There is a Yeti in the back of everyone’s mind; only the blessed are not haunted by it. ~ old sherpa saying

Sunday, February 10, 2008

JREF Complains About "Censorship" at Cryptomundo

Some members of the JREF are complaining about what they see as censorship from Cryptomundo.

What I love is the typical response of the faux skeptic, when they are ignored, and that is the “it’s obvious woos/Bigfoot believers/UFO witnesses etc. fear what skeptics have to say” routine.

Read about it here.

Monday, February 4, 2008

A Navajo Bigfoot Story

This was sent to me by a good friend of mine, who is the creator of The Granmother's Circle Gathering here in Eugene. She had fowarded this to me from one of her contacts.

CHINLE, Ariz., Jan. 31, 2008

I don't pick up hitchhikers for free.

They either have to teach me a Navajo word I don't already know, or tell me a story.

Lately, I have been hearing the same story so often, with so many variations, I'm beginning to wonder if it's true.

It is the story of a creature I've come to call "the Navajo Bigfoot." According to at least five different hitchhikers I have picked up over the last three years, there is a Bigfoot-like creature roaming in the Navajo Nation.

It is about 7 feet tall, black, hairy and apelike, and has feet about a foot-and-a-half long. None of the hitchhikers had actually seen it, but they all knew people who had.

Most people seem to think it resides somewhere between Summit and Fluted Rock, but a man from Navajo Mountain swore it lives somewhere up there. (Maybe there are two.) Footprints have allegedly been found as far south as Klagetoh.

Some folks say the creature has supernatural powers. It reportedly appears at some gatherings, and one man told me several friends of his at a ceremonial gathering saw it appear and then vanish into thin air.

The Bigfoot might have been around a very long time. A middle-aged man remembered his father telling stories of such a creature, saying it appears when times are about to get really bad.

But, if it is something supernatural, it apparently still needs to eat.

A woman told me all the ranchers near Fluted Rock know about the monster, because they will find dead sheep that appear to have been partially butchered with some kind of blunt knife. And the giant footprints are sometimes around.

A man I picked up near Ganado said a neighbor of his had chased it across Highway 264 on horseback once, but it was so fast that it got away.

Another guy said he visited one of the Apache reservations and was surprised to find they have similar stories ... except the Apache Bigfoot is white while the Navajo one is black.

I'm not saying I believe these stories ... for all I know, there's some kind of conspiracy among the hitchhikers to pull one over on hapless drivers.

All I'm saying is, if I'm driving late at night and some big, hairy, barefoot guy sticks out his thumb on the side of the road, I'm going to keep driving - unless he has a mighty good story
.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Monday, January 28, 2008

From The Olympian: Explorer Retells Bigfoot Sighting of ‘67

That’s 1967. Robert Gimlin, of Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot “Patty” fame, spoke to a group recently about his Bigfoot sighting. You can read about it here.

Monday, January 21, 2008

More Nazis From Cryptomundo

Wait, that didn't sound right. I meant, another item on Nazis and the Fortean from Cryptomundo, this time, Nazis and the Yeti. (One wonders what the Nazis would have done with a Yeti if they found it.) Interesting post, as always.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Nazi Racoons

Really, Nazi Racoons. Read about it on Cryptomundo.

Bigfoot Sightings of East Alabama



Finished the booklet; not much to read, but what's there is interesting. Local accounts of Bigfoot sightings, and UFOs in seeming connection, in the area. What I like about the book is the fact that an individual is interested/obsessed enough (not necessarily a bad thing) to self publish a little collection of regional accounts. It all adds to the data. There are typos and sometimes a few things aren't clear; that's due to grammar and the way it's presented, I think. The illustrations are very simple. I don't regret the purchase however, not at all. Things like this are interesting to me from a folklore/collector perspective.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Alabama Bigfoot Booklet

My copy of Bigfoot Sightings of East Central Alabama came today. Haven't had a chance to read it yet. It's a self published book; photocopied pages, folded over, stapled book. (Nothing wrong with that; I did a comb binding on my little bigfoot book years ago, sold a few on eBay, ....) I'll report more when I've finished the book.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Book: Bigfoot Dreams


Do they mean Bigfoot dreams, as in, has dreams, or that one dreams of Bigfoot? Or does it matter? . . .

