Wild Dolphins Give Humans Gifts : Discovery News

At an Australian resort, wild dolphins bring offerings of food to humans:Wild Dolphins Give Humans Gifts : Discovery News

College student's turtle project takes dark twist - Yahoo! News

This study is a sad and sick glimpse into human nature. Mentioned is Hal Herzog's book  "Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat," mentioned in the article. Haven't read it but sounds interesting and it's now on my long list of books to read.

College student's turtle project takes dark twist - Yahoo! News: CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson University student Nathan Weaver set out to determine how to help turtles cross the road. He ended up getting a glimpse into the dark souls of some humans.

Weaver put a realistic rubber turtle in the middle of a lane on a busy road near campus. Then he got out of the way and watched over the next hour as seven drivers swerved and deliberately ran over the animal. Several more apparently tried to hit it but missed.

---

Fukushima: Freaky Mutant Bugs Found | SimplyInfo

Freaky Mutant Bugs Found | SimplyInfo

MonsterTracker.com since the year 2000 has been investgating cryptozoology, cryptids, and other mysterious creatures. | MonsterTracker.com since the year 2000 has been investgating cryptozoology, cryptids, and other mysterious creatures.

Just a reminder to check out Monster Tracker, a cousin site if you will to UFO Digest, both brought to you by Dirk Vander Ploeg:MonsterTracker.com since the year 2000 has been investgating cryptozoology, cryptids, and other mysterious creatures. | MonsterTracker.com since the year 2000 has been investgating cryptozoology, cryptids, and other mysterious creatures.

Merry Christmas

A strange Christmas card, but I like it even though it is quite creepy and strange:

FDA Soon Ready to Approve Genetically Modified Salmon for Human Consumption :

FDA:"The genetically modified (GM) fish poses no foreseeable risk to nature."

Remember this name: AquaBounty, the company the FDA "...will likely grant approval" to to market the Frankenfish.

FDA Soon Ready to Approve Genetically Modified Salmon for Human Consumption

OK, the Baby-Snatching Eagle Video Is Officially a (Really Big) Fake - Yahoo! News

.OK, the Baby-Snatching Eagle Video Is Officially a (Really Big) Fake - Yahoo! News

Mystery animal attacking livestock - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports

Mysterious and sad animal mutilations in Kentucky. Seems to be primarily the ears of goats and cattle that are being chewed on, but sadly, causing much damage in some cases -- some animals have had to be put down. Attacks seem to happen at night.

Mystery animal attacking livestock - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports: SHELBY COUNTY, KY (WAVE) - A community of farmers in Shelby County have been terrorized over the past few weeks by a mystery animal.

The creature has been attacking, but not eating, livestock such as goats and calves.

Kevin Cox, a farmer in the area, had already had one animal fall victim to an attack and he said his dogs alerted him of a second, "I heard the goat the dogs going off and I ran out there and I looked and saw the goat laying on the ground."

His goat, Polka-dot, is now missing all of one ear and almost lost both of them.

Cox explained, "I noticed my whole steer bull looking a little different. It was covered in blood. Then my other two bulls come up and they had their ears all chewed up."

Found: Whale Thought Extinct for 2 Million Years

Found: Whale Thought Extinct for 2 Million Years - Yahoo! News

Venomous Primate Discovered in Borneo

Venomous Primate Discovered in Borneo: Beware the Slow Loris

Like all slow lorises, N. kayan has a toxic bite—one of the few mammals that do, noted Munds, who worked with Susan Ford of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and Anna Nekaris of Oxford Brookes University in the U.K.

To access its poison, a slow loris rubs its hands under glands near its armpits—"kind of like Molly [Shannon] from Saturday Night Live," Munds quipped. Then the animal applies the poison to its teeth, and the resulting bite can put a person or predator into potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.

$3K reward in Oregon poaching case | Outdoors | Eugene News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVAL CBS 13

$3K reward in Oregon poaching case | Outdoors | Eugene News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVAL CBS 13

Springfield, OR:Alleged Cat Abuser Keeps Cats

"Alleged" cat abuser Betty Gould is being allowed to keep her cats, all 60 of them. Not sure why the term "alleged" is used since there was a witness, or, why she's allowed at this point to keep her cats. Alleged Cat Abuser Keeps Cats | KEZI

We’re doing our part here. We work for the community. We’ll continue to be following this case and doing what we need to do so they can be assured of that. We’ll be working hard on this all the way through,” said Sgt. John Umenhofer, Springfield Police Department.

If the SPD is "working for the community" ... well, you know. Anyway, article says there's a Facebook page set up in protest: Concerned Citizens Against Betty Gould. No link provided. Easy enough to find via Facebook however, and, here's the link.

West Virginia’s mascot shoots and kills a black bear with the musket we all thought was a prop | Dr. Saturday - Yahoo! Sports

Jonathan Kimble, the psycho bear killer and mascot for West Virginia's Mountaineers, (see yesterday's post on this story)  is sorry and in trouble. Sort of sorry, and kind of in trouble; doesn't seem to be any big issue for the parties involved, it's simply a matter of responding to no doubt what they see as over reactions from the rest of the country. Including Graham Watson, write of the piece, who writes:

OK. Your first thought after reading this should be: "Holy crap, that thing really works?"

Your second thought should be: "Holy crap, does Dana Holgorsen know?"

And then somewhere, in the recesses of your mind, you should be just a little impressed that Kimble shot a bear out of a tree with a musket. I mean, look at that thing.

And then you should be outraged -- if you value animal rights or don't like hunting or -- because it was a small (possible baby) bear he shot out of the tree.

Setting the catfish amongst the pigeons: The curious case of the fish that hunt birds | Mail Online

Catfish. Hunting pigeons. In France. True Forteana.Setting the catfish amongst the pigeons: The curious case of the fish that hunt birds | Mail Online

"On the Lighter Side" : Bear Killing

Yes, appearing in the "Lighter Side" section of the paper is this item about Jonathan Kimble, a mascot with a musket. So, in keeping with peace and goodwill to others and all that, he kills himself a bear. That was in a tree. Sporting, that. Then he uploads the killing to YouTube.

Sick bastard of course, but editors thinking this is material for all those "lighter side" moments have a twisted sense of things as well.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE: Now WVU has ordered Kimble to stop using his university-issued weapon on hunting trips after a video of this week’s kill was posted online. He says hunting with the gun is a Mountaineer mascot tradition.

The 24-year-old Franklin resident accompanied more than a dozen friends and family on the trip in Pendleton County on Monday. In the video, Kimble is shown firing the musket at the bear in a tree.

'I was outraged': Animal mailed to postal office in cardboard carrier | Local & Regional News for Eugene, Springfield Oregon | Eugene News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVAL CBS 13

'I was outraged': Animal mailed to postal office in cardboard carrier.

Sad but true, some psycho mailed a live dog to someone. Equally unbelievable is the fact no one did anything about it, at least according to the news item. Isn't there some way the sender as well as the recipient can be traced so they can be cited -- if not outright arrested and fined?

Will Oregon Zoo's prized baby elephant end up in a traveling show?

Tragic, and a disgusting example of humanity's gratuitous need to use abuse animals as "entertainment." Bad enough elephants are in zoos, but the potential fate of the Portland Zoos recently born elephant is dismal: Will Oregon Zoo's prized baby elephant end up in a traveling show? "Trunks Will Travel" cute, huh? Owners may or may not take ownership.

