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Thursday, October 30, 2008 The Milton Lizard In the summer of 1975, a cryptid described as resembling a 15-foot monitor lizard was sighted multiple times at Canip Creek, near the town of Milton, in Trimble County. It's come to be known as the Milton Lizard, sometimes called the Canip Monster. Clarence Cable, manager of the Blue Grass Body Shop, saw the hissing creature come out from behind some wrecked vehicles. Cable said it had "big eyes similar to a frog's... Beneath its mouth was an off-white color and there were black and white stripes cross ways of its body with quarter-sized speckles over it." The lizard was described by Cable as having a long forked tongue and huge, bulging, froglike eyes. Its skin was said to be black and white striped, and with small speckles. After the concentrated flurry of sightings in 1975, it was never seen again, leaving Fortean researchers to wonder. Some have theorized the Milton Lizard might have been a monitor lizard (pictured above) that somehow got released into Kentucky's ecosystem. (The city of Milton's other claim to fame, incidentally, is that the Rat Pack film Some Came Running was filmed here.)

In a world where the hunt for unknown animals such as Bigfoot has become reality TV fodder, Ken Gerhard quietly goes in search of the truth behind monster sightings. All over America and even beyond, when people see monsters or unexplainable animals, they give Gerhard a call or shoot him an email. The Houston-born author and rising name in the field of cryptozoology (the study of unknown or unexpected animals) was previously a star of the goth and dark electronica music scene that once included nationally known bands in our city. He toured and released extensively with the likes of Flowers and Machines and Bamboo Crisis, but two decades in the music industry eventually burned him out. Now he hunts Bigfoot, thunderbirds, the chupacabra and other cryptids. He says it's a lot less stressful and much more rewarding. He hasn't left stagecraft behind entirely, though. When tracking Bigfoot, he dresses in black leathers and matching cowboy hat. On this investigation he's in Carrabelle, Florida, at the invitation of the Carrabelle City Council. People claim they've seen a black panther in the woods, a creature described as the size of a small cougar and dubbed "The Carrabelle Cat." As part of his invitation, Gerhard was sent a link to a YouTube video shot by a hunter in a deer stand. Large cats like the cougar are believed extinct in the United States east of the Mississippi River, save in Florida. Despite sightings, there has never been a 100 percent verified account of an all-black, or melanistic, cougar. If this sighting were confirmed, it would be the first, or perhaps it would indicate the existence of a new species of large cat. Gerhard comes prepared. He brings with him a cardboard cutout of the panther based on the estimated measurements he received from his contact. Upon arriving, he is able to locate the deer blind spot where the sighting occurred and climbs into the same tree as the hunter. After some tinkering, he carefully positions the cutout so he can re-create the shot the hunter took. Satisfied with his work, Gerhard will show his photo to experts who gauge ratios in photography to see if the Florida woods really are hiding an unknown large black cat after all. Eventually the analysis is complete and the panther measures in at... Thirteen inches. No bigger than a common house cat. The city is not amused, and according to Gerhard virtually runs him out of town, but this is the difference between the real world of monster investigation and the sort of thing you will see on a show like Mountain Monsters. On TV, a team of brave explorers are always just one step away from capturing or shooting some mysterious beastie that at the last second gives them the slip, disappearing back into the mists of the unknown to serve as bait for another intrepid band. It's thrilling. It's exciting. It's riveting drama. It's mostly hooey. "Cryptozoology is based on scientific process, so I think it's important to keep that in mind," says Gerhard. "Even though it's a discipline that deals with bizarre possibilities, it was designed by zoologists." Modern-day sasquatchploitation is very different from things like Leonard Nimoy's In Search of..., the show that first inspired Gerhard as a child. Finding Bigfoot, now in its fifth season, is one of Animal Planet's most watched shows despite criticism by researchers that the program is scripted and overly sensational. Gerhard learned early on to be very careful with which invitations he accepts to appear on television to discuss Bigfoot, lest he end up appearing different from the way he intended once the footage is edited. "The field keeps getting black eyes from fictional stories portrayed as fact," he says. "Lots of very terrible shows full of actors running around pretending to hunt monsters. It's train-wreck television." Gerhard's approach is different. He moved to San Antonio eight years ago to be closer to the majority of Bigfoot sightings in Texas and maximize the number he could investigate in the field. His apartment is covered in maps on which he marks with push pins each sighting or report he finds out about. He looks for clusters from multiple sources, indicators that something has enough of a presence that it's unlikely to be the result of widespread misidentification or hoaxsters. The best candidates feature nearly identical stories and descriptions from unrelated individuals. "I'll give Ken credit for actually going out into the field," says Chester Moore, a wildlife journalist who mentored Gerhard when he started out and helped him prepare for a trip to Belize to investigate Bigfoot sightings there. "There aren't a lot of guys who do actually get out and dig around, and that is what matters. He definitely has a passion for it. Ken is aggressive in his pursuit." His ultimate dream is to find enough evidence of something to present to a peer-reviewed scientific journal. To do that, he has staked his claim across southeast Texas; sent after monsters, he's looking for answers. Most people don't associate Texas and the South with Bigfoot or the Yeti. The most famous cases all derive from the heavily wooded Pacific Northwest. However, when it comes to sightings of Bigfoot and other creatures of unknown origin, Texas and neighboring states are among the most prolific locations in the country. This is especially true of the Big Thicket, where the land turns swampy and inaccessible as the Sabine River bleeds into Texas. Rob Riggs, author of Weird Texas, In the Big Thicket and other books on cryptozoology and paranormal phenomena, traces the beginning of major Bigfoot sightings in our state to a 1952 Kountze News article that described a "naked hairy wild man" in the woods of Hardin County. Riggs was seven years old then, and was riveted by the reports of coming in from hunters and people who had briefly glimpsed whatever it was from passing cars. The stories were at least credible enough that the Sheriff's Office was moved to investigate the claims, finding strange tracks but little else. "There were no bears at the time; they'd all been hunted out," says Riggs. "My grandfather didn't think it was a man because he didn't think that a man could live in the woods. The South has as much forest, mountains, swamps and inaccessible terrain as the Pacific Northwest." Before that there's a famous case from the 19th century involving the Wild Man (Sometimes Woman) of the Navidad. In 1837, sightings of a short creature covered in hair began to occur in the settlements along the Navidad River bottom. Food was taken from caches, but never money or valuables. Sometimes tools were stolen, but they would be mysteriously returned polished. Slaves referred to the creature as The Thing That Comes, and manhunts were organized for its capture. Some accounts say that eventually a naked African man (or woman) was apprehended in 1850 but that since he or she spoke no English and no one spoke the African dialect he or she used, the mystery was no closer to a solution. According to folklore, the Wild Man or Woman was sold into slavery and died in 1884. Reports kept coming in from East Texas and still do to this day. According to the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy, there have been more than 30 reported sightings in recent years in Liberty and Montgomery counties alone. That's in the present, though, when "Bigfoot" has become a household name. In the early days, there was no universally established term for what people were seeing in the woods. The name Bigfoot itself wasn't coined until six years after the sightings in Hardin County were reported. Texans referred to it as a wild man, or a woolly booger or as nothing at all. The concept of Bigfoot hadn't really taken hold, and people were unaware of how widespread what was happening actually was. "People didn't have the mobility they have today," says Riggs. "They didn't know about Bigfoot and Sasquatch up north, so there wasn't any projection. And Hardin might not know that in Polk, the same thing might be sighted." Riggs is very leery of even using the term "Bigfoot" himself and says that the one book he has published on the subject used the word in the title against his wishes. The generalizations sometimes cause witnesses to see what they expect to see, not necessarily what is actually there, he says. Forty years of investigating in Texas have led Riggs to believe that not only is there something in the woods, but it is distinctly different from the creature that is more commonly cited in reports from the Northwest. Up there Bigfoot is generally reported as a tall, bipedal hominid, whereas most reports in the South describe a creature that is smaller and moves on all fours. There is ample fossil evidence of Bigfoot-like creatures until around a million years ago. The massive ape hominid Gigantopithecus, the species most often associated with the Bigfoot, was still leaving fossils behind only 300,000 years ago. However, there is no established tradition of apes such as these in North America, and the few monkeys native to the New World were early forms that reached this part of the world from Africa probably by way of vegetation rafts around 43 million years ago, according to fossil discoveries at the Devil's Graveyard Formation in southwest Texas. That's closer to the dinosaurs than to us, and climate change at the end of the Eocene is supposed to have killed them off 33 million years ago. On the other hand, just because a creature disappears from the fossil record or the public eye is not necessarily a reason to dismiss the possibility of its continued existence. The last Tasmanian tiger was thought to have died in captivity in 1936, but sightings of the creature have remained so numerous that while the Tasmanian government says there's no conclusive evidence for its survival, the state's wildlife management office hedges its bets by saying the animal is only "probably extinct." There's also the case of the coelacanth, a bony fish that was believed to have become extinct 66 million years ago but which was discovered alive in 1938. Even fairly large animals are sometimes rediscovered. The Caspian horse, a small equine indigenous to Iran, was believed to have died out in the 7th century, but was found to have survived among the peasants in the mountains of northern Iran in the 1960s. Today there is a small but healthy breeding stock. When Riggs went to work for the same newspaper that inspired his interest in the subject in the first place, he asked readers for any reports of apes in the Texas woods. Not Sasquatch or Bigfoot, just unexplained creatures that might have been spotted. He was astounded at the number of people who came forward and how similar their stories were. In keeping with what little is known about primates in North America, many reports do seem comparable to what paleontological knowledge we have of ancient Texas primates. So despite the unlikelihood of a large surviving primate of some kind existing in remote or hidden parts of Texas and filling some sort of forgotten ecological niche, there's no particular reason to think it's out of the question entirely. It's merely unproved. "What I often tell people is that if you immerse yourself in the field, you'd be blown away by the amount