Searching e-Bay today for Bigfoot books, found this one titled Bigfoot Dreams. The author is Francine Prose, it was written in 1998. The item description says the novel is about a feminist who writes for a Weekly World News kind of publication, printing stories about “Bigfoot and Elvis.” She gets fired because the things she writes about come true, so she takes off to the Grand Canyon and meets up with Bigfoot her own self. Hmmm. . .

Friday, January 4, 2008

That Makes Five!

Looks like four seperate threads about Bigfoot on the JREF (James Randi Educational Forum) aren’t enough; now a fifth thread has been started. This one is titled Government Bigfoot Cover-up.
I wonder how long this one will last?

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Did I Mean It?: A Comment Reconsidered

In Jeremy Vaeni’s recent Culture of Contact interview, I said how I hoped I never would see a Bigfoot. This is what I said:
I myself have never encountered one, and I hope I do not.

I’ve said that before, and mean it. Kind of. But in thinking about it, I wonder. Do I really mean that?

Part of why I said that, I think, is a fear of not being taken seriously. On the other hand, given my UFO/Fortean life, I think I passed that point a long time ago. It is what it is; I am what I am, all that stuff. But I’ve seen UFOs, have had two episodes of missing time, been involved with hauntings, and a lot more high strangeness stuff, all I need is a Bigfoot sighting to add to the pile of weirdness. Then again, why should I worry about what others may think? And about something that hasn’t even happened?

The other reason is fear. But that’s kind of silly too; I don’t think there’d by anything to fear. Not to say I wouldn’t be extremely respectful and cautious, but “fear” -- I hope not.

So I guess I don't feel that way, and actually, would probably feel very honored and blessed if I did see a Sasquatch.

From Boring, Oregon: On "The Big Hairy Guy" in Mt. St. Helens Area

“Bigfoot, You’re Invited to Breakfast”

From Boring, Oregon. Yes, Boring. I’m always interested in any Bigfoot, UFO or other strange story that comes out of Oregon, since I live here myself.

Writer
Chuck Bolsinger, in a piece for the High Country News,
recounts his experiences during the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980. (I remember that; living in Eugene, Oregon at the time, and seeing ash everywhere on cars, etc.)

The news of the eruption was big then, and made international news. Among the many things related to the eruption was the fate of Harry S. Truman, who refused to leave the area.

Bolsiinger relates his meeting with Truman, who told Bolsinger of “a big hairy guy” that lives in the woods:
“There’s something you boys should know. A Big Hairy Guy hangs out in these woods. Someday you’ll be taping a tree, and a shadow’ll fall on you. He’ll know you’re fixin’ to log his forest, and he’ll be mad.”
Very interesting article!

http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.WOTRArticle?article_id=17446

YETI


The Abominable Snowman and Year of the Yeti

The Cryptomundo blog has a blurb about the new edition of Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life by Ivan T. Sanderson, which includes a preface written by Coleman. In New York, at the Rubin Museum of Art, they’ll be showing the 1957 movie The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, with Coleman in attendance. Read more here for details.

Speaking of the movie, I’m a big fan of all those mostly black and white monster and flying saucer films from that era. (One of the reasons I started my blog Vintage UFO.) I remember when I first saw The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, it scared me to death. (I was probably about six or seven.) I remember a scene in a cabin with someone getting ripped apart. I never pass up a chance to watch movies like this when they come on.

The movie stars Forrest Tucker and Peter Cushing. The Internet Movie Database describes Cushing’s character -- Dr. John Rollason -- as the “gentle English botanist” and Tucker, as Dr. Tom Friend, as the “gruff American scientist.”



Here are some quotes from the movie that I like:

Dr. John Rollason: This creature may have an affinity for man, something in common with ourselves. Let's remember that before we start shooting.

Dr. John Rollason: You're nothing but a cheap fairground trickster!

Dr. Tom Friend: They killed him. It was the sound of that howling. He couldn't stand it - it drove him mad.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

More from Tobias/Derr: Strange Bigfoot

An Update: For A Small Fee . . .