Please do what you can to make sure this doesn't happen. Animals, especially creatures such as elephants, do not belong in circuses or to be rented for entertainment. The bond between mother and child in the elephant world is life long and strong. The good news is the zoo insists the elephant will "stay put." But there is a contract dispute:

Kari Johnson, who co-owns Have Trunk Will Travel with her husband, Gary, told the Times that they were looking forward to visiting the newborn elephant and added that details regarding her future had not yet been worked out.

Perris, California, where the Johnsons have their elephant for hire business.  That sounded familiar. So I went back into my files. Ah, here it is; I posted about lion meat hamburgers available at a Tuscon, Arizona restaurant. Source of the lion meat? Perris, California. Tuscon Restaurant Serves Lion Meat Tacos. I have no idea if there is a connection between the lion meat and the Johnsons; I'm not saying there is one, only that the town of Perris, California seems to be the area for gratuitous indulgences with animals. There's more. Seems Have Trunk Will Travel was sued for animal abuse and fraud, according to this article in Animal Defenders International:

Los Angeles, Monday June 27, 2011 -- Today, in the US District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, Animal Defenders International (ADI), together with members of the public, Gail Profant and Leslie Hemstreet, filed suit against Have Trunk Will Travel, as well as the owners Gary and Kari Johnson, over their claims about the training of the elephant Tai, who played Rosie in the film ‘Water for Elephants’. The suit is based on erroneous assurances that the defendants gave the public that the elephant Tai was trained with kindness for her role in Water for Elephants. Video footage released by Animal Defenders International (ADI) showed Tai and other elephants being electric shocked with a stun gun and jabbed and hit will bull hooks during her training for the same types of tricks seen in the movie, at the Perris, CA ranch of Have Trunk Will Travel.

Springfield, OR: Two Cats Thrown into Willamette River | KEZI

Woman, in red minivan. Let's hope they catch the bitch. Two Cats Thrown into Willamette River | KEZI

North Korea Finds Secret Unicorn Lair Said To Prove Pyongyang Was Capital Of Ancient Korea

North Korea Finds Secret Unicorn Lair Said To Prove Pyongyang Was Capital Of Ancient Korea: In an announcement Friday that seems better suited for a fairy tale, a North Korean state news agency reported that archaeologists recently reconfirmed the lair of a unicorn once ridden by an ancient Korean king.

D E C E P T O L O G Y: The barbequed roadkill prank

This item from the Deceptology blog:

D E C E P T O L O G Y: The barbequed roadkill prank

Tarotize: A Dolphin Abundance Blessing Reading

Lisa Lloyd shares a lovely reading and spread using a multi-deck approach concerning a dream vision/visitation from Dolphin. Tarotize: A Dolphin Abundance Blessing Reading.

As Lisa writes at her blog; "Is the thought of connecting psychically with dolphins too woo-woo for you? Then stop reading right now!

I would have laughed at the idea myself not long ago if it weren't for a dream I had of dancing with dolphins."




One of the decks used in her spread is Doreen Virtue's Magical Mermaids and Dolphins deck, which I have and absolutely love.

Hunters Shoot Drone Out Of Sky: “Octocopter” Was Owned By Animal Rights Group | _

Hunters Shoot Drone Out Of Sky: “Octocopter” Was Owned By Animal Rights Group:

Police are investigating an incident at a Berks County hunting club in which someone on the hunting grounds allegedly targeted a mechanical flying object rather than a living and breathing one.

SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) are in the midst of a campaign against the Wing Pointe commercial hunting grounds in Hamburg, Berks County and its live pigeon shoots in which the birds are shot down. SHARK began to use an “Octocopter,” a remote controlled flying machine with a high tech video camera, to secretly record the pigeon shoots as they happen.

Driving America’s 85-mph toll road before the fun gets old

On one section of a Texas highway, you can drive 85 miles an hour. I like that idea. I'm not sure I'd actually want that reality, but the idea of going 85 -- legally -- is a pleasant one, even if a daydream. But there are risks (duh), including feral hogs, which cause huge problems for citizens of Texas, not to mention the hogs as well:

Driving America’s 85-mph toll road before the fun gets old | Motoramic - Yahoo! Autos: There've already been quite a few accidents, four on opening night, in fact, including one car completely totaled. That's because Texas built the 130 in prime feral hog territory. This forced them to put up large digital signs, at 10-mile intervals, reading "WILDLIFE CROSSING." That's all fine and good, but the problem is that wildlife can't read. Just outside Lockhart, I had to swerve fast and violently to avoid a freshly eviscerated coyote carcass. This is going to be a disgusting massacre without end.

How deeply ironic, then, that I pulled off TX 130 on my way home to take a five-minute jog into Lockhart, the barbecue capital of America, and bought a two-pound slab of pork ribs at Smitty's to bring home. What was once a half-day family trip has suddenly become an errand far less time-consuming than a visit to IKEA.

Animals Are Moral Creatures, Scientist Argues

As usual, there's the skeptic side of this issue where humans are elevated in all ways; non-humans are incapable of emotions or "morals." That belief allows some to mistreat animals, whether it's outright abuse, or exploitation for "entertainment."

Animals Are Moral Creatures, Scientist Argues - Yahoo! News: In the case of the child-rescuing gorilla Binti Jua, for instance, "what sort of instinct is involved there? Do gorillas have an instinct to help unconscious boys in enclosures?" he said.

And even if instinct is involved, human parents have an instinctive desire to help their children, but that makes the desire no less moral, he said.

Being able to reason about morality isn't required to have a moral compass, he added. A 3-year-old child, for instance, may not consciously articulate a system of right and wrong, but will (hopefully) still feel guilty for stealing his playmate's toy. (Scientists continue to debate whether or not babies have moral compasses.)

If one accepts that animals have moral compasses, Rowlands argues, we have the responsibility to treat them with respect, Rowlands said.

"If the animal is capable of acting morally, I don't think it's problematic to be friends with your pets," he said. "If you have a cat or a dog and you make it do tricks, I am not sure that's respect. If you insist on dressing them up, I'm not sure I'm onboard with that either."

'Giant Caterpillar Outside Manchester, 1850!' Beachcombing's Bizarre History Blog

(Thanks to Anomalist for link) This is the kind of animal story that warms the Fortean's heart: Giant Caterpillar Outside Manchester, 1850!  Beachcombing's Bizarre History Blog

Octopus as Art: Stop Issuing One-Day Hunting Licenses!

I saw this story a few days ago but didn't want to deal with it. Sometimes the greed and arrogance, as well as cruelty of humans just does me in. In this case, Dylan Mayer of Washington state and an over-blown sense of personal entitlement, tortured an octopus.

Mayer got himself a one day license to "hunt" an octopus. He did this in a protected marine area. He tricked the octopus by making noise in order to lure it from its home, then, according to witnesses, punched the still living octopus repeatedly after he hauled it onto his truck. Mayer said he wanted the octopus not just for its meat, but "to draw it for this art project."

Even if the octopus was hunted for food, as in hunting because one needs to survive, the gratuitous nature of the act is unjustified. If you need to hunt, then kill quickly and cleanly, and with gratitude.