of evidence," Gerhard says. "They just get pieces of the puzzle. There's a literal ton of eyewitness accounts, foot casts, hair samples and the like. It's a situation where from a mathematical standpoint, it's highly probable that these creatures exist in North America, but it's also statistically impossible that nothing is out there. It's a weird juxtaposition of highly unlikely realities, but one of them has to be right." An open mind like Gerhard's is very important in Bigfoot and other monster hunting because the field is full of hoaxsters, the mentally unstable and people who refuse to acknowledge the more mundane truth behind what they might have seen. The elder statesman of cryptozoology is Loren Coleman, who has been a leading name in the field for more than 50 years and has authored more than a dozen books about monsters on land, in the sea and in the air. One of the reasons his reputation has endured for so long is that he is, in his own words, neither a true believer nor a debunker. "I don't like true believers or debunkers," says Coleman. "Ken and I are the middle ground. Skeptically open-minded or open-mindedly skeptical. People want mystery in their lives, but Ken is a very good researcher because he knows a lot about misidentification. He looks for the natural explanation." For instance, there is the famous chupacabra that many Texans claim to have seen. First sighted in 1995 in Puerto Rico, the demonic, doglike creature is believed to be responsible for gruesome and mysterious cattle mutilations. It's been sighted as far north as Maine, but reports are most numerous from the southern United States and northern Mexico. People often ask if cryptozoologists have ever truly discovered anything, and in a sense they have. They have discovered that the chupacabra is a coyote afflicted with mange. Sometimes it is a dog/coyote mix or has Mexican wolf blood, but that is all it ever has been. "Nearly 100 percent of chupacabra sightings are dogs with mange," says Coleman. "It's not that people are trying to hoax us, but they believe what they believe." Hoaxes are a major problem in the field, maybe even more so than misidentification. Recently a man named Rick Dyer claimed to have shot and killed a Bigfoot outside San Antonio in an area Gerhard describes as "50 feet from a Starbucks." Dyer celebrated this amazing feat by touring the United States with the alleged corpse of the Bigfoot, charging admission to view it. Our own Alamo Drafthouse hosted a showing alongside some Bigfoot films. Though the corpse was an obvious fake to most people, Dyer kept making appearances until finally admitting the whole thing was a fraud earlier this year. This was actually his second Bigfoot corpse scam, and he made around $60,000 from the endeavor. "Rick Dyer is interested in celebrity," says Coleman. "Negative celebrity, but celebrity nonetheless. And money. He sold the corpse of his Georgia Bigfoot for $50,000. Poor guy that bought it never even took him to court because he was so embarrassed." Yet even though the hoaxes receive a ton of media attention, Coleman says they make up barely 1 percent of all sightings. Another 80 percent are written off as misidentifications, but that still leaves a solid 19 percent where something strange and unexplainable happened. According to Riggs, the strange and unexplainable often happens in clusters in Texas. There are plenty of isolated Bigfoot and wild-man sightings, just as there are plenty of isolated UFO sightings, but in many places, they happen in close proximity to one another. "One theory is that Bigfoot sightings are part of a range of paranormal activity in specific places," Riggs says. "Like in Hardin County you'll get a report of a Bigfoot creature, but also UFOs, unusual luminous phenomena, magnetic disturbances, blackouts, etc. All these things occur regionally in places like Goodrich and Lee counties." Riggs also says that howling vocalizations -- which people often say they hear when they see something that looks like Bigfoot to them -- are known in this type of regional activity. As other sources have noted, these vocalizations may offer an explanation for many sightings. Infrasound is lower in frequency than 20 Hz, the bottom of the normal range of human hearing. In 1957 a French robotics researcher named Vladimir Gavreau noticed that the vibrating of metal pipes in his lab induced nausea and bleeding from the ears in himself and his lab assistants. According to Steve Goodman's book Sonic Warfare, through experimentation, Gavreau deduced that sounds between 7 Hz and 19 Hz had the effect of creating fear, panic and dread in human beings through resonance with internal organs, and he even sought to militarize the discovery. Richard Lord, an acoustic scientist at the National Physical Laboratory in England, was reported to have done experiments with infrasound in 2003. In an interview with NBC, he and his colleagues described how they would play audiences selections of music laced with infrasound and then gauge their reactions. Twenty-two percent of those who heard the infrasound pieces reported feeling frightened, uneasy or nervous. Another English scientist, Vic Tandy, further experimented with the way infrasound causes humans to react after he started seeing what looked like a gray ghost seated near his desk. Eventually he found an exhaust fan that produced sound at 18.5 Hz. After he modified the fan, sightings of the ghost and mysterious feelings of depression in the lab ceased. Tandy later went on to show that the "haunted" cellar of a nearby abbey where ghost sightings were common was actually vibrating from infrasound produced by nearby factories and amplified by the shape of the cellar. His work was eventually published in the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. What this has to do with Bigfoot sightings is that many animals can produce infrasound as well. Elephants, for instance, do so. Tigers are especially good at it, with a roar pitched at 18.5 Hz and well known to paralyze prey with fear. According to a 2000 study by Elizabeth von Muggenthaler, a bio--acoustician with the Fauna Communications Research Institute in North Carolina, infrasound is the reason. There are no tigers in the woods of Texas, but there are big cats. Chester Moore has spent years attempting to show that the jaguarondi of Mexico ranges much farther north than science generally accepts, and he believes they are responsible for many black panther sightings like the one Gerhard investigated in Florida. Moore himself saw one cross the road in front of him near Port Arthur in 2001. He later confirmed there were jaguarondi tracks at the scene. Moore also says that cougars are increasingly showing up in places from which the public has long thought they had disappeared. In 2011 a 140-pound mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in Connecticut. Genetic testing revealed it had traveled all the way from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Young males usually travel up to 100 miles in search of a mate, but this was the first time a wild cougar had been confirmed in the state of Connecticut in 100 years. The third-largest cat in the world, the jaguar, is North American, and prior to 1940 it was seen far into east Texas. The jaguar is one of only four big cats capable of roaring like a tiger and producing infrasound that causes fear. As with the jaguarondi, there are also known to be all-black jaguars. It's not outside the realm of possibility that such creatures have more to do with Texas Bigfoot legends than we realize. "Cryptozoology isn't always about the fabulous or the unbelievable," says Gerhard. "It's just about the unexpected." The mainstream media perception of cryptozoology and the search for the truth behind legends like Bigfoot has recently taken a sensationalistic turn. In 2013 the Discovery Channel ran a "documentary" on the extinct giant shark known as the megalodon that used actors and staged footage to make it appear that attacks by megalodons had been reported recently. The program drew on oceanic cryptid sightings like The Submarine of South Africa and the giant shark known as The Lord of the Deep that was reported off the coast of New South Wales in 1918, giving it even more credibility as fact. Though there was a disclaimer saying the program was fiction, a post-show poll revealed that nearly 80 percent of viewers thought it was real. Loren Coleman spoke to the Houston Press concerning the show, saying, "I taught a documentary film course for 20 years at the University of Southern Maine to 100 to 200 juniors and seniors a semester. We examined these kinds of programs routinely. This may be one of the worst examples of a production trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public with a docudrama presented as a documentary. The flash of the disclaimer at the end was unprofessional and verged on the unethical. Discovery Channel should be ashamed of itself." Animal Planet did the same thing a year earlier with its show Mermaids: The Bodies Found, which followed a similar format and also fooled viewers. The response to the fauxcumentary was equally overwhelming. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration received so many calls regarding the program and the revelation about the existence of mermaids that it was forced to release a statement saying, "The belief in mermaids may have arisen at the very dawn of our species. Magical female figures first appear in cave paintings in the late Paleolithic (Stone Age) period some 30,000 years ago, when modern humans gained dominion over the land and, presumably, began to sail the seas...But are mermaids real? No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found." "I still get asked about the mermaids," Gerhard admits. "All the time." Fall and hunting season are approaching, a time when the weather is pleasant enough to head out into the woods and the presence of hunters means more sightings. It's these months that keep Gerhard the busiest, and he looks forward to going wherever the call of Bigfoot takes him. Maybe even home. There's a Bigfoot sighting right here in Houston that he's been meaning to come look at in person. A couple jogging in Terry Hershey Park who had a penchant for venturing off the path into wooded areas had a frightful encounter three years ago. "It happened on Sunday, April 2, 2011," says Gerhard. "JM (Not his real name) and his girlfriend were near a creek and spotted a caved-in area on the shore. At first they thought it was a very tall homeless man, but he didn't look quite normal. Somehow inhuman. He had a hairy face and large black eyes. Startled by the couple, it ran. A few days later, they returned to find some hair, which I have not had for analysis yet, and a half-eaten fish. It was tall and thin, and there was a foul smell around the area." The couple also described low-pitched grunts and moans. If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters. SHOW ME HOW You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in! Another recent sighting might involve Houston's most famous unexplained monster, The Bat Man. In 1953 something monstrous was sighted in the Heights. Hilda Walker, a 23-year-old housewife, and two of her neighbors saw a large shadow flying over their lawns. It was man-size and manlike, dressed in what looked like a paratrooper's outfit. After being spotted, it faded into the night, never to be seen again. Or did it? Gerhard recently received two emails from a Cloverleaf woman who said a "large man bat" swooped down on her in her backyard. The thing was so large that it blotted out the light from her porch, and the woman was so scared it would attack her that she fled inside with her dog. From then on she began taking her smoke breaks on the front porch instead, only to see another shape crash down into her tree. It was large enough to dislodge and break several dead branches, which fell to the ground. That's when she contacted Gerhard. It's the sort of thing Gerhard loves. He initially made his name reporting on unexplained large flying creatures over the Texas skies, including a supposed pterosaur sighting in Houston in 2012. It's not as glamorous as TV makes it look these days, but it's still what he calls his job. "You have to be objective," says Gerhard. "This is about the pursuit of knowledge. It's about trying to find the answer behind what people are seeing."

