot about invasive species in Texas as of late, paying special attention to the issue of feral hogs, which are growing in number and cause widespread damage (but taste delicious). Texas has responded by making it very, very easy to kill feral hogs. You can hunt them with a handgun. You can hunt them whenever, regardless of the season. And you can even hunt them from the skies (an undertaking known as “pork chopping”), if that’s your thing.
But what about that most legendary of invasive species, Bigfoot?
Yes, someone actually asked Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which regulates hunting in the state, whether or not it would be legal to capture and kill Bigfoot.
The answer was unequivocal.
“If Bigfoot did exist, and wasn’t human, then it would [be legal]. Bigfoot would be a non-protected wild animal,” L. David Sinclair with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department tells StateImpact Texas.
So, yes, it would be legal to kill Bigfoot in Texas. “It’s right out of the law book,” Sinclair says.
This all came up recently when an Oregon man wrote to Sinclair, asking whether or not it’d be legal to kill Sasquatch in Texas. (The hairy cryptid is popular once again, thanks to the television show Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet.)
Sinclair, to his credit, sent back a letter, thoroughly citing various sections of the Parks and Wildlife code to back up his answer that yes, it’s legal to kill Bigfoot in Texas. “A non-protected nongame animal may be hunted on private property with landowner consent by any means, at any time and there is no bag limit or possession limit,” Sinclair wrote. He added:
“An exotic animal is an animal that is non-indigenous to Texas. Unless the exotic is an endangered species then exotics may be hunted on private property with landowner consent. A hunting license is required. This does not include the dangerous wild animals that have been held in captivity and released for the purpose of hunting, which is commonly referred to as a “canned hunt”.
When we ask Sinclair if he thought his letter would go viral, he responds with a chuckle. “I didn’t realize it was going to draw so much attention,” he says, adding, “the agency doesn’t want to get into whether or not there’s Bigfoot.”
While Sasquatch is mostly rumored to be a denizen of the Northwest, there are devoted Bigfoot searchers in the Lone Star State, too.
But hopefully, if an enterprising Texan with a gun encountered Bigfoot, killing it wouldn’t be the only option. Perhaps they could simply adopt it, a la Harry and the Hendersons, and enjoy the slapstick hijinks that would inevitably ensue.
You can learn more about invasive species (that actually exist) at our topic page, What You Need to Know About Invasive Species in Texas. |
The first Moth Man report was on November 12, 1966. It was sighted in many places in Virginia
and West Virginia, but the largest number of sightings happened in or near a place known as "the TNT Area," an abandoned ammunitions dump dating from World War II that is near Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The TNT Area is mostly forest, dotted with numerous grassy clearings and concrete domes. It is also riddled with abandoned tunnels, most of which have collapsed, been sealed off, or became flooded with water. A wildlife sanctuary adjoins the TNT Area, and the whole region in .
Mothman is usually described as a bipedal, winged humanoid. It's coloration varies from gray to brown to even white. It is reported to be about 7 feet tall, with a wingspan of about 10 feet or more, plus over 300 mph of speed. No head has ever been reported. Instead, two huge red eyes are set in the chest. These eyes are reported to be glowing, or at least reflective. The details of his face (if it has one) and his feet have never been adequately described. Only one witness ever saw the face clearly, and she could only say that the details were horrible and monstrous. She had terrible nightmares and nearly suffered a nervous breakdown. Anyone who gets a close look at Mothman seems to suffer from extreme fear and psychological distress, sometimes lasting for months or years afterwards, all out of proportion to how scared they ought to be. In particular, people say that a sense of pure evil overcomes them when they see Mothman's eyes.
Mothman is perhaps six or seven feet tall when standing. He can fold his wings and walk with a weird shuffle that many witnesses compare to a penguin. When he flies, he unfolds his wings and shoots straight up with great speed, then levels out to go wherever he wants to go. He has never been observed flapping his wings, not even on take-off. He just holds then straight and stiff. He can fly much faster than any bird should be able to fly, as measured by those victims who suffered from what seems to be Mothman's favorite activity: chasing cars. He'll fly in front of them and even sometimes try to rip off the roof, and go inside. But his wings don't make it easy, because he doesn't have palms and fingers like humans do.
Mothman sightings have been associated with at least two other cryptids. Gigantic thunderbirds with gray bodies and red heads were sighted in the same area at the same time by a few witnesses. There was also a bizarre hairy humanoid of the type that researchers call "big hairy monsters" or "hairy bipeds." This big hairy monster was quite weird because it was headless. The only footprints that have ever been associated with Mothman sightings are very bizarre, consisting of footprints that are unmistakably those of a dog mixed with a few classic Bigfoot footprints. However, these dog footprints have two abnormal characteristics. They are far too big for any known dog, and are pressed into the soil so deeply that they suggest the animal must have weighed several thousand pounds. So far, nobody has claimed to see the giant dog that is suggested by these footprints. Since nobody has seen mothman's feet, they may be his footprints because a creature of that size can weigh a lot.
Two legends from Shawnee Indian lore mention creatures closely resembling Mothman, deemed Misignwa and Waupee respectively. In the legend of Misgnwa, description of Mothman is indeed similar to Bigfoot by ceremonial dress used during the Bread Dance. The Waupee legend is also similar in that it's part of Shawnee lore, and that a family of Indians chose to become white hawks living in the forests near Point Pleasant.
Many similar cryptids and creatures have been seen worldwide. The sightings are similar to Mothman is many ways, including the fact that most of them seem to be heralds of impending disasters. Some of the places Mothman or it's fellows have visited include a mine in Freiburg, Germany, where a Mothman like creature scared miners away shortly before a collapse. Another notable visit was to the nuclear plant at Chernobyl, where a creature haunted the facilities for a while before the famous nuclear meltdown. Two not so popular incidents with Mothman were 9/11 and the Minnesota bridge collapse. There were two pictures taken on 9/11 and there were multiple sightings before the bridge collapse.
Some believe that the Mothman tries to warn people about disasters about to happen. Such as the Freiburg and Chernobyl sightings listed above. However the sightings at Chernobyl never actually happened, and this rumor was started on the internet. Since there only seems to be one Mothman instead of a bunch of his kind, and since he seems rather paranormal, these sightings are not of much interest to cryptozoologists. Cryptozoologists want to discover new kinds of creatures, not hunt for ghosts and spooks. Those who have looked into the problem have suggested sandhill cranes, thunderbirds, or some variety of unknown bird or giant bat or a genetic thing.
Mothman is one of the most well known Cryptids in the world.
Mothman Festival Edit
The Mothman Festival is an annual commemoration of the visit of the cryptid known as the Mothman. It is held
on the third weekend of every September in Downtown Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
The festival features a wide variety of vendors,live music, food.People from all over the world come to experience the unique atmosphere and learn more about the Mothman. |