ANIMAL FORTEANA


In the beginning of things men were animals and animals men. ~ Algonquin saying

"For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much — the wheel, New York, wars and so on — whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man — for precisely the same reasons." ~ The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Saturday, March 31, 2012

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.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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.



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.’

Sunday, March 25, 2012

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

Friday, March 9, 2012

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.)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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.


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