A 2013 book by the Speculative Biology Dream Team of Tetrapod Zoology's Darren Naish, John Conway and C.M. Koseman, hot on the heels of their game-changing paleontology book All Yesterdays, The Cryptozoologicon takes their earlier work's premise of challenging the public's preconceptions of various enigmatic creatures that have captured the imaginations of generations of people with new speculative visions crafted with a strong grounding in biology, and turns it from extinct dinosaurs to the weird and wonderful world of cryptids: those elusive mystery animals, the Bigfoots* , Nessies and many others unknown to modern science, sought after by a handful of intrepid seekers. Each chapter of the book is divided into four sections: Firstly, some historical background on the supposed sightings of the cryptid in question. Secondly, what the cryptid is thought to be by the true believers. Thirdly, what people who know what they're talking about think it actually is. And finally, the part we all came to see: what the creature might be like if it actually existed. Explications of its behavior, biology, and how it may have come to be through a long process of evolution. Naish and his collaborators make no secret of the fact they don't take most of the cryptozoological lore very seriously, but it is still a fascinating subject and a fun opportunity for some evolutionary biology thought experiments that range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Volume 1 of a planned series is now available in both E-book and dead tree formats, with more volumes planned for the future, though Volume 2 is in Development Hell. The mysterious and elusive tropes featured in this book include: - Big Creepy-Crawlies: Fookin' prawns the size of whales, mun! While living in the water would allow it to dodge the Square-Cube Law, the book is oddly silent about how an arthropod's notoriously inefficient breathing system would cope with the increase in size (despite mentioning this very problem earlier in the chapter). - Bigfoot, Sasquatch and Yeti: Both Bigfoot and Yeti get their own segments, as do a few other mystery primates. Interestingly, one creature that isn't a primate in the original legends (at least... not entirely) also gets re-imagined as one. - Chupacabra: Depicted as a carnivorous opossum that hops like a kangaroo. - Composite Character: The book makes a case that most cryptids are to a certain degree. One of the major criticisms of cryptozoology is that investigators often take numerous different (and often contradictory) eyewitness accounts, local legends and other anecdotes and try to combine them into a definitive conception of a single creature, often picking and choosing what they think makes the most sense. - Demythification: Despite basically being the premise of the book, it also contains an odd inversion. Related to the above, Naish argues that many cryptids shouldn't be seen as real animals like many cryptozoologists expect them to be, but rather part of the mythology of various cultures. Perhaps Bigfoot isn't a primate, but a Jungian archetype representing the gulf between man and nature? Kelpies aren't carnivorous horses, they're ways for parents to impress the danger of deep waters and strange animals on their children. Still, it's fun to imagine what they'd be like if they were real. - Green Aesop: A slightly tongue in cheek one, where the speculative sections often mention that maybe the reason nobody can find these animals is because people keep driving them to extinction. - Hellish Horse: The Kelpie (more a mythical beast than a cryptid, but why split hairs?) makes an appearance. Averted here as it's not actually a horse, it just looks like one from a distance. - Hive Queen: The Megarods produce countless tiny "worker" Rods, whose only job is to feed them. They accomplish this by absorbing nutrients through their skin, in the form of various useful chemical particles and microorganism floating in the air, then being re-absorbed by their mother. - Lemony Narrator: The speculative sections can get like this. The various headers as well, most notably: "Are Kelpies real? No, stupid!" - Living Gas Bag: The aforementioned Megarods are gigantic, zeppelin-like arthropod relatives that live their entire lives in the clouds. - Maniac Monkeys: The Goatman of Maryland is recast as a man-sized, possibly carnivorous monkey that has evolved goat-like, digitigrade legs for sprinting. - Mythology Gag: One suspects they only included the Californian Giant Salamanders (a very obscure cryptid that is almost certainly just an escaped/feral imported Asian Giant Salamander) so they could make another reference to the infamous "Homo diluvii" testis. - Non-Indicative Name: Goatman is neither a goat, nor a man, he's a very big monkey. The Real Life Basilosaurus, a fossil initially believed to be a sea snake which later turned out to be an early species of whale, also gets a mention. - Our Monsters Are Weird: Sea platypuses. Man-eating amphibious ungulates. Prawns as big as sperm whales. Invisible living zeppelins that use their disposable young as mobile mouths. Giant vampire possums. Aquatic sabertooth cats. "Real" cryptozoologists are positively sedate compared to Naish and co. - Our Vampires Are Different: Again we say it: Giant. Vampire. Possums. - Playing Possum: The Zuiyo Maru creature, widely believed to be the rotting carcass of a basking shark mistaken for a plesiosaur, is somewhat cheekily re-imagined as a plesiosaur that pretends to be the rotting carcass of a basking shark so that it can eat any scavengers that come its way. - Pokémon Speak: Some of the cryptids, such as the Buru and Ahool, are said to be named for the sound they make. - Prehistoric Monster: Mostly defied. Naish is not a fan of the ever-present trope of various sea monsters being plesiosaurs that somehow survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, because unlike most people he knows enough about paleontology and evolutionary biology to know how implausible it is. The speculative Zuiyo Maru creature does appear to be some kind of sea reptile, but that's mostly for the sake of the joke. - It's also a bit of Fridge Brilliance, as preying exclusively on scavengers would have allowed the creatures to indirectly take advantage of the worldwide carrion economy created by the K-Pg event, thus giving a justification of how they managed to outlast other plesiosaur lineages. - Sand Worm: Sadly averted. The South American cryptid known as the Minhocao, while usually depicted as one, is instead speculated to be a really, really big snake, and is thus unlikely to produce spice. - Science Marches On: Discussed. Another big criticism of the "living dinosaur" paradigm is that the various stories about such creatures usually describe outdated, movie-inspired images of prehistoric animals rather than anything like what modern scientists have been able to reconstruct about what they really looked like. Cryptozoologists in general have an odd tendency to cling to discredited theories long after they've been proven false, notably Bernard Heuvelmans' assertions that the armor-plated Con Rit was a prehistoric whale, working off an outdated reconstruction of one that had already been debunked for decades. - Speculative Biology: Tries to re-interpret cryptids as plausible animals. - Stock Ness Monster: Nessie itself is conspicuously absent from volume 1, though many other sea monsters are covered. A surprising number turn out to be mammals. - Take That!: Since the speculative sections are written from the POV of stereotypical cryptozoologists, the authors don't pass up the chance to satirize some common attitudes in that community. - They Called Me Mad!: The speculative sections are often written in this tone in an effort to stay true to the style of the "genuine" cryptozoological literature. - Turtle Power: A supposed "living dinosaur" is "revealed" to be a member of the tortoise family that has convergently evolved into a kind of reptilian giraffe. - Values Dissonance: The rather terrifying De Loys' Ape is believed to have been the product of a now-discredited racial theory about Native Americans. The fact that one of the people responsible for the hoax later became a Nazi collaborator lends some pretty decent weight to this theory.

Our friends from Cryptid Toys have shared a new update regarding their Super Articulated Action Figure blanks Kickstarter Campaign. Here’s the scoop – As you all are aware, the BackerKit survey and storefront is still not up yet. It’s still coming, and that being delayed does not mean the figures are delayed or change the schedule of things. The factory is closed for Chinese New Year, and they will all return to work and resume the tooling process at the end of the month. Been hard at work on many other cool things for the future of this Blanks line as well as other figures that should be able to bypass the Kickstarter process all together. This Blanks line will help open doors for other lines and other lines will do the same for this Blanks line. Eager to show off some other figures when the time is right. In the mean time, here is a look at the work in progress female blank body that will be a future release: Thank you all for your patience. Look for the next update much sooner than this one came! How awesome is that?! Sounds like there’s promising things on the horizon for Cryptid Toys. Join us after the break for discussion already in progress on the Cobra Island Forums!

From ‘The Dublin Frenchman’ to ‘Your Ma’s Mate’, Tony Cantwell’s characters have generated over four million views for him on his social platforms. Since Cantwell posted his ‘Meanwhile in Clongowes’ sketch in December 2016, his audience has continued to grow. But long before his sketch of the thirsty Iasc, Neen and Ploon in Clongowes and their need for a soft drink, before the memes and merchandise the video spawned, making videos was something Tony had been doing from a young age. ‘’I’d been making silly short videos for years. Had a mini-DV camera when I was (15 or 16) and me and my mates used to just make shitty remakes of Good Will Hunting and The Matrix. We actually made a flick about a passport we found that turned out to be Dublin GAA player Bernard Brogan’s.’’ ‘’But it really changed when Instagram let you upload videos, couldn’t stop after that. It was just so easy to do, it was fairly disposable in that it would disappear from everyone’s feed in a matter of hours. YouTube, even though I love it, always seemed so daunting, like you had to have some finished quality piece and if you’ve seen my videos you’ll know they look like complete dog sh*t.’’ Cantwell said. After not making Goss.ie’s top 500 social influencers, Tony posts on his social media regularly to say he loves free swag, but as he’s a comedian and not an ‘influencer’ he can’t guarantee a positive review, except when he’s supporting a friend. ‘’It’s a fairly on-the-nose term isn’t it? INFLUENCER! I don’t begrudge anyone who can make a living for being sent free swag and chatting about it, fair f*cks to them. But it’s really just some girl or guy with a phone chatting the same shite you do except loads of people are watching.’ ‘’ The lighters (featured on Cantwells Snapchat) were a collab between my friend Kathi Burke aka Fatti Burke and BIC, so I got sent them and was happy to throw a video up about it. She’s a talented lady with her pics on a lighter like! I steal complimentary napkins from posh jacks when they’re really nice so I love free swag. But I’m not guaranteeing any positive review as a result.’’ ‘’As for sponsored content I don’t begrudge anyone getting paid for making comedy when it’s so difficult, but sponsored videos aren’t ever going to be conducive to the best videos you can make and you can only do so many ads before you stop being a conduit for the truth. But I wouldn’t be surprised if in the future, the majority of our online content is consumed through sponsored content. Sponsored web channels by brands looking to align with a lifestyle, who may even give full creative control, I wouldn’t rule it out.’’ Cantwell said. Tony’s latest project is the podcast Sexy Beast, with Marc Jago on The HeadStuff Podcast Network. The weekly podcast sees the pair discuss and compare the flaws and merits of creatures from all across the ‘cryptid spectrum’, this week looking at the Kappa from Japan, an aquatic wrestling deviant. ‘’We wanted to do a podcast on something that we’d enjoy learning about each week but also something vague enough that we wouldn’t get in trouble for being ignorant. Jago I’ve known for years, is a gas chap, has an in-depth knowledge of the maddest sh*t, and there’s been many a drunken party where we’ve been talking about the Reptilian Illuminati, Aliens or the different choirs of Angels.’ ‘’You may notice that we keep the synopsis of the creature quite short and spend most of the show talking about how good we think it can fight, so we never have to give any solid facts, just what we think.’’ Tony is now moving into live comedy and has two sell out shows in the Sugar Club this month and looking forward to announcing a few more soon. ‘’Nothing gives you such instant gratification as a live laugh so I’m taking any chance I can to get up on stage.’’ Despite the sell out shows and the number one podcast, Tony never expected the response he’s received, in particular to his ‘Meanwhile in Clongowes’ video. ‘’Sure, I thought it was funny and didn’t quite know why, and I wasn’t even going to put it out but I thought there’s enough laughs in there for me that I just will. But Jesus, I didn’t expect how people responded. Delighted they did of course, and off the back of it really spurred me on to do something with the videos and the page and that. ‘’Also to have entered meme culture, that’s peak for me like. I’ve had like seven or eight people order me cans of coke at the bar, and it’s class. Free can of coke like, y’messin? Laughin’’’ Image Credit: The Sugar Club