A very sad story. So click on the link below and sign the petition. And call out this ass clown Mayer.
Stop Issuing One-Day Hunting Licenses! - The Petition Site

Yahoo Slide Show: "Cute and Different" Pets

I hate to see things like this. Promoted as a cute and fluffy human interest story, Yahoo shows slides of people and their "unusual" pets.

First up is a three year old hugging his pet python. There's a "pet" bear, and baby lions, among other kinds of animals.

These animals are the "pets" of owners all over the world, not just the U.S.

Unusual pets | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News

Coyote or Wolf? Missouri Hunter Shoots 80-Pound Mystery Animal | Field & Stream

Another sad incident of an all too damn proud of himself hunter grinning gratuitously over his kill. Coyote or Wolf? Missouri Hunter Shoots 80-Pound Mystery Animal | Field & Stream

Lesley Gunter: Encounters with Mystery Animals

Lesley writes about mystery animals in New Mexico for her OctoberGrey Matters column at Binnall of America.
Referring to David Paulides book Missing 411, which had just arrived, Lesley writes:

Had I got the book during a different time of year, I might not have even noticed, but it is September as I write this and, during the first part of September, we had two unusual experiences when we took the dog for her nightly walk. There have also been reports of odd encounters in the mountains nearby. Now, whether any of these things have anything to do with the Missing 411 of the book, I couldn't say.

Our first experience at the very beginning of Sept when we were taking Pooka (the dog) for her walk and decided to take the short way back home. The short way is a road that runs right in front of our next door neighbor and our house. On the other side is nothing but open land running through the middle and then a road and houses on the other side, which is the road we started on that loops back around. On the far side of my next door neighbors' house, there is also some open land. As we passed by that, we could hear something clawing at the ground and grunting and growling. I have a really bright flashlight which I shined all over the area, but saw nothing. The only thing I could think of was that it might be was a bear. Coyotes are always around and I have never known them to act that way and it didn't seem like something a feline would do, nor did it sound like a cat. We walked home very quickly. I walked backwards, shining my flashlight behind us most to the way to make sure nothing was following or coming after us.

Talking Elephants

Amazing, beautiful but not surprising. I've always believed that elephants were the dolphins of land; highly intelligent and emotional beings. Stories like this remind us of how little we really know, and understand, about animals, and our relationship with each other. Say hello to the talking elephant... but if you want a chat, you'll have to learn Korean | Mail Online

Hurricane Sandy probably wiped out New York's rats despite warnings of the rodent apocalypse, say experts | Mail Online

Hurricane Sandy probably wiped out New York's rats despite warnings of the rodent apocalypse, say experts | Mail Online

'Mass. lobsterman finds Halloween-themed catch'

Seems too good to be true; such a Fortean catch! Mass. lobsterman finds Halloween-themed catch - CBS News As usual, the fate of unusually colored lobsters is a strange one. Saved from the boiling pot, the orange and black lobster "will either be on exhibit in one of the aquarium's habitat tanks or used for live animal presentations..."

CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track

CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track is one of the best Fortean creature blogs around. So no particular post to highlight, just passing along the link. Have fun reading all the great posts over there!

poorrichard's blog: Police armed with sub-machine guns stalk streets hunting for a runaway COW

I saw this story a few days ago but chose not to post about it because I try to stay away from animal cruelty or gratuitous content. But, as "poor richard" writes, it is an over the top reaction by humans to a sad situation. All the more sad since, if it weren't for the desire within so many humans to eat beef, the incident wouldn't have happened in the first place. This story is a reminder that animals are extremely cognizant of the slaughter is going on around them, and, that they themselves are about to endure.

I also suspect that, while on the surface, the police in this story act like Keystone cops, their "over the top" get up and response is intentional. In a gestalt context, it's all about control, show of force, and fear. poorrichard's blog: Police armed with sub-machine guns stalk streets hunting for a runaway COW

'Snake Eating Itself:' This is Bigfoot News How?

Once again, snakes are the topic and Bigfoot Evidence once again posts a video of a snake being tortured, this time, apparently, by itself. (A few weeks ago same blog posted a video of a young boy skinning a snake alive.) The blog feels its germane to...something, to post a video of a snake eating itself. (Or, attempting to do so, don't know if it was successful, since I didn't watch the video.) If it was successful, why didn't the person filming the poor thing help it? If it was successful, whew, but also, yewwww. In other words, what is the point?

'Cat People' Movie Poster Images

1942 Cat People.

 

There was a "mostly unrelated sequel" as it was described by IMDB, in 1944.

I haven't seen the movie, but I love this poster!

Vintage Fortune Telling Emphemera; Animal Images

Enjoy these vintage images of "fortune telling" themes, with animals promoting the wares...

I remember these! And those paper flowers that "grew" from shells once you put them in water :)

binnallofamerica.com

I wrote this in August of 2011 for Tim Binnall's Binnall of America site. I still think these are important points. Trickster's Realm: "Absurd Bits" in Fortean Phenomena

Reading one of my favorite esoteric Fortean authors Colin Bennett right now: Flying Saucers Over the White House; The Inside Story of Captain Edward J. Ruppelt and His Official U.S. Airforce Investigation of UFOs. I'm only just into it, but, as usual when I read Bennett, there is so much rich, juicy and insightful right on stuff it's exhilarating. It's almost too much, one quick brilliant statement after another. One of the numerous gems is the "psychosocial filter" as Bennett calls it concerning UFO (and, I'll add, paranormal events in general) witness experiences:

It is an amusing feature of the Western mind that those people who have had a UFO experience of any kind are judged to be people least worthy of analyzing that experience." [Bennett]

The witness is often treated as an afterthought, or even an embarrassment. And all is lost if the witness has things that clogs up that "psychosocial filter":

The courts of "proper" debate rule out any odd, highly individualized, comic, or ludicrous or absurd elements. Here we see the most tragic-comic emblem of mankind's philosophy: get rid of the nutcases and there will be revealed the shining truth. [Bennett: 39]

From The Frog Bag: Yes, There Really is Such a Thing as a Blobfish

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't explored several sites that tell us yes, there is such a thing: The Frog Bag: Yes, There Really is Such a Thing as a Blobfish, and here.

Huge Geoglyph Discovered in Russia | TDG - Science, Magick, Myth and History

A giant geo-glyph in the shape of an elk, or deer, found in Russia. Predates Nazca lines. Huge Geoglyph Discovered in Russia | TDG - Science, Magick, Myth and History

'Bizarre-looking oarfish washes ashore on Cabo San Lucas beach'

Strange times and signs. Giant eyeball washes up on a Florida beach, as is noted in this article of an oarfish washed up on a Florida beach.Bizarre-looking oarfish washes ashore on Cabo San Lucas beach

Giant 'mystery eyeball' discovered on South Florida beach

Giant 'mystery eyeball' discovered on South Florida beach

Deer hunt? Round zips past Bend cemetery worker

Hunting season, and so, stories of morons with guns:Deer hunt? Round zips past Bend cemetery worker

New Yorkers petrified as hundreds of 'hissing' raccoons invade the city | Mail Online

Here's another story of strange raccoon behavior:New Yorkers petrified as hundreds of 'hissing' raccoons invade the city | Mail Online

Vintage snake images

I found these vintage images of snake charmers, snake farms, etc. while writing the post below about the live eating of animals for your entertainment pleasure.

