Books

Cryptozoology in KC

A publication called Pitch Weekly in Kansas City, Missouri, has stepped up with one of the first critiques of the Bates traveling exhibition in a column called, “Art Capsule Reviews” for November 2, 2006. In Santiago Ramos’ November 2nd review, he writes: Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale – A cryptid is a creature like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster — that is, lost, rumored or thought to be extinct. Cryptozoology is a science — or pseudoscience, depending on whom you ask — that studies such creatures. A real-life cryptozoologist named Loren Coleman joins 17 artists from around the [...]

Sci-Fi’s Mothman Non-Investigation

On October 26, 2006, "Sci-fi Investigates" broadcast their "Mothman" episode. While it had a few moments that are pure entertainment and certainly funny, it had little or nothing to do with "investigating" Mothman or unexplained phenomena. The program was a forensic failure. Eyewitnesses were interviewed, sites were visited, group discussions were recorded, and more eyewitnesses were interviewed. The archival footage was interesting, but the repeating images of the collapsed bridge and created Mothman-in-flight scenes were visibly boring after their third time through. Come on, did they run out of b-roll so quickly? Skepticism and Ridicule Are Not the Same Thing [...]

Days of Mothman Malaise

Despite strange dark clouds on the horizon, there does seem to be more promising news on 76-year-old John A. Keel’s slow recovery from his heart attack. Keel, as this Mothman time of year rapidly approaches, is recuperating nicely, still in a New York-area hospital. He may be released today or tomorrow, and then be admitted to a rehab center for a few days of physical therapy. Details are still emerging about the recent events. Figuring out an exact date for Keel’s heart attack is developing into a mystery unto itself. He apparently had a covert one a few days before [...]

I’ve Lost Your E-Addresses

During the last few weeks and finally coming to a terrible implosion on Wednesday, October 19, 2006, I have lost all my emails, all my email addresses, and all archived material that I was stupidly keeping stored in e-messages. In total, yesterday, I lost over 60,000 saved emails (the “good ones” collected during the entire time I’ve owned this computer – since 1999). Lesson learned, of course. I have no one to blame but myself, but I could not make my computer email work or open or be “seen” on yesterday’s wacky Wednesday. I had to clean, clear, dump, delete, [...]

John A. Keel Prognosis Is Good

John A. Keel in 2002, shown here during the release of The Mothman Prophecies motion picture. The news on 76-year-old John A. Keel’s recovery from his heart attack is good. Just in from Doug Skinner… I just spoke with Keel. He had the operation yesterday, but is doing fine, and is due to be released tomorrow. I’ll be meeting him at the hospital, and helping him get back home and stock up on groceries. The prognosis is good! Many thanks to confirmations and news via John Frick, Mark Pilkington, and George Hansen. To answer those that have asked: John A. [...]

Crypto Rescue

Do something good today. Help out a member of our community get back up on his feet! This is not about me. But I empathize. Living the life of a cryptozoologist, on the edge of survival, is not easy and is no joke. I think we all have are own personal stories of struggle. People think I am joking when I talk about money problems, because people have a fantasy that if you are an author or a retired university instructor you’re rich. I’ve experienced it all personally, this life on the edge, and yet make a choice to hold [...]