Please LIKE this Radio Show: facebook.com/TheJourneyOnRadio Please LIKE She-Squatchers: facebook.com/SheSquatchersOfficial Tennessee Bigfoot: Dr. John Stamey & She-Squatchers She-Squatchers (Jen & Jena) welcome Dr. John Stamey to THE JOURNEY Radio Show to discuss Bigfoot happenings in Tennessee! 👣 Dr. John Stamey is the organizer of the upcoming Tennessee Bigfoot Conference. Dr. John Stamey received his doctorate from NC State University in Raleigh. During his three years in that program, he was also a research associate for the Rhine Research Center in Durham, working with renowned researchers such as Dr. Sally Rhine Feather. His current book is "Bigfoot Explorers" and talks about both the historical and current well-known explorers for the mysterious cryptid. Dr. Stamey also runs the SC Lizardman Festival and Charlotte CryptoCon. Dr. John Stamey will be speaking at the Tennessee Bigfoot Conference. He will be talking about "Faster Than the Speed of Light" - particles and entities in the Universe that do move faster than the speed of light, and how these particles have contributed to Dr. Ronald Bryan's famous model of multiple dimensions and the experience of those with near-death experiences who have been told to "go to the light." Dr. Stamey is also the host of podcasts Comic Con Stars and ScaryCast. Reserve VIP TICKETS now, limited supply! MORE INFO: BigfootDay.com Facebook Event Page: www.facebook.com/events/497738380620941/

|Your DnD Character （12,483）| Your DnD Character stats |DnD Character! （2,784）| Find out your race, class, and stats! Results change daily. |Your D&D Character （1,696）| What is your D&D character? |Pathfinder Beastiary （982）| Make a monster |Welcome to Acquisitions Incorporated （874）| Welcome to the company! Now, who are you? Not sure? Well, let me tell you... |D&D Character Creator （672）| Selects the basic characteristics for a new dnd character. |You as a Dnd Character （438）| What kind of Dnd Character are you? Class, race, background, subclass, personality, and stats! |what&039;s your new rpg class? （380）| these are the new rpg classes, the old ones are fake now |DnD 5e Maker （317）| generates stuff from the 5e player handbook |NPC Generator （222）| provides a short description of an NPC, includes most of the races for 5e |What D&D cryptid are you? （149）| oh yknow, those ones no one ever plays |Random DnD Character Generator （102）| it will give you a class, race, alignment, and background to start you off!! |Gem Generator （100）| i made this to describe d&d loot |your dungeons and dragons build （93）| what is you are dungeons and dragons character build |Ability Scores （82）| Ever Played dnd? no? well it doesn't matter |Warlock Patron Relationship （71）| Enough of "i sold my soul to a demon / managed to deceive one to get powers!" What's ... |DnD Hag name. （63）| Dnd hangs have some pretty great names. |Your Enrinegis Fake Date （60）| Who are you pretending to date? |what are ur stats （39）| check out ur stats for dnd A 5e dnd generator for fun and inspiration. |Barovia&039;s Dumbass Brigade Kin Assign... （22）| If you follow Onion the Rogue and her party's adventure as they travel through Barovia to destr...

Cryptid Profile: The Lockridge Monster When the month of October gets close to the end of its 31 day run, many people prepare themselves to deal with a variety of costumed monsters approaching their doors, ringing their bells, and asking for candy. What most people don’t expect though, is to have to deal with a real life monster. Especially one that causes its costumed rivals to stay inside on the one night where monsters should truly be roaming the streets. But, that’s exactly what happened in October of 1975 just north of Lockridge, Iowa. The first official reported sighting of the unknown creature that would go on to be known as the Lockridge Monster, took place on October 3rd, 1975. Herbert Peiffer, a turkey farmer along with his wife and son, went out as the sun was setting to tend to his turkeys before retiring for the day. While driving out to the pens his birds were kept in, Mr. Peiffer caught sight of something on four legs passing in front of the headlights on his tractor. Assuming it was the predator that had repeatedly broken into his turkey pens the past few nights and killed multiple birds each time, Herbert kept driving forward. Suddenly, the unknown creature stood up onto its hind legs and darted out of the way of the approaching tractor. Shocked, Mr. Peiffer returned to his home to inform his wife of what he had just encountered. The man stated that he saw a bushy, dark haired creature that stood nearly 5ft tall, ran like a man, had the body shape of a bear, and had an ape like face. The following morning, the Peiffer family went out to inspect the turkey pens. While they did not encounter the creature again, they did find a series of odd 10in tracks around the bodies of four freshly killed turkeys. After helping clean up the dead birds, Mrs. Peiffer made her way back to the home, but as she passed an apple tree on her property, she noticed something odd. There in front her, still attached to their branches, were multiple apples with bites taken out of them. While it was understandably strange to find half eaten apples still on the tree, what made it even more strange was fact that the apples were hanging on branches nearly 7ft off the ground. The Peiffer’s, obviously upset about what they had witnessed and experienced, reported their sighting as one would expect. But what they didn’t expect was that in doing so, other witnesses to strange events in the area would come forward as well. Many hunters in the area reported finding strange looking tracks along stream edges and on sand bars along Turkey Creek. One even claimed to have been hunting close to the edge of the Peiffers property a few weeks prior to the incident when he saw an unknown creature in their fields. The man, who carried a camera with him while hunting, tried to snap a photo of the beast but was unsuccessful in doing so as it disappeared from view as he was focusing the lens. Others who came forward spoke of hearing odd sounds while in the woods around the property. While a hunting party was set up to try and flush the creature out of the surrounding woods, no progress was ever made in doing so. Tracks continued to be found, but no monster was ever captured. The creature was never seen in the area again. Now while many believe the above encounter to be the first official sighting of the Lockridge Monster, few know of a possible sighting that took place only months before in July. In the same general area as the Peiffer’s, there lived a couple by the names of Wendell and Gloria Olson. While out in the area, the couple claimed to have seen an upright, bushy haired creature with the face of a monkey lurking around the buildings of a deserted farm. From a distance, the couple watched as the creature went in and out of dilapidated structures before walking back into the woods. Oddly, this sighting did not become as popular as the one that took place on October 3rd. So what could that Lockridge Monster be? Many feel that it was nothing more than a black bear that had travelled down from Wisconsin and made its temporary home in the area around the Peiffer’s turkey farm. While not native to Iowa, it is not unheard of for a rogue bear to travel from an adjacent state, take advantage of a plentiful food source, and then move on again. This may explain why the reported tracks and sounds from the area were not easily identifiable to the hunters in the area. But, what is not so easily explained, are the apples found eaten at 7ft on the tree, the described ape like face of the creature, and its reported ability to run like a man. The mystery of The Lockridge Monster has never been solved. -The Pine Barrens Institute *Image Credit: Public Domain

Magical creatures have long been the subject or books, movies, and television. They were even more prevalent back hundreds of years ago. Our knowledge base is so much broader today than it was even a hundred years ago. We’ve pretty much closed the door on the chance of us finding dragons or fairies in our world. At least we thought. Here’s how the story of the mysterious skeletons found in a London basement went: A home in London that used to be an orphanage uncovered something very interesting….and extremely disturbing in 2006. They found over 5,000 skeletons in the basement! They’re definitely not the type of skeletons you’re thinking of though. The man who “found” these remains was named Thomas Merrylin. He was a Crypto-naturalist, Fringe Zoologist and Xeno -Archeologist. Basically that means he searched for creatures that almost all scientists agree never existed. He was born in 1782. According to some he possessed unnaturally long life, which some say was the result of him practicing black magic. He is said to have not looked a day over 40 when he was well into his 80’s. The orphanage was originally the home of Merrylin. In 1942 he contacted an orphanage and asked if they would be willing to accept a large London town house as a donation. They accepted, but with one caveat. The house could never be torn down and the basement never opened. Well in 2006 a foundation inspection was done, and the door to the basement was opened. Inside they found 5,000 skeletons of strange creatures from myth and legend! Merrylin is said to have traveled the world over with his father, who was also into the study of weird creatures that probably never existed. After his father’s death he became a recluse and buried himself in his work. The Merrylin Cryptid collection is actually a fictional invention of Alex CF, a London-based illustrator, writer, and sculptor with a fantastically warped imagination and a talent for the obscure. The collection is supposedly the culmination of Merrylin’s life work. He even supposedly had the remains of vampires in this disturbing collection. Inside lay thousands of bizarre artifacts. Apparently demon babies are a thing, who knew? The sculptures are very realistic in a very non-realistic way. Back in the 1800’s you may have been convinced that these were actual remains of creatures that existed instead of sculptures. These make me think of the creatures you would find in a Harry Potter book. This guy looks like the dog from How The Grinch Stole Christmas! H/T: Merrylin Museum Eventually, the full truth was out: these stomach-churning artifacts were actually made by a London-based illustrator, writer, and sculptor named Alex CF. He created these incredibly detailed terrors for the entirely fictional “Merrylin Cryptid Museum.” In order to make his artwork contagious, he fabricated the backstory of a Thomas Merrylin, who actually never existed. Did you believe it? Sure, finding out the truth ruins the illusion a bit, but it doesn’t stop his creepy creations from being awesome.