Gratuitous Gleeful Gross-outs: Live Eating

Two recent items about gluttony, indulgence, and general supreme un-mindfullness concerning that thing within us that enjoys such stupid cruelties passing for entertainment.

 Both stories concern eating animals while they're still alive, and both concern snakes.

The first story brings us news of man who died shortly after eating live roaches and worms. As if that activity wasn't bad enough, that activity was one where many participated. It was a contest. And the prize: a live python.

The winner of a roach-eating contest in South Florida died shortly after downing dozens of the live bugs as well as worms, authorities said Monday.
About 30 contestants ate the insects during Friday night's contest at

Ben Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach about 40 miles north of Miami. The grand prize was a python.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/09/man-dies-after-live-roach-eating-contest-in-florida/#ixzz28qhXEfcw

The contest was described by a lawyer for the reptile store's owner who sponsored the contest as a " . . . unique and unorthodox contest." The second item concerns a young man who skins a snake, alive, and eats it. All on video for your viewing pleasure. For some reason, Bigfoot Evidence linked to this story. What it has to do with Sasquatch remains a mystery.

Kithra's Krystal Kave: New CFZ Mystery Cat Blog

Kithra blogs about the CFZ's new Mystery Cat blog, something I've been meaning to pass on but Kithra beat me to it. Which I'm glad of, because it's blog. Read Kithra's comments and follow the link to the new blog:Kithra's Krystal Kave: New CFZ Mystery Cat Blog

Boing Boing:'Bees make blue honey by harvesting waste from M&Ms manufacturing'

Bees make blue honey by harvesting waste from M&Ms manufacturing - Boing Boing

Beekeepers in Ribeauville, France discovered blue honey in their hives. When they investigated further, they discovered that their bees were harvesting M&Ms manufacturing waste from a biogas plant that processes the industrial runoff from a Mars chocolate factory. The blue honey will not be offered for sale.

Creature Forensics - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

On Coast to Coast tonight:Creature Forensics - Shows - Coast to Coast AM: Forensic artist and alternative investigator, Bill McDonald, will update us on numerous projects including the biology of the Loch Ness monster, and how the work of Jeremy Wade of the "River Monsters" TV show proves many of Bill's theories,

Bigfoot News | Bigfoot Lunch Club: Jane Goodall Still Finds Bigfoot Fascinating

Bigfoot Lunch Club blogs about Jane Goodall (a true hero) and her views on the existence of Bigfoot:Bigfoot News | Bigfoot Lunch Club: Jane Goodall Still Finds Bigfoot Fascinating

Animal Communicator & Life Guide | Asia Voight

On Coast to Coast tonight:Animal Communicator and Life Guide Asia Voight, discussing animal communications.

Rupert Sheldrake: Incredible Animal Journeys

From Deepak Chopra's site, this article by Rupert Sheldrake:Deepak Chopra - Incredible Animal Journeys

The clearest evidence that the animals' sense of direction does not depend on memorizing smells along the route, or other details of the outward journey, comes from cases where the animal was transported by air. During the Vietnam War, scout dogs used by U.S. troops and taken by helicopter to the war zones. One such dog, Troubles, was airlifted with his handler, William Richardson, into the jungle to support a patrol ten miles away. Richardson was wounded by enemy fire, and was airlifted to hospital; the other members of the patrol simply abandoned the dog. Three weeks later, Troubles was found back at his home at the First Air Cavalry Division Headquarters in An Khe. Tired and emaciated, he would not let anyone near him. He searched the tents until he found Richardson’s belongings, then curled up and went to sleep.

Phantoms and Monsters: Paranormal Activity, Bigfoot, Mothman, UFOs and Other Unexplained Phenomena

Lon Strickler reports on cattle mutilations in Argentina:Phantoms and Monsters: Paranormal Activity, Bigfoot, Mothman, UFOs and Other Unexplained Phenomena, and much more.

Rescued 655-Pound Sea Turtle Released

Described as a "living dinosaur" it was found in a mud flat. Rescued 655-Pound Sea Turtle Released - Yahoo! News

Tonight on Coast to Coast: Alien Visitations

Host John B. Wells, with guest Vince Rotonda and Colet Abedi onAlien Visitations, tonight on Coast to Coast.

Helicopter and Squirrel

Some episodes, otherwise small and on the surface, seemingly mundane, carry with them a vibe of oddness. Just something that is . . . off kilter, skewed a bit towards the weird. Two little things that aren't anything really but carried with them that type of vibe.

The other night, or early morning really, about 4:00 am, I was awakened by a helicopter. Not at all strange in many cities, but here in Eugene, Oregon, not a common occurance to hear a helicopter at night. And not one flying so damn low -- I thought it was going to land in our backyard! The windows were rattling for sure. The helicopter finally flew off, only to return at the same low altitude. I assume it was a police helicopter (I assume the local cops have a helicopter, I really don't know) and they were looking for someone. The whole thing, while not at all unusual on the face of it, just was odd.

Then next day, we were walking towards the sidewalk in front of our house when we noticed a squirrel standing stock still on the sidewalk in front of the house next door. We assumed he or she was staring at one of the cats, but when I walked towards the squirrel and looked in the direction he was looking, I didn't see anything. I couldn't figure out what he was looking at. He stayed there, frozen to the spot. Then he turned and walked away. He didn't run, or scamper, he walked down the street. As much as a squirrel can walk that is. It was just a little odd; he was walking down the side of the street, all the way to the corner. Lots of trees around, in order to run up the trunks. Lots of lawns and gardens and fences. But he was just going down the street, slowly, (again, as much as a squirrel can go slowly.)

The oddness of the squirrel was juxtaposed with the oddness of the late night/early morning helicopter.

White Spots appearing on cows near Fukushima plant

Farmer: Spots appearing on cows near Fukushima plant — “I have never seen symptoms like this” (PHOTOS & VIDEO)

White swallow in Japan

Nagasaki and Tokyo:/White swallow found in Tokyo too | Fukushima Diary

The Wrong Spin: "Pink grasshopper in Yamagata prefecture | Fukushima Diary"

The wrong spin: Pink grasshopper in Yamagata prefecture | Fukushima Diary

Woman, 83, attacked by rabid beaver at Lake Barcroft in Fairfax County - The Washington Post

Woman, 83, attacked by rabid beaver at Lake Barcroft in Fairfax County - The Washington Post

The creature knocked Lillian Peterson off her feet as she was climbing out of Lake Barcroft after a swim. The 83-year-old woman twisted around to see what attacked her and noticed one thing: large, orange teeth.
A 35-pound, 24-inch rabid beaver had bitten her on the back of the leg and would not let go, sparking an ordeal that lasted more than 20 minutes Tuesday evening. The Falls Church woman and a friend battled the animal with canoe paddles, a stick and bare hands as it came at them again and again. Peterson was seriously injured.

Nick Redfern's World of Whatever...: Peacock High-Strangeness

Indeed. And as I commented on Nick's blog, there does seem to be peacock synchronicity lately!Nick Redfern's World of Whatever...: Peacock High-Strangeness

Religion News Service | Press Releases | The Humane Society of the United States Celebrates Patron Saint of Animals

October 4 is Saint Francis' Feast Day. You can order your 'St. Francis Day in a Box!' kit right here: Religion News Service | Press Releases | The Humane Society of the United States Celebrates Patron Saint of Animals

Neil Arnold: Monster! The A to Z of Zooform Phenomena on Binnall

Brand new! Over two hours of Fortean animal time with Neil Arnold and Tim Binnall. Binnall of America I haven't had a chance to listen to the interview yet but hope to do so later today. I know it's good!