Maybe I was too harsh. I always feel bad when I “sneer” although that’s not what my intent was in posting the earlier piece. I admitted I’m a snob when it comes to writing styles; all that run on sentence stuff, with little or incorrect punctuation, just throws me off. And I admit the “for a small fee” comment got to me as well. Tobias insists that if any field researchers decide to pursue this and want to contact the witness, a fee for the photos (there are more) is required. Tobias has the contact information for the witness. See here for my first post on this.

I also don’t feel comfortable giving my phone number out to someone I’ve just me on-line; or getting that close to someone right off.

Still, Steve Tobias/Derr sent me another e-mail today, thanking me for the “fair” article I posted here yesterday. He explained himself a bit more about the “for a small fee” and sent me two images, which you can see here.

I can’t really say anything about this case, since I haven’t spoken directly with anyone involved,haven’t been to the site, or done any research at all. But it is interesting in the body of “weird Bigfoot data” and for that, here it is. I’m also, as always, interested in the people involved in things like this. A true report of very weird things, a mistake or misinterpretation of events, a hoax, whatever it may be, it’s clear Tobias is passionate about UFOs and this topic. That’s clear from reading his posts that appear all over the internet; he feels strongly enough to share his views and spread the word.

And I do thank him for replying and sending the photos.

Okay, so what about the case itself? We have:

  • UFOs and lights connected with a Bigfoot sighting

  • Photos (two of which are here)

  • a dead calf up in a tree

  • coyotes won’t go near the body

  • dead animals all over the place

  • Bigfoot type creature, referred to as “Ol Shaggy”

  • Sounds of tree hitting

  • footprints (were casts made?)

  • Bait left out for Shaggy taken

  • Tobias/Derr is “ex-military” (air force)

  • Case “shunned by media,” when submitted by Tobias/Derr

  • estimated 9ft creature seen and photographed

  • Creature disappeared “in a flash” when gun was aimed at it

  • The area in the daytime, photo courtesy of Tobias.


    Early evening, as one of the encounters was happening, with light in distance. The dead calf was found in the tree:


    Derr’s thoughts on Bigfoot, stated in the earlier post, there is no “real” Bigfoot:
    the truth on Bigfoot is easy to give you... the situation is that aliens will wear some type of costume to resemble a hairy ape creature rather than allow humans to see their recon units in their actual appearance ( as obviously alien) . the reason there is no credible reason to assume Bigfoot is real is due to the natural reproduction cycle on earth of creatures...

    Personally, I have no problem with paranormal/supernatural Bigfoot, but this is a new one, and seems -- forgive me -- silly. His thoughts on Bigfoot as some kind of sentry or scout sent by aliens isn’t a new one however; see some of the accounts in Peter Guittilla’s Bigfoot Files book, for example.

    Another comment I found interesting was this one:
    I sent you a few pictures .. you can see if you look the trajectory of something moving very fast .. have now also found dead coyotes , squirrels , birds , fish in a pond for absolutely no reason .. think itsa sterilization practice run ?

    The comment about the trajectory is interesting, and for some reason reminds me of events at the Skinwalker ranch, as recounted in the book Hunt for the Skinwalker.

    One theory about cattle mutilations is one involving the government: government testing of livestock to monitor radiation, fallout, levels of poisons and chemicals in the environment, etc. Is there a connection here in some way?

    Bigfoot in Arkansas
    There's a report of a "Wild Man" in Arkansas from 1851, courtesy of the Bigfoot Encounters site.

    And of course there's the Fouke Monster, the Bigfoot like creature that was seen frequently in the late 1960s and the '70s. There was a movie made in 1972:Legend of Boggy Creek about the sightings.

    Tuesday, January 1, 2008

    Culture of Contact: Jeremy Vaeni Interview

    Do I come out and finally acknowledge I've been abducted? Do I sound like Minnie Mouse or Ertha Kitt? Find out on Culture of Contact!

    Bigfoot: One of Seven Fortean Wonders of the World

    Bigfoot/Yeti (and I'd include Yowie of course) is among the 7 Fortean Wonders of the World.

    For a Small Fee . . .