Ever feel bad that you don’t know everything there is to know in the world? That’s okay. No one, not even people at the tops of their fields, know everything. There are things all across the globe–and beyond–that continue to befuddle scientists and researchers. Here are 23 of them: 1. The Sun’s corona The corona is made of plasma, but for some reason, it’s hotter than the surface of the sun itself. The sun’s surface is about 5,800 degrees Kelvin, but the corona can reach 1 to 3 million degrees Kelvin. That’s really hot. 2. Animal migration All kinds of animals migrate, but somehow, they all know how to do it and where to go, even if they’re separated from others of their species. How the knowledge got hardwired in there is still a mystery. 3. The Hum Several places are known to have “the hum,” which is a low-frequency humming or droning sound whose source remains unclear. Taos, NM, is best known for its hum, but only 2% of the population has the ability of hearing it. Those 2% find it super irritating. 4. Jellyfish Lake The “jellyfish lake” is connected to the ocean via underground channels, and it got its name from the jellyfish that migrate in and out daily. (How, if they barely have brains? See above.) But between 1998 and 2000, there was evidently some kind of jellyfish boycott, because they just didn’t for those two years. 5. Ice circles Ice circles occur in slow moving water in freezing temperatures. It’s thought they’re formed in eddy currents, but there’s no proof. They can get up to 15 meters in diameter. Bigfoot and the Yeti have been favorites of paranormal fans for years, and the jury’s still out on if they’re supposed to be the same species. Most scientists, and most people, dismiss them as myth, but some believe they may be members of a relic population of ancient giant apes. 7. Saturn’s storm A NASA spacecraft spotted this hurricane on Saturn in 2013. Its eye measured 2,000 km across. On Earth, hurricanes are caused by warm ocean currents, but it’s unknown how this storm started on Saturn. 8. Fish from heaven There have been many cases of weird stuff falling from the sky. In 2000 in Ethiopia, it rained thousands of fish. It’s thought they were lifted and transported by a storm, but the weird thing is that when animals fall from the sky, it only ever seems to be one species at a time. 9. Naga fireballs The Naga fireballs are a supposed phenomenon occurring in Thailand and Laos, where glowing red orbs are said to rise from Mekong River. No one knows how they might form, if they form at all. 10. The Silent Zone The Mapimi Silent Zone outside of Durango, Mexico, is known for its utter silence and for its seeming ability to attract objects from the sky, including Apollo boosters, a test missile, and a huge meteorite. Coincidence? 11. Disaster flashes Before an earthquake strikes or a volcano erupts, some people report seeing flashes of light, and have for centuries. In the 1960s, the phenomenon was photographed for the first time, but there’s still no explanation as to why it happens, or if both natural events have the same reasons behind their flashes. 12. The Moon illusion The moon always seems huge when its on the horizon, getting smaller as it climbs higher into the sky. But studies show that from the same vantage point, the moon measures the same when compared to another object regardless of its position relative to the horizon. It just looks big without being big. 13. Synchronized bugs A species of firefly living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the only one that can synchronize their blinking, and they do it for a little while each year. Why and how? No one knows. That cats purr is well known, and most people associate it with a cat being happy. In fact, though, it’s not clear why they purr. They purr when you pet them, but also while eating and sometimes while giving birth. So its actual meaning is unknown. 15. Singing whales Male humpback whales’ songs were once thought to be part of attracting mates, but it seems they just like to sing. The songs are unique, and whales can learn them from other whales and in turn teach the songs to their own whale friends elsewhere. Hooray for musical whales! 16. Before the Big Bang The Big Bang theory says that the universe was formed 14 billion years ago from one point where all matter was contained (including you!) and that the matter is still expanding outwards. But as for what the universe was like before that? We don’t know. 17. The Bermuda Triangle The Bermuda Triangle is another place that’s mystified people for years. Aircraft and ships have mysteriously disappeared here, although it’s not necessarily more prone to disappearances than anywhere else on the planet. Numerous theories abound, from methane bubbles to UFOs. Like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, is another favorite cryptid. Numerous photos have been offered up as “proof,” but most have been proven to be fakes. Still, Nessie sightings continue to be reported. 19. The fairy rings The grassy land of southern Africa is pockmarked with circular areas of barren land, whose diameters vary from 2 to 15 meters. When and how they were formed is a mystery. 20. Sailing stones Sailing stones are rocks that seem to move on their own, leaving long trails in smooth valley floors. They are not been moved by humans or animals, and can even turn over and change direction. Scientists suspect they might be pushed by wind on a thin, slippery layer of clay, but it’s not been proven. 21. Suicide whales Up to 2,000 whales beach themselves each year, and it looks like they might do it on purpose. Why whales would commit suicide (most beached whales die by being crushed under their own weight) is a mystery, but they’ve been at it for thousands of years. 22. Ball lightning Ball lightning is described as a spherical or oblong, well, ball of electricity seen during a thunderstorm, and lasting longer than normal lightning. It’s been reported for centuries, but there’s still no explanation of how it forms. 23. Floating lights In a valley in Norway, strange lights have been shining since the 1940s.They float bove the ground and during the 1980s, the lights were seen up to 20 times a week. Since then, they’ve diminished, and are only seen about 20 times a year. No one knows what they are or where they come from. So there you have it. The universe is a mysterious place, with ever more things to discover and unravel. Maybe in the future, we’ll have the answers to these bizarre mysteries, but until then, we’ll enjoy being puzzled!

|A Questing Request||2022-07-07 23:00:00|| Are you lost? Feeling useless? Wanting power, wealth, or fame? Do you want a grand adventure, the likes of which you'll never forget? Or, are you simply bored? Introducing Chainquest, a real life roleplaying game. This isn't some video game or imagination, this isn't VR, this ain't AR, this is learning real swordplay and magic to fight real monsters with your own two hands, and save the world from the clutches of Dark General Array - and earn *real* treasure in the process. Chainquest: Real adventure, really today. (Disclaimer: Safety and survival not guaranteed for all players, bystanders, and inhabiants of the worlds where Chainquest takes place. Worlds really under assault by Dark General Array for the sake of versimilitude. Chainquest is technically illegal in provinces that have banned lootboxes, and also provinces that haven't banned lootboxes. All rights reserved.) All comers plot intro for what Chains Knight is up to in Secundus. Presumed adventuring content, unless someone wants to throw hands. |Cryptid Hunt Finale - FELL LIZARD LINDBAUM||2022-07-08 22:00:00|| After a long period of relative inactivity - though one that did not really mean peace for the inhabitants of Crossbell State nor its Special Support Section - one, final creature appears to terrorize Tangram Gate, a military fortification home to a regiment of the Guardian Force, and the premier border checkpoint between the Calvard Republic and Crossbell State. The Special Support Section deploys to suppress the monster, and C moves to attempt and capture it with his Devil Flute. Part one of the overdue conclusion to the Cryptid Hunts - open to anyone who can contrive a reason to be there. |The Bus||2022-07-08 23:00:00|| Concerned with an alarming number of stories on the internet wherein 'everyone on the bus clapped,' Darren has concluded that there is a plot to destabilize public transit by psychic vampires, on behalf of the automotive industry. Join him in a trek across the Unova region, in search of a nefarious conspiracy. (OOC: Investigation scene, start of a TP, all comers welcome!) |Wheel of Lugh-1||2022-07-09 23:00:00|| Tamamo engages in risky quest of her own devising in a hopeful bid to halt, and maybe even reverse, the changes currently afflicting Lilian. Her first need is an artifact of suitably solar aspect, from Lilian's home country. Given how little there is for choice, there is no real option but to retrace the steps of the famous Cú Chulainn and return to the Land of Shadows; the demesne of Lady Scáthach under whom Lilian trained with last year, but was convinced by others abandon before the end. Open to Friends Of Lilian who aren't somehow also Enemies Of Tamamo. |Wheel of Lugh-2||2022-07-10 23:00:00||Estimated second part.| |RIFTS: Golden Eagle||2022-07-11 23:00:00||A scene after Boothill in which Paladins get to explore the mysterious old world ruins the outpost is accidentally built on top of, and finish off the preliminary work with the leyline.| |People of the Valley||2022-07-12 23:00:00||A lightscene I meant to do forever ago in which people get to visit Ahn and Lotus at Shelter: CAMELIA, and more specifically, learn about the human survivors in the lands below the mountain she was ever so cagey about mentioning. Anyone welcome!| |HELL||2022-07-14 23:00:00|| The other thing to explore about the mysterious backyard of CAMELIA, cultivated over a century by Ahn herself. Specifically, the hollow core of the mountain that Lotus simply calls: Hell. Combat, fast pace, anyone welcome. |Cryptid Hunt Finale - Crossbell's Longest Day||2022-07-15 22:00:00||Part two of two for the finale of the Cryptid Hunts. Description will be updated after the conclusion of Part one on the 8th.| |AFAD: Prologue||2022-07-16 22:30:00|| Sightings of the Abyssal Fleet have begun circulating in a region of the Great Ocean known as Lost Angles. No shipping in the area has actually been lost; with most encounters either occurring at long ranges or involving Abyssal ships retreating when approached. What are they up to? Would the Princess of Progress really order her units to avoid contact like this? Trying something experimental. Non-combat, investigative scene to set up the remainder of the event. Unless y'all pick a fight, anyway. |One Year Hence||2022-07-29 23:00:00||The Green Knight always makes good on his oaths. One year later, has a pharmaceutical mogul truly changed for the better, and made amends?| |Welcome To The New Death Game||2022-08-06 23:00:00|| Because I had a mountain of prepwork for a plot that is no longer going to exist, I am repurposing it into just running it myself. Start of an original plot loosely derived from plans I had for helping with a new SAO TP. Come for a VRMMO death game featuring half a million people with nothing in common, from their country of origin to even their game system, roped into a copycat catastrophe of an unprecedented scale that shouldn't even be physically possible. Navigate not just a world of swords, but a boundary-pushing experiment into the limits of the human form and psyche through a once-legitimate game. Integrate characters into a consistent grand narrative without the baggage of old rules holding it down, form lasting relationships with original characters, and unveil the kind of insane twists that I put into my plots. Welcome to Blade Craft: Alter/Exceed. c+xterm220Allc/ c+xterm106factionsc/ c+xterm171welcomec/. chuwTag to indicate interest in the plot itself. Attendees will have some homework to do before the scene, so I won't accept last second walk-ins.c/ |Scherzo - First Movement||2022-12-31 23:30:00|| The Royal Navy has successfully kept the majority of their Iron Blood rivals bottled up in the North Sea by a blockade maintained by the Royal Channel Fleet. Outside of the occasional ships dashing through in the dead of night, the Royals have kept their foe contained. Today the Iron Blood fields a new weapon; and the Channel Fleet shall be tested like never before. |Step 2: Spike the Ball and Disrespect Em||2023-01-10 00:00:00|| With sacred ink and priceless scroll, Okada Izou now has all the necessary ingredients to put to paper his true final words. By his own admission, Izou is nowhere near an artisan, when it comes to calligraphy. The use of such rare items for such clumsy penmanship would be seen by afficionados as nothing but an insult--to say nothing of the very real insult included in his last words. This insult will be enshrined in a museum, replacing the sanitized, false version of Izou's last words, a comeback one century and a half in the making. There's just one hitch: an unexpected guest who happens to be a scion of the Takechi line. He's got hands. (OOC: Coded combat, Concord. A reverse heist wherein a descendant of Takechi Hanpeita attempts to stop the Concord from dabbing extra hard.)