Earth & Animal Mysteries; Linda Moultan Howe on C2C Tonight

Linda Moultan Howe, on strange animals, on Coast to Coast tonight.Earth & Animal Mysteries - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

The Single Owl Theory | Mothman Flutterings II

I have a new post on my Mothman Flutterings blog:The Single Owl Theory | Mothman Flutterings II

'Bird Bermuda Triangle' Blamed For Hundreds Of Pigeon Disappearances

Huffington Post reports on disappearing pigeons in England:'Bird Bermuda Triangle' Blamed For Hundreds Of Pigeon Disappearances

Ban Dolphin Captivity - The Petition Site

Sign it please. It doesn't take long to do. Ban Dolphin Captivity - The Petition Site

New spider found in Oregon caves | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri

A new spider found in Oregon. It's big! New spider found in Oregon caves | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Amateur cave explorers have found a new family of spiders in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon, and scientists have dubbed them Trogloraptor — or cave robber — for its fearsome front claws.

The spelunkers sent specimens to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, which has the West Coast's largest collection of spiders. Entomologists there say the spider — reddish brown and the size of a half dollar — evolved so distinctly that it requires its own taxonomic family — the first new spider family found in North America since the 1870s.

BBC News - Giant Burmese python caught in Florida

Over 17 ft. long and with 87 eggs: BBC News - Giant Burmese python caught in Florida

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Raccoon attack: 'Three times he went to my face' | News | Eugene News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVAL CBS 13

Another racoon attack on humans. In both cases -- previous one a month ago in Lakewood, WA-- the human was walking their dog. Raccoon attack: 'Three times he went to my face' | News | Eugene News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVAL CBS 13

Cats Are Ancient Aliens | TDG - Science, Magick, Myth and History

Cats Are Ancient Aliens | TDG - Science, Magick, Myth and History

I remember this movie!

To all the Cats, who are, of course, our overlords, happy Cat Day!

Animals & Healing on Coast to Coast AM

Coming up this week on the 9th on C2C:Animals & Healing with Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers.

BBC Nature - New swimming cave cricket species filmed

Pretty amazing! Love the reaction of the scientist who discovers the cricket:BBC Nature - New swimming cave cricket species filmed

Stephen Wagner at About.com: Telepathy with Animals

Telepathy with Animals

"I broke my ankle in five places," writes the unnamed author at Interspecies Telepathic Communication "I was lying in bed in a great amount of pain when I heard, 'I know we come from different cultures, and maybe you don't think I can help you, but if you just pet me, I will take away your pain.' I heard these words in my head as clearly as someone speaking to me. I opened my eyes to find my angel cat Kisa on my pillow and looking right at me. I knew it was her. I did pet her and my pain did go away! I slept comfortably for the first time since the accident."

I believe it. I've had my own profound and distinct experiences with animals -- specific, clear messages -- that were far beyond the usual "I'm hungry" or "I want to go out" etc.

Nick Redfern: When Aliens and Creatures Clash | Mysterious Universe

Of course, many Ufologists and Cryptozoologists get irate and fired up when I bring up such matters. But what the heck; I don’t care. The fact is that there are a lot of cases suggesting a connection. So why hide them? Let’s take a look… ~ Nick Redfern

When Aliens and Creatures Clash | Mysterious Universe

I love Nick's approach; a true Fortean. Yes indeed, there are plenty of strange ("High strangeness") cases involving both UFOs and mysterious creatures. And still, these are often dismissed by both some UFO researchers as well as cryptozoologists. Especially Bigfoot people. Mention "flying saucer" in the same breath as Sasquatch and it's curtains.

Bird Falls: Officials Investigate Seagull Deaths on Highway | NBC 10 Philadelphia

Officials Investigate Seagull Deaths on Highway | NBC 10 Philadelphia

Officials are investigating the deaths of nearly 30 herring seagulls in Ocean City. The seagulls crashed down into traffic on the Route 52 bridge that links Ocean City to Somers Point.

“I’m noticing the birds are with broken legs, broken backs and broken wings,” said Bill Hollingsworth of the Humane Society of Ocean City.

Lobsters, Giant and Strangely Colored

Lobster items in the news. Another giant lobster spared story, this one from New England, about a 21 lb. lobster that was caught in the waters of Cape Cod:21-pound lobster released to New England Aquarium (UPDATE) | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News A woman won a lobster raffle who said she had planned to spare the lobster's life all along:

My plan was always to donate the lobster to the Aquarium was to generate awareness and allow people to see the creature, and of course, to keep the lobster from being trapped again and, this time, ending up on someone's dinner table," she told Yahoo! News. "The only thing I requested from the Aquarium was a chance to see the lobster when I visit Boston on August 6th and they were kind enough to grant my request."

Another lobster item in the news today. A shipment of lobster's received by a Massachusetts restaurant contained several orange lobsters. This AP item appeared in the "Lighter Side" section of our local paper. Among others, The Huffington Post published the item. This designation frustrates me. The following is not a cutesy feel good item about a child's lost puppy now found safe, but an increase in unusual colorations in lobsters. The reason for these coloration are potentially disturbing reasons: global warming/climate changes, signals of things going wrong in our oceans due to pollution, etc. But the item in the local paper, concluded with comments from Michael Thusty, who is the director of research at the New England Aquarium at Boston: "Right now you can make a lot of explanations, but the actual data to find them out out just isn't there." One possible explanation for this increase in colorful lobsters was the "active Twitter sphere" and "people get [getting] excited about colorful lobsters." Another possible reason: increase in lobster harvests; more lobster hauling, more lobsters, chances increase for oddly colored lobsters. (Blue, orange, bi-colored, yellow...)

The Jellyfish (Rat) Heart

"The world needs less rats and more jellyfish, so I thought it would be cool to do a one-for-one swap,"

One more thing from the "just because they can" file:Swimming 'Jellyfish' Built out of Rat Cells & Silicone News

These artificial jellies can solve different problems for different scientists, Parker said. A marine biologist might learn more about the architecture of a jellyfish and how it swims. A comparative biologist can compare the pumping action of the Medusoid to that of the heart. For tissue engineers, the exercise was a lesson in design and quality control. And for biological proponent experts, the system is a model that mimics how real propulsive swimmers do it.

Parker is interested in using the Medusoids for cardiovascular drug development and as a step in new designs for artificial hearts.

But look out world:

He also has plans to go bigger.

The next step, he said, is to "pick another animal that has a more difficult anatomy and function, and build it. Give me a year or two!"

Raccoons Attack

Gang of raccoons chase, knock down and bite woman in Washington state. Also, her dog is an "American dingo dog." Raccoons chase, attack Washington woman - CBS News

American Dingo dog, aka Carolina dog

BBC News - "No evidence of mermaids, says US government"

This may seem to be a fluff piece but I can't help myself, I sense an undercurrent (no pun intended) of disinfo and distraction. No, I don't mean to suggest mer-people literally exist. But in this article: BBC News - No evidence of mermaids, says US government it is made clear the National Ocean Service took the time to respond to supposed public inquires about the existence of mermaids after Animal Planet aired Mermaids: The Body Found. In the BBC news article, we have this quote from NOAA's Carol Kavanagh that the NOAA article (see below) "was written from publicly available sources..." and that is  due to their lack of a  "mermaid science programme."