    Well, the paranormal New Year has started off with an interesting kick in the pants. I just recevied the following e-mail today. I'm posting the entire thing here:
    very interesting writer you are. i saw your comments about being a woman bigfoot researcher,

    i am sending this out to people. i am not involved with the bigfoot researchers in any way...

    Attention Researcher :
    for your review ,

    -a bigfoot case with a ufo sighting and captured on still photos of ufos-
    [also can be described as strange lights in forested, rural area.]

    date/Location of event : november 20 , 2007. late evening. Arkansas.

    a bigfoot case with a ufo sighting and captured on film of the ufos.
    this is the emailed released transcript of conversation of nic the witness / photographer/ rancher and the interviewer derr (steve tobias ufo researcher)...date of interview was dec 30, 2007

    nic (n) : who are you ?

    derr (d) : i am one of the last best hopes of earth-- against unknown alien hordes... makes yer day more bright just reading that i bet.

    n-sending you images--here is one (ufo) departing .. fast .. the other photo sent less than a second later , they were in the western sky .. enclosed is a day pict so you can see no houses , no reflections , no sound either and they wernt that far away .. 400 yards maybe ? big enough for me to sit in one .. no bigger .. they were up in the trees on the hill .. found a dead calf the next morn .. coyotes wont eat it .. very strange , they will eat a pet off your chain in the yard , but not this calf , we drug it off with a tractor .. its decaying very nicely .. ya think yer alone derr, in your views ?
    I sent you a few pictures .. you can see if you look the trajectory of something moving very fast .. have now also found dead coyotes , squirrels , birds , fish in a pond for absolutely no reason .. think itsa sterilization practice run ? whole area of the woods thinned out including possums , racoons , deer .. still some but not as nuch as normal .. 50% maybe less just is dead,was very lucky and knew something had been / was there . we also have a lil ole creature who wanders in from Okla here .. (bigfoot)large guy , very shaggy , very angry .. and he is what I had been following when I got these picts ..before that I had been deep in the woods cutting seasoned wood .. I will get a pict of ole Shaggy soon , got him eating at a bait station .. he likes sweet feed with Sorghum .. see a few foot prints , hear him hitting trees, and I thought I was crazy .. nice to know someone else thinks about this too. - Nic

    d-based on your witnessing of such an event ( and generously sharing info with me) and finding a dead carcass and based on the location of the sighting i am willing to share information with you on my recent work if you promise to share it with as many people as you possibly can , whether they are interested in the subject or not...
    let me know if you wish for this recent research material but i advise you its made by someone who has impeccable credentials and is also ex us air force and is info not seen by the public since tv news and newspapers refuse to contact me after i contacted them...-Derr

    d- my assessment of the ufo photo Nic has sent is exceptionally important based on the others you sent showing the area is without any normal light source from humans.i am one of the best ufo researchers (not part of the govt) alive in the usa who is relatively unknown... i started to release info in 2006 and 2007 but been involved with the issues since 1991 -Derr

    n-taken in Southern Washington Co Arkansas .. 11-20-07 after dark .. that's west behind us .. no reflected light , I was surprised you could see them .. see the big shape under the tree line? like 9 ft tall dude .. walked really weird too , side to side heavy swagger wal;k .. I treid to mimic it but just cant .. my hips wont move out like that .. very strange as I said .. we are just a couple of good ole boys who had been sober that day .. go figure ..Rancher R. was pulling a bead on him with a .243 caliber rifle and I took the pict .. and zoom , everything was gone , a little flash and ....nothing but a breeze .. it was so quiet , like the sound had been sucked out of the world for a few moments and when we got there .. a dead calf. It was the same calf that earlier we went thru herding cattle 2 hours before, was pushing heads with other calves,running and bucking at the jeep , very odd , we dont talk about it, you have my permission to use the picts any way you want to . who knows what it is ? -Nic

