“Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale” Opens

After four years of discussions and planning, Bates College Museum of Art opens its doors for the exhibition entitled “Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale.” Early reviews are extremely positive, and one of the first write-ups is in Absolute Arts. Three themes are traced through art projects and essays in the exhibition and book: Artists, Adventurers, Environmentalists; History of Science, Taxonomy, Dioramas, Museum Display; and Pop Culture, Myth, Spectacle, and Fraud. Featured artists include Rachel Berwick, Sarina Brewer, Walmor Correa, Mark Dion, Sean Foley, Joan Fontcuberta and Pere Formiguera, Ellen Lesperance, Robert Marbury, Jill Miller, Vik Muniz, Jeanine Oleson, Rosamond [...]

The Wonders of St. John’s Day

St. John’s Day June 24 Knights Templars display “Mysterious Head” at Poitiers (1308). Founding of the Order of the Garter (1348). John Cabot discovers North America (1497). Galileo released (1633). “Woman of the Wilderness” utopian community arrives in America (1694). “W of W” angelic visions (1701). Grand Lodge of Freemasons inaugurated (1717). Ambrose Bierce born (1842). Red rain, Italy (1877). Ice fall, Ft. Lyon, Colorado (1877). Fall of jelly-like mass, Eton (1911). Fred Hoyle born (1915). Mick Fleetwood (1942) and Jeff Beck (1944) born. First day of “flying saucer” history, Mt. Rainier & Mt. Adams, Washington State (1947). Filmstock fire [...]

Three New Lemurs

Three New Lemurs Named in Madagascar Conservation International June 21, 2006 To recognize an internationally renowned primatologist and champion of Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, scientists who discovered three new species of mouse lemur on the island nation have named one in honor of Russell A. Mittermeier, the president of Conservation International. Mittermeier, the longtime chair of the IUCN Primate Special Group, is an expert on Madagascar and its lemurs, the distinctive primates found nowhere else on Earth. He is the lead author of “Lemurs of Madagascar,” a comprehensive field guide on the country’s flagship species. His efforts inspired researcher Mireya Mayor [...]

Vote the Yowie Slate In ‘08

There is finally a political candidate we can all back, totally, and support, unconditionally. Tim the Yowie Man may be running for election in Australia in 2008. According to the media reports out of Australia for June 21, 2006, the threat is a serious one: The wrath of parents may be the least of ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope’s concerns after the announcement the nation’s chief Yowie hunter may fight him at the next election. Tim the Yowie Man has issued a challenge to Mr Stanhope to reverse a string of Budget cuts announced on June 6 or face him [...]

Monkey Man Is Back?

“‘Monkey man’ causes stir” announces the headline, and one might think that another possible cryptozoological wonder (at least, the more cryptid one above) was out and about again in India. But not so fast. The media report from June 21, 2006, reveals another kind of “Monkey Man,” as it turns out, unfortunately named as such. Thousands of people are flocking to an impoverished Indian village in eastern West Bengal state to worship a man they believe possesses divine powers because he climbs up trees in seconds, gobbles up bananas and has a “tail”. Devotees say 27-year-old villager Chandre Oraon is [...]

Narrator of The Legend of Loch Ness Dies

Arthur Franz, a character actor whose voice will forever be remembered as the narrator of The Legend of Loch Ness, died at St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard, California, of heart failure and emphysema, on June 17, 2006, at the age of 86. The film was a 1976 documentary on the famed Scottish Lake Monsters, Nessie. Franz was earlier best known for his role in Invaders from Mars (1953). Franz, who lived in New Zealand until the last month or so, had been in failing health for some time and wanted to spend his remaining days in California. Franz also played [...]

Orang Pendek in Maine

Delivered today, for inclusion in the Bates College exhibition, "Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale," the Adam Davies-Andrew Sanderson-obtained Orang Pendek original cast, from September 2001. During their next expedition, they were recorded on the National Geographic Channel’s documentary, Is It Real?: Ape-Man, Episode 14, Season 2, which first aired Monday, February 27, 2006. Please click on the image for a larger version of the photograph. The description of the program asked: Does the Orang Pendek — a.k.a. the "Little Man of Sumatra" — really exist? Those who insist they have seen it describe a three-foot-tall ape-like creature that walks [...]