Here is the official article from NOAA: No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.  It's a very short piece -- three paragraphs and concludes:

But are mermaids real? No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found. Why, then, do they occupy the collective unconscious of nearly all seafaring peoples? That’s a question best left to historians, philosophers, and anthropologists.

I haven't seen Animal Planet's program. According to the press release at their site, they reference the Aquatic Ape Theory:

The Aquatic Ape Theory makes it possible to believe that while we evolved into terrestrial humans, our aquatic relatives turned into something strangely similar to the fabled mermaid. As evidence that humans once evolved into aquatic creatures, the Aquatic Ape Theory cites some of the striking differences between man and other primates and the many features we share with marine mammals, including the following:

• Webbing between fingers (other primates don’t have this) Subcutaneous fat (insulating from cold water)

• Control over breath (humans can hold breath up to 20 minutes, longer than any other terrestrial animal)

• Loss of body hair (hair creates drag in water) Instinctive ability to swim (human babies are able to do this)

• A highly developed brain, which depends on nutrients provided by seafood  Here's a blog about the program from Cryptozooogy the Science of the Unknown, with link kindly provided to the full program on YouTube.  
•  (Image found at Vintage Clip Art.)

Believing what you see

Walking along the Willamette River at Delta Ponds today, we saw what looked like a salmon making its way just beneath the brown water. Very unusual and a man with a group who was also watching this said aloud, several times, that it was a carp. We certainly weren't going to argue with a stranger but we both said, to each other, it sure looked like a salmon. Overheard him say, again, it was a carp. While I didn't know there were salmon in that area I know what I saw. So I did a search and discovered that there are indeed chinook salmon, released in that area starting in January of this year:Juvenile Chinook salmon found at Delta Ponds and Heron Slough in Eugene | MyEugene

Image source here.

14 Stories That Prove Animals Have Souls

Not that there has ever been any doubt, but these stories are reminders of the spirit within our fellow creatures. I especially love the one about the elephants.14 Stories That Prove Animals Have Souls

piglipstick: Anyone Else See These Things Coming?

The aftermath of genetic energineering. Mutated insects immune to the toxins bred into the crops we use, wear and ingest: piglipstick: Anyone Else See These Things Coming?

"Genetically modified crops are often designed to repel hungry insects. By having toxins built into the plant itself, farmers can reduce their use of environmentally unfriendly insecticide sprays. But as any first-year evolutionary biology student can tell you, insects are like the Borg in Star Trek: they quickly adapt. And this is precisely what is happening – but in ways that have startled the researchers themselves.

Snowy Egret in Eugene

On our walk at Delta Ponds (Eugene, Oregon by the Willamette River) a few days ago, we saw what we thought was a white egret. But, while it looked very much like one there were differences as well. We weren't sure what the bird was. The next day, the local paper had an article, with photo, of a snowy egret at Delta Ponds. So there it was; what we saw. Very cool. A beautiful bird.

According to the article snowy egrets in this area are not very common. We almost always see herons and egrets in that area; yet we haven't lately. Only the one snowy egret. I tried to get a good photo but I have a cheapo camera and the images didn't come out -- the bird was too far away. (The image posted here is a public domain image, not the bird we saw at Delta Ponds.) But fortunately, I found these images of the bird taken by a local photographer, Thomas Meinzen, who posted them on his Picassa account. 

Rogue Dolphin, Alone After Katrina, Menaces Lake Area

Rogue Dolphin, Alone After Katrina, Menaces Lake Area - Yahoo!A menacing animal is terrorizing residents of an upscale waterfront community just outside New Orleans. But it's not your run-of-the-mill beastly wild animal. Instead, it's a sweet-faced bottle-nosed dolphin and hospital officials say he's already taken a bite out of three people who have entered the waters of Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell, La.

BP's spill wouldn't have anything to do with this I wonder? But NOAA and other officials suggest the dolphin's behavior is due to a combination of factors: being used to humans, young male, in distress from pain, illness. . .

Coyotes on the Beach

Oregon beaches have been experiencing coyotes on the beaches for awhile now. (I wrote about coyotes in the Newport area in May of 2010,) for Oreogn L.O.W.F.I. I've heard them at night; it's both a cool and an eerie sound to hear them so close, and right on the beach. But, like bear and deer in the area, the coyotes in human developed areas are a problem, for both humans and animals. There's the reason why bear, deer, coyote, etc. are "infringing" in human populated areas. The animal's habitat is being decreased, the animals move in. There are other reasons as well: for example, humans feeding wildlife, particularly bears. (A Yachats, Oregon women was found guilty of feeding bears on her property; she was banned from living in the area) as I also blogged on L.O.W.F.I.

On Thursday, a five year old was bitten by a coyote on the beach in Nehalem State Park. (Nehalem is on the coast.) Wildlife authorities shot and killed the coyote; the child is undergoing a rabies shots series.

MSNBC: Judge OKs federal seizure of dino skeleton

The obvious question: why is Department of Homeland Security, created in the wake of 9/11 to ostensibly protect us from terrorism,  want with a dinosaur skeleton? Judge OKs federal seizure of dino skeleton - Technology & science - Science - msnbc.com

Nick Redfern's World of Whatever...: Mothman Vs. Mothra

Nick Redfern brings a neat little comparative exercise to Mothman, using the pop culture classic film Mothra and specifics of the Mothman phenomena. Nick Redfern's World of Whatever...: Mothman Vs. Mothra

And, just because Mothra is one of my favorite films, here's a clip!

Farmer blames heat rays for cows' deaths - New Brunswick - CBC News

Farmer blames heat rays for cows' deaths - New Brunswick - CBC News

Cattle deaths, and the rancher is accused of animal abuse, for of course any Fortean or otherwise esoteric explanation would be ignored. Who knows what the real story is. I don't know what is worse; aliens with evil intent abusing animals, or humans abusing animals. The latter (and I suspect humans are involved in cattle mutes in most cases) is, in my opinion, covert ops.

A cattle farmer from the Petitcodiac area is facing a charge for failing to give his cows adequate medical attention but he argues there is a conspiracy against him that involves heat rays harming his animals.

Werner Bock is charged with failing to give his cows adequate medical attention but he told a Moncton provincial court on Monday that someone is after him and his animals.

Bock accuses the RCMP and veterinarians of ignoring what's happening on his eastern New Brunswick farm.

He said he's lost up to 200 animals in the last 10 years and he's posted a video on the internet where he claims to expose the mystery. The farmer says heat rays are to blame for his cows’ deaths.

What's making that racket? Woman discovers small bird with TWO heads and THREE beaks making a commotion in her backyard | Mail Online

What's making that racket? Woman discovers small bird with TWO heads and THREE beaks making a commotion in her backyard | Mail Online

Cars collide with roaming cattle in zone around Fukushima plant－

Cars collide with roaming cattle in zone around Fukushima plant

FUKUSHIMA -- Several collisions have been occurring between cars and roaming cattle in the no-entry zone around the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, it has been learned.