    d-about the bigfoot sightings you have had , the truth on bigfoot is easy to give you... the situation is that aliens will wear some type of costume to resemble a hairy ape creature rather than allow humans to see their recon units in their actual appearance ( as obviously alien) . the reason there is no credible reason to assume bigfoot is real is due to the natural reproduction cycle on earth of creatures... there are always imperfectly made creations... thus there is no bigfoot since there has never been recorded info of sick ones or blind ones or deaf ones or handicapped ones ever... thus you have the rubiks cube theory that allows you to see there is no real bigfoot...there are reports of unknown large creatures however... so thus my explanation is of a tactical nature...the bigfoot seen is the scout who makes sure the humans do not get closer to whatever work is being done by alien scout forces on the ground... when they finish they depart... the bigfoot disguised creatures are like sentries...apparently the tactic works very well.... - Derr

    d- linda moulton howe and some other researchers have an online presence and deal with cattle or animal deaths and the interaction of same with possible alien life forms since at least. since you are a witness to something odd you can make out a report to give to your own state's ufo report organization--you can see if mufon has a chapter in your state... if you wish to have more information about my work--- i can never give any thing but the worse case scenarios to people due to the ufo cover up of information by the cover up agencies... some of which are not really part of the official govt in wash dc. -Derr
    d -your pics would be important based on any observations you write about their movements and if you assumed they were flying in or through wooded areas that human aircraft could not fly thru safely....
    you were lucky to get a ufo image-- and now you may be realizing the so called bigfoot you were after is picked up by the crew upon the end of their mission whatever it is... maybe you are beginning to see the entire puzzle with these added pieces... -Derr
    from Derr :
    (ufo researchers)
    i repeat the witness most important comments here:
    n-taken in Southern Washington Co Arkansas .. 11-20-07 after dark .. that's west behind us .. no reflected light , I was surprised you could see them .. see the big shape under the tree line? like 9 ft tall dude .. walked really weird too , side to side heavy swagger wal;k .. I treid to mimic it but just cant .. my hips wont move out like that .. very strange as I said .. we are just a couple of good ole boys who had been sober that day .. go figure ..Rancher R. was pulling a bead on him with a .243 caliber rifle and I took the pict .. and zoom , everything was gone , a little flash and ....nothing but a breeze .. it was so quiet , like the sound had been sucked out of the world for a few moments and when we got there .. a dead calf. It was the same calf earlier when we went thru herding cattle 2 hours before, was pushing heads with other calves, running and bucking at the jeep , very odd , we dont talk about it .. you have my permission to use the picts any way you want to . who knows what it is ? -Nic
    ( end of the released transcript )

    : photos in possession of the witness and the organization cippac headed by Derr *1,

    : witness wishes to be paid for his contributions and cippac agrees so please offer a small payment if you wish to have the photos.

    *1 - Derr is Steve Tobias, UFO Researcher since 1991
    and Veteran US Air Force .

    : disseminate this information widely once you have obtained the photographs or feel its a valid event / sighting .

    : google search phrase "steve tobias ufo" to see some of the latest work by Derr (S. Tobias)


    For "a small payment" I can have the photos. Maybe I'm a snob, but I am always immediately suspicious when I come across postings like this that are written so poorly, with improper punctuation, etc. I don't trust them.

    And while I can't blame someone for wanting credit for their research, and the fact they want to make sure their work, including photographs, artwork, etc. is protected, (I know I expect credit where it's due, and get very peeved when someone alters or rips off my work) there's the other side of it as well, which is sharing the data with others. If he wants a "small payment" why doesn't he write a book? (Didn't the witness say Derr/Tobias could have the photos?)

    I did respond, asking him if he's received responses from Bigfoot researhcers. What sent off the final red flag for me was his quick response that: no, I'm the first to respond, and, could we chat on the phone? That makes me uncomfortable. For now, I'll pass, see where this goes, and if anyone else has received this same e-mail.

    I Googled 'Steve Tobias, UFO researcher" and found these links:

    A YouTube video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcMGCtPPLmw&feature=related

    He's commented on various forums about ufos and related topics, such as here:
    http://forgetomori.com/2007/science/meteorite-makes-30-meter-crater-in-peru/

    And he's posted comments on Greg Bishop's UFO Mystic:
    http://www.ufomystic.com/wake-up-down-there/ufo-researchers-and-the-us-government/

    There's more of course but this should give readers an idea of the flavor of the thing.

    Happy New Year!