Episode 43: The Rake, Philip the Ghost, and the Cambridge Death Curve Steve and Mike discover a link in their topics involving the creation of legends and how they can manifest in real life! Then Josiah creeps us the F@!* out with an extremely gruesome and disturbing story involving hatchets, fire, and ice cream! Okay, maybe not so much of the ice cream, but it's possibly worse than stealing an old man's wheelchair! We're looking at you, Josiah... April 15, 2022 Episode 42: The Real Christine, Thunder Birds, and Time Travel Made Easy with Mike Marcum! To everyone who waited for this episode, we ask "Why"? Whatever the answer, here we are with tales of a real killer car that may have been tamed by witches, giant flying beasts that steal children and deliver mail, plus a man who should never be allowed near sharp objects believes he can travel through time! March 29, 2022 Episode 41: Robert the Doll, Poltergeists, and the Khamar-Daban Incident The Future Ghosts are back, and we storm in with three new topics for you! We discuss the history and possible curse of Robert the Doll, a reboot of poltergeists, and the mystery of the Khamar-Daban Incident. February 11, 2022 Episode 40: Jólakötturinn, Black Eyed Kids, and Scary Ghost Stories a.k.a. A Christmas Carol We roll out a new name but the content doesn't necessarily get any better! We discuss the Icelandic Yule Cat, Black Eyed Kids, and what does that line in the Christmas song about "scary ghost stories" really mean? December 17, 2021 Episode 39: Estes Method, Bell Witch, and Josiah Thinks About What He Has Done We roll back in with another late one, but fans of Josiah must suffer with him! While he sits on the sidelines on probation, Steve presents the topic of the Estes Method used with a Spirit Box. Mike discussed the long history of the Bell Witch, which is actually a ghost. Josiah does actually have one small report, but you must listen carefully to catch it! November 21, 2021 Episode 38: Happy Halloween, You Disgusting Bastard! Certain events in human history can be identified as pure evil. Tonight you will hear Josiah's firsthand account of one such occasion! If you thought the body count in Halloween Kills was tame, brace yourself for the horror of Josiah's malevolent past! Then Steve and Mike tell spooky stories. But Josiah's horrific account will make you want to curl up in a corner and cry yourself to sleep, hoping against hope that you can erase the memory from your mind before one day standing in judgement and explaining why you suffered yourself to listen to the entire story! Oh, and our scheduled special guest couldn't make it tonight, sorry! October 29, 2021 Episode 37: Can We Go Back in Time and Change the Release Date? Time travel is the topic today! Movies, ghosts, and real-life mysteries are tied to this idea, so we give it a spin! October 15, 2021 Episode 36: Scarecrows, Hellhounds, and Ridiculously Overpriced Haunted Houses... Oh My! Yeah, it's a little but late, but we're trying! As we move closer to Halloween, we return to our roots and bring out some topics that are in keeping with the season. Technically, all of the episodes do that, but this one is still free so enjoy! October 01, 2021 Episode 35: Hello Willow Creek Farm, and Goodbye Holzer Files Willow Creek Farm is not to be investigated, it is an experience! Hear about what is going on there, as well as the non-renewal of The Holzer Files that continued not only an amazing legacy, but a questionable new trend in TV shows. September 03, 2021 Episode 34B: Road Trip to Poasttown School It's Mike's turn to share the paranormal road trip experience of Poasttown school following an investigation there with the Northern Illinois Crypto Research Society! August 20, 2021 Episode 34A: Road Trip to Missouri State Penitentiary Welcome to the first part of a recap of out recent paranormal road trips! Steve and Josiah share their account of a trip to Missouri State Penitentiary! Was there actually a case of possession during their investigation? Listen to their report and find out! August 06, 2021 Episode 33: Gloomy Sunday, The Sleepless Unrest, and Cave Monsters! Can a haunted song really drive someone to take their own life? Listen to fid out... if you dare! Also a preview of The Sleepless Unrest film, and a special forces mission gone terribly wrong! July 16, 2021 Episode 32: Hanover Haunting: The Deanna Simpson Story Hold on to your seats, because the roof is coming off in this episode! We interview author both Joni Mayhan and Deanna Simpson! Hear our interview where we find out who is still haunting Deanna, what happened on the day of the book's release, and how the cats are doing! July 02, 2021 Episode 31: Year One Recap Part 2 Join us for the conclusion of our review of the first year podcasting as a team! Also, we make an announcement of an upcoming interview you will not want to miss! June 18, 2021 Episode 30: Year One Anniversary Recap Part 1 The first year of this current format is complete, and we review our year with you! We run through each episode, sharing recollections as well as new ideas about old topics. There was too much great stuff to fit into one show, so check back later for part 2! June 04, 2021 Episode 29: Chad Lewis and Supernatural Dares of the Midwest We speak to author, speaker, and legend-tripper Chad Lewis! He discusses his supernatural adventures and his newest book Supernatural Dares of the Midwest! May 21, 2021 Episode 28: Origin Stories Every hero has an origin story, and so do we! Josiah sets the bar pretty high, but Steve and Mike try to keep up with tales of what brought each of us into the paranormal field! What was your inspiration? Leave us a post on Facebook and share your story! May 07, 2021 Episode 27: Sustained Electronic Spirit Communication with Cindy Heinen This episode we speak with Cindy Heinen from the Society for Anomalous Studies as she discusses her article "Sustained Electronic Spirit Communication" as well as her experiences using VR-Ghostbox! April 24, 2021 Episode 26: Ghosts Solve Mysteries, and Virginia City, Here We Come! We soar into the next milestone of podcasting, pushing out number 26! Josiah and Steve both coincidentally share reports of ghosts who solve mysteries. Josiah tells of a spirit who brings help to a missing mother and child, but are they in time to save them? Steve discusses ghosts who have brought attention to their untimely demises and those who harmed them. Mike sets the stage for a future tax deduction and takes us on a virtual trip to Virginia City, Nevada. April 10, 2021 Episode 25: Solar Winds and Ions Close the Door On Mass Hysteria If the title is confusing, you should read the article we used for the episode! See if you can make more sense of it than we did! Also, Mike proves that he is weak and has no soul. March 26, 2021 Episode 24: Personal Experiences and More Science Vs. Ghosts Steve and Josiah share some very intriguing recent personal experiences, and the discussion about scientific explanations for hauntings continues! March 19, 2021 Episode 23: A Trip to NOLA, Science Debunks Haunted Houses, and What We REALLY think About Streaming Services The boys are back, and Josiah shares some stories from his trip to haunted spots in New Orleans! The group also discusses some scientific explanations for ghostly experiences, and we share some ideas about the current glut of all of the "plus" services that need to be juggled to watch what we want on TV! March 06, 2021 Episode 22: Ghost Hunting With Crystals and the Magic Cat Steve and Josiah take a week off, so Mike and Shari take the reins! Shari shares her knowledge of what crystals are, how they work, and how they might be used in ghost hunting. There is also a guest appearance from Star the Magic Crystal Cat! February 20, 2021 Episode 21: Ghostly Energy in the Time of Crisis What are the rules of ghosts manifesting? Does the energy present in the world at the time of passing affect a spirit's energy? Will we soon see ghosts wearing facemasks? We don't know, but that doesn't stop us from talking about it! Hear out thoughts, and weigh in with your own ideas at our Facebook page! February 04, 2021 Episode 20: Next Time Won't You Blow My Aztec Death Whistle? We conclude our paranormal alphabet discussion, but not before experiencing the Aztec Death Whistle's lovely singing voice! January 26, 2021 Episode 19: Now I Know My ABC's... Part 1 The gauntlet has been thrown down, and the challenge has been accepted! Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT dramatic, but this episode we struggle through the paranormal alphabet, finding topics that begin with the letters A through M. Can you do better? Probably. January 19, 2021 Episode 18: Freaky Computer People and the Perils of Ghost Tours This episode dips its toes into a new format... for now! So you think you want to start your own ghost tour business? We discuss some of the challenges and rewards of taking on that project. We also bring up the fact that some CGI people look so damn creepy, and wonder about why our brain processes them that way. By the way, f@#k you, 2020! January 07, 2021 Episode 17: Christmas Special 2020 Jump into our first annual Christmas celebration! Tales of Scrooge, the Winter Solstice, Krampus, pooping ornaments, and the Christmas Wasp are presented to fill your stocking this holiday season! December 23, 2020 Episode 16: K-II, Scholarly Skepticism, and Black Scrying Mirrors We're back with more content better suited for a video podcast! Josiah starts us off with the K-II meter, Steve starts a discussion after reading an article about hoaxes and skepticism, and Mike wraps things up with a look into black scrying mirrors! November 29, 2020 Halloween 2020 Special! We fill your pillowcase with treats this Halloween season! Experience tales of traditions, terrors, and legends in this first celebration of everyone's REAL favorite time of the year! October 30, 2020 Episode 15: Amazing Akiane, Creepy Last Words, and the Famous Brown Lady Ghost The episode time lengthens again, but this time it's REALLY worth it! If you are familiar with the artwork "Prince of Peace", then you may know the extraordinary story of Akiane, and Josiah explains why the term "prodigy" does not begin to describe this incredible artist! Mike passes along some examples of creepy last words of dying people that might make it tough for you to fall asleep tonight! Steve reminds us of the famous photo of The Brown Lady ghost. He explains her origins, describes her sightings, as well as discussing why you shouldn't shoot a ghost in the face! October 20, 2020 Episode 14: Malta’s Mysterious Hypogeum, Brazil's Mapinguari, and Spicy Thai Tales! We're back with a bite-sized show! We take you around the world, as Josiah leads off with the amazing structure known as the Hypogeum at Malta. Steve brings us the cryptid Mapinguari of Brazil, and Mike shares some strange tales of Thailand. October 10, 2020 Episode 13: Useful Ghost Stories, Real UFO Reports, and the Jersey Devil Lucky 13 brings us an episode that has been in the can for a while, just waiting to be released! Mike starts a discussion of the roles of ghost stories in folklore, Steve shares declassified reports of UFO sightings by the military, Josiah reports on the Jersey Devil, and Titan Leeds is out new hero! September 30, 2020 Episode 12: The Return of the Count, Atlantis, and Mystery Theater Josiah finishes up discussing the