According to the Futaba Police Station, of the 25 cases it has processed, 23 were at night. With street lights in the zone out, cars appear to be not noticing black cows and running into them. No injuries to people have been reported.

The first collision between a car and a cow in the zone was in Kawauchi in early July, 2011. Recently, there were collisions on National Route 6 in Tomioka between a car and two cows on May 31, and another collision there on June 1. According to police, there have been eight collisions in Okuma, seven each in Tomioka and Naraha, two in Namie, and one in Kawauchi. Nineteen have been on National Route 6. In all cases, the cars were driven by nuclear plant-related workers. Most of the cattle were black-haired, and half of them died immediately in the collisions.

According to the Fukushima Prefectural Government, after the nuclear disaster began, around 2,000 cattle in the no-entry zone were euthanized or otherwise disposed of. Prefectural workers and others have been catching cattle that escaped from barns or otherwise ended up roaming, but as there are also cattle that have been born amongst roaming cattle, the prefecture estimates there are over 200 cattle roaming in the zone. There was one case of a police car with its red light on being surrounded by cattle and attacked by bulls with horns.

CHRIS HOLLY'S Paranormal World: What Horror Lurks in Your Neighborhood?

Chris Holly on one of my favorite esoteric Fortean creepy places: Plum Island.CHRIS HOLLY'S Paranormal World: What Horror Lurks in Your Neighborhood?

Rare calico-colored lobster spared the boiler pot, donated for research

Rare calico-colored lobster spared the boiler pot, donated for research

Scientists with the New England Aquarium were glad to receive Calvin as a donation and are pondering whether to put him on display before he can be shipped to Biomes Marine Biology Center in Rhode Island.

"Calicos are considered a rare color. They used to say 1 in 30 million," aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse said. He added, however, that for whatever reason, several were discovered during the summer of 2009.
 

Wild Elephants gather inexplicably, mourn death of “Elephant Whisperer” | Delight Makers

A beautiful story that literally made me cry, about our interconnectedness with other animals.Wild Elephants gather inexplicably, mourn death of “Elephant Whisperer” | Delight Makers

Zoo lioness tried to maul toddler | Orange UK

This has been making the rounds; a video of a lion in captivity at an Oregon zoo pawing at a little child in a striped outfit. Obviously the lioness thought of the child as prey: small, striped, etc. The mother, who filmed this, has been quoted as saying she thought it was "hilarious." I think it's very very sad. It's things like this that cause me not to visit zoos anymore, and I even have a hard time with larger more humane places, like Wildlife Safari, where the humans are in cars, and drive through open areas to view animals. Literally, in that case, I have been afraid of the humans -- like the ass clowns who honked at the bears, in spite of the large signs everywhere warning visitors to not honk their horns at the bears. Or the idiots who drive through with their windows open, ignoring the signs once again, and waving their hands out ... ah, tragic news clip waiting to happen. But this: just so damn sad. Zoo lioness tried to maul toddler | Orange UK

Canibal Shrimp Invasion

Cannibal shrimp: The invasion has begun

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TheRecord - Bear necessities produce hybrid beast

Now they have a name for it: "grolars" or, alternately, "pizzly": TheRecord - Bear necessities produce hybrid beast

"The disease which is turning British cats into living robots... and experts say there's no cure"

Creepy, surreal, and very sad: The disease which is turning British cats into living robots... and experts say there's no cure | Mail Online

One comment left at the article suggested microchips as being the cause, although, if so, why haven't more cats with this disease been seen in other places around the globe? Whatever the cause, very strange and very sad.

Indian politicians place $2000 bounty on vampires

Does India have a chupacabra in its midst? Indian politicians place $2000 bounty on vampires | Mail Online

Indian politicians are offering a $2000 reward for the capture of vampires which terrified locals claim have been sucking the blood out of their cattle.

Villagers around the town of Dharampuri in Tamil Nadu have been staying off the streets after sunset following the reports of strange goings on in the night.

Residents have painted holy signs outside their homes and written messages on doors begging the monsters, known locally as Ratha Kaatteri, to spare their lives.

But the reward is a way for politicians to say it's a hoax -- there are no vampires, no blood sucking creature as the Ratha Kaatteri. Criminals are working in the night, and the authorities know it:

Politician O. Jayaraman said: 'It is a big hoax. Anti-socials whose illegal night activities such as bootlegging and liquor brewing have been disturbed are spreading rumours and killing cattle.

'Since people are not willing to believe us, we have challenged them with this reward.'

Does Your Computer Have Crabs?

One Per Cent: Computers powered by swarms of crabs

The Aztecs and their 400 Rabbits | The Complete MesoAmerica… and more

A very interesting and cool blog from The Daily Grail:The Aztecs and their 400 Rabbits | The Complete MesoAmerica… and more

Frame 352: From Bigfoot Evidence: Sasquatch Conversations

Frame 352: From Bigfoot Evidence: Sasquatch Conversations

Mysterious Animal-Shaped Structures Are Oldest Known - Yahoo! News

Mysterious Animal-Shaped Structures Are Oldest Known - Yahoo! News

Manmade mounds shaped like orcas, condors and even a duck may be the oldest evidence of animal mounds outside of North America, according to former University of Missouri anthropologist.

Writing in the magazine Antiquity, Robert Benfer, a professor emeritus, describes a series of mounds, some more than 1,300 feet (400 meters) across, in coastal valleys in Peru. Archaeological evidence at the sites pegs some at more than 4,000 years old.

"It's going to shake everybody's views," Benfer told LiveScience. "The previous oldest animal figures were at Nazca and they're 2,000 years old."

UFO Magazine's Nancy Birnes on Paratopia (and lets David Jacobs have it, apparently)

Update: I just noticed I had posted this on the wrong blog, but I'm leaving it here anyway since it's so important:

UFO Magazine's editor Nancy Birnes is the guest on Paratopia, and lets David Jacobs have it -- and those that still support him. I can't wait; I'm just listening now. Promises to be excellent: Nancy Birnes episode 162

Nancy Birnes comes out swinging against the latest shady David Jacobs hypnosis tapes. Then she fields some tough questions from The Jer. Finally, she… takes over the show? Yes, that’s right, Nancy Birnes confiscates the show and interviews Jeff about his life as an experiencer. This is one heck of an interesting episode and it is an extended one. Our longest show yet, clocking in at just over 3 hours!

cryptozoo-oscity: who are the monsters?

Tabitca at cryptozoo-oscity writes about the use of the term "monster" in describing the unexplained, mysterious creatures, like Nessie. She makes good points -- we call them "monsters" when they're not. We debate their very existence but even while doing so call them "monsters." As to creations made by humans, Tabitca writes:

cryptozoo-oscity: who are the monsters?: The so called monsters created by scientists recently such as goats crossed with spider DNA and huge ants , are not monsters either. The monsters are those that made them. They did not ask to be made freaks of nature but no one treated them with the respect they deserved , and said do not to tamper with them.

We also make "monsters' out of animals that are minding their own business. The new program on National Geographic's  Wicked Tuna comes to mind; there's nothing "wicked" about tuna, it's just a tuna, living its life, until we come along and kill it to eat it. (And I do eat tuna, but I am aware of how it came to be on my plate and I am thankful and respectful of the tuna giving its life so I can eat it.) As far as the tuna is concerned, what is "wicked" are the humans chasing after it and killing it.

Definition of Zooform: Centre for Fortean Zoology on Wikipedia

Centre for Fortean Zoology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Zooform phenomena:

The third cryptozoological category consists of zooform phenomena. These are not animals at all, but entities or apparitions which adopt or seem to have (quasi)animal form. This is where we (at least to some extent) enter science fiction territory. In many ways, these elusive and contentious entities have plagued cryptozoology since its inception, and tend to be dismissed by mainstream science as thoroughly unworthy of consideration. Zooform phenomena seem to be a strange blend of paranormal manifestation and mythology.


However, Jonathan Downes, who first coined the term in 1990, 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. A good example of a zooform phenomenon would be the Owlman of Mawnan.

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Echoes of Hunger Games and Mothman: Possible Disinfo?

The film version of Hunger Games has just been released, and as most of you know, the trilogy has been extremely popular. There is a man made created wasp creature in the Hunger Games called tracker jackers whose sting causes extreme madness -- if you survive, that is -- or a painful death. The following recent real life discovery of a giant wasp in Indonesia reminded me of the fictional "tracker jackers" in the Hunger Games:

Monstrous New Wasp Species Discovered in Indonesia | Trending Now - Yahoo! News: Discovered in the Mekongga Mountains on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the wasp is 2 1/2 inches long and greater than three times the size of an average wasp. Its jaws are so big that when its mouth is open, its jaws are bigger than its legs. Kimsey admitted she's surprised it can even walk with those kinds of proportions.

(More on the wasp discovery here.)

The scientist who discovered the wasp calls it "Garuda" which is a sacred enitity and, as Mothman researcher Andy Colvin writes in his work, he finds parallels between the Garuda and Mothman:

Kimsey has named the monstrous insect "Garuda," the national symbol of Indonesia that is part human, part eagle, and known as the "king of birds."

An interesting thing to note is that this wasp is not a bird, nor human, yet its nickname is "Garuda." The negative connotation of Mothman continues, in a round about way, as well as the Garuda. Insects often invoke a visceral negative reaction in humans. (I know they do in me, to the point of a literal phobia. I have vomited and almost passed out in the presence of some insects.) Although for Dr. Kimsey, it's assumed she has a love for insects since she studies them.

Another observation: The Hunger Games is seen by disinfo by some para-political, conspiracy researchers. The spin on the books is dismaying;it's being turned into nothing more than teen fluff vampire romance junk. But I loved the books and didn't realize they were written for "children" at first. I had overheard co-workers discussing the books and thought I would read them. So what is the disinfo, if any? (And I don't doubt there is.)  Basically, The Hunger Games and the other two books are anti-war books. Anti fascist. All sides are suspect: the rulers, the ones in charge of the rebels. Sacrifice upon sacrifice. So what message from this popular series is being spun, digested, and misinterpreted, and what message has been lost?

I will speculate that the romance of the individual warrior as well as the teen romance between characters are the segments put forth, and everything else pushed back. Is the spin focused on those things, while the grim poverty and totalitarian society of The Hunger Games is marginalized, serving only as backdrop? If so, is this part of the preparation, along with staged school events where mock crimes of violence are committed?

CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: NEIL ARNOLD: The Satanic Ape

I am intrigued by this thoroughly spooky account of Devil's House on Wallasea Island:CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: NEIL ARNOLD: The Satanic Ape:

In the case of some zooform phenomena, it seems that we are dealing with negative energy as a conjurer of monsters. For instance, the county of Essex has several cases of weird manifestations presenting themselves, but they are forms which clearly are not of some biological or zoological order. At Wallasea Island there was once a place called the Devil’s House which sat on the bleak marshlands flanking the River Crouch. The house, was more for a farm-like abode and took its sinister name from its owner, a chap named Daville, although author Eric Maple notes that’, according to the old records it was known as Demon’s Tenement as far back as the time of Charles II.’

Trapping And Killing Wolves With A Smile…. Howling For Justice

So goddamn tragic and disgusting. Please share and do what you can; the blog Howling for Justice has many links to resources. Trapping And Killing Wolves With A Smile…. Howling For Justice

Wizardry & Strange Creatures - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Wizardry and Strange Creatures - on  Coast to Coast AM

CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: SO FOXES ARE THE NEW SCAPEGOAT

CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: SO FOXES ARE THE NEW SCAPEGOAT Jon Downes writes:

In the past few years the tabloid papers have blamed paedophiles, immigrants, and benefit claimants for society's ills. Now they have a new scapegoat. It is the turn of Vulpes vulpes...

Indeed. Like those poor mange ridden (most likely) canines mistaken for "Chupacabras" and are shot on sight just for being there, foxes are the "new scapegoat" as Downes comments.

(Speaking of foxes, listen to these fox vocalizations captured by Stan Courtney.)

Mutated Trout Raise New Concerns Over Selenium - NYTimes.com

Two headed trout? Why that's normal. More for your buck...
Mutated Trout Raise New Concerns Over Selenium - NYTimes.com

Photographs of variously mutated brown trout were relegated to an appendix of a scientific study commissioned by the J. R. Simplot Company, whose mining operations have polluted nearby creeks in southern Idaho. The trout were the offspring of local fish caught in the wild that had been spawned in the laboratory. Some had two heads; others had facial, fin and egg deformities.

Yet the company’s report concluded that it would be safe to allow selenium — a metal byproduct of mining that is toxic to fish and birds — to remain in area creeks at higher levels than are now permitted under regulatory guidelines.

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Did a legendary chupacabra slaughter 35 sheep? Man claims he saw creatures with fangs, and wings killing livestock | Mail Online

Sad and mysterious, unexplained deaths of dozens of sheep. Nearby animals such as pigs, etc. were not attacked. Little blood, sheep not ripped apart, so what caused it? Illness? One witness says he saw a winged being in the area:

Did a legendary chupacabra slaughter 35 sheep? Man claims he saw creatures with fangs, and wings killing livestock | Mail Online:

When farmers in Mexico found 35 of their sheep slaughtered with significant claw and tooth marks around their necks, they had one creature to blame – the legendary chupacabra.

One man tending to the sheep overnight in the small Mexican town of Paracuaro said he saw animals with sharp fangs and wings kill the livestock.

New Zealand: Huge eels found swimming in the streets after 'weather bomb' hits | Mail Online

They are one of the least attractive of all fish species and are normally found lurking in oceans and rivers.

But when part of New Zealand was hit by a 'weather bomb' recently, a number of eels suddenly sprung up in some surprising locations.

Residents in one street in Masterton, Wellington, were left shocked to discover dozens of the slimy creatures swimming in large puddles and gutters in the road.

New Zealand: Huge eels found swimming in the streets after 'weather bomb' hits | Mail Online

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Cryptomundo:New Musk Deer Discovered in Nepal

Cryptomundo: New Musk Deer Discovered in Nepal

A new species of endangered Musk deer—differed from all three species found in the country—has been discovered in Mustang district.

Interestingly, the genetic testing (DNA test) conducted to identify the new species found that the gene sequence significantly differed from all other musk deer gene sequences in the global genetic database, indicating that the new member of the Musk deer family is a unique species discovered so far.

“The new species has brown body part with white portion towards the lower side and legs,” said Joshi, the researcher who used genetic tools on the pellets and tissue samples collected from Lupra village as a part of her Master thesis.