multi-century journey of the Count of St. Germain, Steve destroys our fragile perceptions of Atlantis, and Mike introduces the audio treasure that is CBS Radio Mystery Theater. September 10, 2020 Episode 11: Suicide Forest, Uri Geller, and the Immortal Count A streamlined episode proved to be not enough time for Josiah, as his tale of Count St. Germain will need to spill over to the next episode! Steve explains the mysteries of Japan's suicide forest, and Mike recounts the remote spoon-bending experiment of Uri Geller. August 26, 2020 Episode 10: The Wheel of People, Spirit Box, Robert Johnson, and Lizzie Borden No, this isn't a 70's supergroup! Listen as we spin the Wheel of People to decide the fate of the crew! It's not really that serious, but it beats a dart board. ITC, folklore, and taking whacks with an axe are the true stars of this episode. August 06, 2020 Episode 9: Lost Cosmonauts, Astral Travel. and the Devil's Bible In this uplifting episode, we ponder what to do on a slow night. You could listen to dying space travelers, allow your soul to fly outside of your body, or write a giant book referred to as The Devil's Bible! The choice is yours, but choose wisely! Good times, good times... July 30, 2020 Episode 8: The Witch Cage, Ghost Lab, and Searching for Absolute Truth Another mega-episode starts off with updates on an upcoming event in Freeport, Illinois as well as the The Dyatlov Pass incident. Featured topics include The Cage in England where witches were contained, a callback to Ghost Lab, and a question of what is the standard of "evidence" when investigating the paranormal. July 13, 2020 Episode 7: The Warrens, Death Valley Tunnels, and Trying to Figure Out EMF This super-sized episode makes up for Josiah being cut short last week! We review events from the past week before he gives us a piece of history regarding Ed and Lorraine Warren. Steve then reveals a mysterious tunnel system in Death Valley, and Mike tries to make sense of EMF. July 02, 2020 Episode 6: Ancient Computers, Psychic Frauds, and Josiah Holsters His Guns Studio upgrades delayed this episode a bit, and now we try to rise to producing a show worthy of our new recording equipment! After an initial discussion of paranormal paydays, we move into discussions of fraudulent apportations (please don't sniff the ectoplasm), an ancient computer found near a pineapple under the sea, and Josiah has to wait another week to fire off his hot topic! June 24, 2020 Episode 5: Flesh Eaters, Axe Murders, and Steve's Missing Rod Wendigos (or is it windigos?), the Villisca Ax(e) Murders, and a girl losing one of Steve's dowsing rods are featured in this episode! If you like what you hear, please subscribe, make us a favorite, leave a comment, or do whatever you folks do to let us know you are listening! June 08, 2020 Episode 4: Three Guys in Search of a Topic... This show features a sad woodland creature, discussion of why certain places might be haunted, and a cool new piece of tech! May 31, 2020 Episode 3: Back From the Dead! After a long break. the show is finally back! A new era begins, if that can really be said after only two previous episodes, one of which was only available on YouTube... Nevertheless, original host Mike Grasso is now joined by Steve Bartel and Josiah Lee Henson in an ongoing discussion of their views of the paranormal world! In this show, they discuss their backgrounds in paranormal investigation, what brought them there, and what brought them together. Please send any comments or questions to email@example.com. And remember, we will see you in the dark! May 25, 2020 Episode 1: Midwest Ghost Society Welcome to Paranormal 1! This "premiere" episode is actually a replay of the first P1 interview that appeared on YouTube. We interview Michelle Lemire of the Midwest Ghost Society! September 02, 2018

It appears The Final Podcast on the Left has discovered success in making the bounce to the comedian e-book medium, as a result of Z2 is releasing a second quantity of The Final Comedian Ebook On the Left in 2022. As with the primary quantity, The Final Comedian Ebook on the Left Vol. 2 might be curated by podcast hosts Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ben Kissel. The e-book boasts new horror tales from numerous creators, together with many returning favorites from Vol. 1 like James Tynion IV, Rick Veitch, Logan Faerber and Tyler Boss. Additionally like with Vol. 1, Z2 might be providing a deluxe version hardcover model that features a set of artwork prints depicting the cryptids and different kooky characters featured inside these tales. IGN can solely debut David Mack’s cowl artwork for the deluxe version under: “Our insatiable starvation for ink and blood could not be sustained with one quantity,” stated Parks in Z2’s press launch. “We would have liked to see extra Detective Popcorn. We craved extra Properly Really Killer, not to mention debuts from Gef the Speaking Mongoose and Philip Ok. Dick android. This quantity delivers of all of this and extra in an avalanche of paneled goodness,” stated Zebrowski. The Final Comedian Ebook on the Left Vol. 2 is slated for launch in Fall 2022. The unique story is under: Clocking in at practically 500 episodes and counting, it is protected to say The Final Podcast On the Left is without doubt one of the most profitable horror podcasts ever. Now the sequence is increasing into a wholly new medium, as hosts Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski and Ben Kissel spearhead a graphic novel sequence dubbed The Final Comedian Ebook On the Left. The place The Final Podcast On the Left takes a humorous method to true crime instances and horror matters like ghosts, cryptids, serial killers and UFOs, The Final Comedian Ebook On the Left is meant as a tribute to traditional horror anthologies like Creepy, Eerie and Tales From the Crypt. The sequence will characteristic numerous completely different however interconnected horror tales from horror comics veterans like James Tynion IV (One thing Is Killing the Kids) and Rick Veitch (Swamp Factor). The Final Comedian Ebook On the Left might be printed as a sequence of full-length graphic novels by means of Z2 Comics. The inventive lineup for Vol. 1 consists of: - James Tynion IV (The Division of Fact, One thing Is Killing the Kids) - Rick Veitch (Swamp Factor, Miracleman) - Bob Fingerman (Minimal Wage, Beg the Query) - Tyler Boss (4 Children Stroll Right into a Financial institution, What’s the Furthest Place From Right here?) - Ryan Cady (Machine Gun Kelly’s Lodge Diablo, Chic: $5 on the Door) - Eliot Rahal (Machine Gun Kelly’s Lodge Diablo, the upcoming Cheech and Chong’s Chronicles: The Graphic Novel) - Morgan Beem (Swamp Factor: Twin Branches, The Household Commerce) - Noah Van Sciver (Grateful Useless Origins, the upcoming Cheech and Chong’s Chronicles: The Graphic Novel) - Logan Faerber (‘Namwolf, The Woods) Along with these tales, Vol. 1 will embrace a story written by Parks and Zebrowski and illustrated by John McCrea (Hitman). Eric Powell (The Goon), Martin Morazzo (Ice Cream Man) and Bob Fingerman present cowl artwork for Vol. 1. A deluxe version model of the graphic novel may even embrace a sequence of cryptid-themed artwork prints. “We’re excited to increase our comedian bloodlust with Z2 and The Final Comedian On the Left,” Zebrowski stated in Z2’s press launch. “We get to see a lot of our extra ‘colourful’ concepts obtain the evil MAD Journal therapy. Z2 works with among the most gifted artists and creators within the comedian enterprise and it’s a privilege to be of their gifted palms.” The 31 Finest Trendy Horror Motion pictures “Once I first obtained turned onto The Final Podcast On The Left a pair years in the past, I used to be instantly hooked. As a lifelong weirdo with an obsession for crime, paranormal, and the occult, I realized to stifle speaking about it in combined firm—listening to this podcast concerning the unusual was an prompt launch valve,” Z2 Comics Writer Josh Frankel stated. “To have the ability to work with the fellows to convey their comedic imaginative and prescient to life, in addition to to take action in a format that pays homage to among the biggest publications of all time, is insane to me.” The Final Comedian Ebook On the Left Vol. 1 is presently obtainable to preorder by means of Z2 Comics and is slated for launch in Spring 2022. The Final Podcast On the Left is not the one podcast making the bounce to different media. Important Function is presently in growth as an animated sequence at Amazon known as The Legend of Vox Machina: Important Function, and the sequence additionally getting an formally licensed D&D e-book known as Important Function: Name of the Netherdeep. Jesse is a mild-mannered employees author for IGN. Permit him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

The September 3, 2017 event will be a scientific and popular culture gathering that is five-minutes from the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. You are here: Home / Megalodon by Loren Coleman on April 5, 2017 in 50th Anniversary Tributes, Abominable Snowman, Almas, Artifacts, Avian Mysteries, Bigfoot, Bigfoot Evidence, Boggy Creek Monster, Books, Breaking News, Cadborosaurus, Call Blasting, Champ/Lake Champlain Monster, Chupacabras, Cinema News, Classic Animals of Discovery, Coelacanth, Comics, Conferences, Crazy Crocs, Cryptid, Cryptid Canids, Cryptid Cinema, Cryptoart, Cryptotourism, CryptoZoo News, Cryptozoologists, Cryptozoology, Cryptozoology Conferences, Dover Demon, Evidence, Expedition Reports, Extinct, Eyewitness Accounts, Finding Bigfoot, Folklore, Footprint Evidence, Forensic Science, Fouke Monster, Giant Cryptid Reptiles, Giant Snakes, Goatman, Hoaxes, Homo floresiensis, International Cryptozoology Museum, International Cryptozoology Society, Lake Monsters, Living Dinosaurs, Living Fossils, Lizard People, Loch Ness Monster, Mapinguary, Media Appearances, Megafauna, Megalodon, Men in Cryptozoology, Merbeings, Minnesota Iceman, Mokele-Mbembe, Momo, Montauk Monster, Mothman, Movie Monsters, Museums, Mystery Cats, Mystery Kangaroos, Name Game, Napes, Obituaries, Ogopogo, Orang Pendek, Phantom Panthers, Pop Culture, Proto-Pygmies, Public Forum, Replica Cryptia, Sasquatch, Sea Monsters, Sea Serpents, Skeptical Discussions, Swamp Monsters, Television, Thunderbirds, Thylacine, Tom Slick, True Giant, Weird Animal News, Windigo, Winged Weirdies, Women in Cryptozoology, Wood Knocking, Year In Review, Yeren, Yeti, Yowie Read More Well-known, world-renowned genetic scientists will be working with this project. by Loren Coleman on July 25, 2014 in Abominable Snowman, Alien Big Cats, Almas, Bigfoot, Bigfoot Evidence, Breaking News, Bunyip, Cadborosaurus, Champ/Lake Champlain Monster, Chupacabras, Coelacanth, Cryptid Canids, CryptoZoo News, Cryptozoologists, Cryptozoology, Evidence, Forensic Science, Giant Cryptid Reptiles, Globster, Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, Living Fossils, Loch Ness Monster, Malaysian Bigfoot, Mapinguary, Megalodon, Mokele-Mbembe, Momo, Mothman, Mystery Cats, Mystery Kangaroos, Napes, New Species, Ogopogo, Orang Pendek, Proto-Pygmies, Sasquatch, Sea Monsters, Sea Serpents, Shunka Warak'in, Skunk Apes, Swamp Monsters, Thunderbirds, Thylacine, Winged Weirdies, Yeren, Yeti, Yowie with 2 comments Read More The expansion of cable programming held hopes of a future of thoughtful, scholarly shows. That was not to be.

November 2019 – Week 3 The Ænigma Project PodCast, where we discuss the paranormal, close encounters with the unusual and interactions with the supernatural. We’ll play Truth or Tale and share a little paranormal news now and then too. Join Paul Cagle, Sushi and Spring as we provide information from our differing points of view. Paul the Paranormal Investigator, Sushi our investigator and resident skeptic and Spring the Metaphysical/Spiritual teacher. Our PodCasts are available for download, for Free, on iTunes, Stitcher, Spreaker or listen to our current episode directly from our website at aenigmaproject.com. All this month we’re covering: Cryptids. Although Cryptozoology is not considered a real science, it is based on the sciences of Zoology and Paleontology. Many Cryptids probably don’t exist, but there is a high possibility that others do. In fact, National Geographic proved that Hogzilla and the Congo Elephants, two Cryptids thought to be hoaxes or not real, did exist. If more Cryptids do exist, there are scientific evolutionary roots on to how these creatures possibly evolved. – Fandom’s Cryptid Wiki This week we’ll be talking about: Mothman – Changed the sleepy little town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia forever when it swooped in one cold autumn night in 1966. The first recorded Mothman sighting took place on November 12, 1966, near Clendenin, West Virginia. Five men were in a cemetery preparing a grave for burial when they saw something they couldn’t explain. A brown winged creature but it wasn’t a bird; it was a humanoid. Our Upcoming Shows this Month, November 2019: Week 1 – Off the air Week 2 – Off the air – The Flu hit the show hard! Week 3 – Mothman – uploaded 11/20 Week 4 – Loch Ness Monster Week 1 – Dragons Send us your questions, topic suggestions or just let us know what you think of our show. We might use one of your question in our next Free Form Show! Visit our website AenigmaProject.com/contact-us/ and drop us a line! View a list of all our PodCast Episodes. Or learn more about Spring’s history with The Ænigma Project. © 2019 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Independent researcher Rich Daniels looks into the emotional and psychological effects of individuals who have encountered unusual creatures or cryptids of various classifications. Daniels is a frequent contributor to the National Cryptid Society and the Youtube show Bigfoot The Truth Told. will be presenting the following at the Marinette-Menominee Bigfoot Convention on June 8, 2019 and has allowed us to publish it here in tandem with his presentation. THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AFFECTS RESULTING FROM CRYPTID ENCOUNTERS By Rich Daniels, 2019. This report documents negative and adverse effects and affects experienced by individuals who have volunteered to share their encounters with undocumented animals. The vast majority of those participating in the study (141) purport experiences with bigfoot while the remainder claim encounters with other creatures such as dogman (5) and alien life forms (2). All subjects were interviewed a minimum of twice with 121 of them being interviewed three times. Interviews were conducted via text, personal message, video chat or in-person conversations. The 148 participants were selected out of a total of 408 subjects interviewed. The pool of subjects chosen included one hundred twelve (112) men and thirty-six (36) women. All those interviewed were extended the guarantee of anonymity in exchange for their participation. All participants were also guaranteed that their stories would not be sold or marketed in any way in connection with this study. Participants were vetted through several means. The primary vetting question applied was about the presence of mental/behavioral health history. Every participant selected reported no personal nor family history of mental or behavioral health diagnoses. Of the 260 subjects that were not included, 74 were disqualified due to reported personal and/or family history of mental or behavioral health diagnosis. The remaining 186 subjects not included in the study were excluded as the result of changing or evolving story details, inconsistent recall, micro-expression analysis or, in one case, refusal to be re-interviewed. None of these factors indicate less than truthful reporting, however, in the interest of maintaining a consistent and less questionable collection of data those cases were not included. Of the 148 participants chosen for the study, twenty-two (22) sought mental health support after their encounters. Of those, seven (7) continued with a treatment program for six months or more. Six (6) of the 22 were formally diagnosed with mental health disorders. Four (4) were diagnosed with schizophrenia (dementia praecox), one with bipolar disorder and one with early onset dementia. Of the twenty-two (22) who sought professional support, five (5) were referred to other providers or outright refused services. Those subjects included in the study represent as full a cross-section of vocational backgrounds as can be reasonably expected. They range from doctors (4), lawyers (3) and police officers (4) through most every facet of white and blue collar vocations such as factory workers (11), retail workers (9), construction workers (16), educators (8) and restaurant personnel (6). The most striking feature revealed by the interview process is the pervasive presence of long periods of time subjects endured before reporting their encounters. There were thirty-six (36) that reported incidents within a month, but the remainder (112) chose to wait longer periods of time before telling anyone about their experiences. Twenty-one (21) waited at least a year, twenty-six (26) waited at least two years, forty-two (42) waited at least five years and twenty-three (23) waited more than six years. Of the twenty-three (23) extended term waiting periods, twenty (20) lasted more than ten years, seventeen (17) lasted more than twenty years and three (3) lasted over thirty years. The longest duration between incidence and reporting of said incidence was thirty-six years. The sole reason for holding back from reporting their encounters subjects reported was fear of being ridiculed or even persecuted for their admissions. Said concerns were both personal and professional in nature. Responses To Encounters All 148 subjects of the study fell into the five stress response categories fight, flight, freeze, flop and friend. There were eleven (11) subjects that reported immediate fight responses of anger, feelings of aggression and a desire for revenge. Eight (8) subjects reported body tension (clenched hands or teeth, assuming an aggressive stance), four (4) brandished weapons or picked up objects to use as weapons and two (2) subjects reported throwing objects at the creature they encountered (neither reported striking the creature they encountered with thrown objects). None of the fight responses were reactions to reported aggressive behaviors of the creatures encountered. All eleven fight responses occurred in male subjects. By far the largest segment of subjects reported flight response. Seventy-two (72) subjects reported fleeing the scene of their encounter within moments of incidence. Five (5) individuals took flight while only hearing something alarming and saw the creature while fleeing. Eight (8) began walking from the area after detecting a repulsive odor then saw the creature en route. Thirteen (13) were overcome with a powerful sense of dread prior to their encounter. Ten (10) experienced confusion or disorientation just prior to encountering a creature. Twelve (12) subjects saw a creature but were not seen/detected by it. And twenty-four (24) subjects noticed a creature watching them. The next largest sub group was made up of those who froze at the point of encounter. Thirty-one (31) subjects reported freezing in place, feeling paralyzed or otherwise unable to move at some point of their encounter. Twenty-three (23) subjects reported immediate immobilization upon encountering a creature while the remaining eight (8) reported experiencing inability to move within moments of their encounter. Six (6) subjects reported their immobile sensation to last less than a minute. Sixteen (16) subjects reported being immobile for “a few minutes” narrowed to less than five minutes. Seven (7) subjects reported up to ten minutes before they were able to move away from their encounter site. And two (2) subjects reported not being able to move from the point of encounter for up to an hour. All subjects of this sub group reported confusion, disorientation or inability to “think straight” during their encounters. The most unexpectedly large sub group was made up of those that fit into a flopping or fawning response. Twenty-seven (27) subjects reported partial or full collapse onto the ground, turning away without fleeing or averting their eyes from the creature. The nineteen (19) that flopped (collapsed) reported shock or feeling stunned at the moment of encounter. The eight (8) that fawned (turned away or averted their eyes) reported dissociative or “mind numbing” feelings. None of those that turned their attention from the creature recalled hearing it depart the area. The last, and most complex, sub group were subjects reporting a friending response. These seven (7) subjects all reported immediate heightened curiosity about the creature they encountered. Five (5) subjects reported that feeling while still in the presence of the creature while the other two (2) subjects reported the same feeling but a few moments after the departure of the creature. All subjects reported empathetic feelings toward the creature in some way. Two (2) subjects reported feeling a “special connection” was made with the creature they witnessed. Long Term Affects All subjects reported some extension of their initial stress response to their encounter. Reported continuation of symptoms ranged between two weeks and permanence. Of the eighty-three (83) subjects that experienced metabolic hyper-arousal increases (elevated heart rate, blood pressure, rapid breathing, etc.) from fight or flight responses, seventy-four (74) reported cessation of said symptom frequency within six months. Five (5) subjects reported cessation within a year and four (4) reported that symptoms never fully ceased. Sixty-five (65) subjects reported hyper-arousal overload responses from freeze, flop/fawn or friend responses. Hyper-arousal overload resulted in metabolic shutdowns (weak pulse, shallow breathing, light headedness, glazed-over eyes, pale or ashen skin or undue weakness/fatigue). Thirty-nine (39) reported cessation of symptoms within two months. Sixteen (16) reported cessation within a year. Ten (10) reported that symptoms had never fully ceased. Subjects reported experiencing a full range of long term emotional affects, some of which never ceased. Inability to rest or sleep, nightmares and night terrors were common for fight or flight subjects with incidences ceasing within three months (88) to a year (35). Thirteen (13) subjects reported that sleep depriving affects have never fully ceased. One hundred and three (103) subjects reported at least some chronic stress response symptoms such as headaches, body aches, chest pains, low energy, frequent colds or infections (compromised immune response), frequent gastric disruptions (upset stomach, nausea, constipation, diarrhea) or insomnia for a period of one to two years after their encounters. Said symptoms lasted between two and five years for thirty-one (31) subjects and lasted more than five years for fourteen (14) subjects. Of those, eight (8) subjects reported that they never stopped experiencing chronic stress symptoms. Unlike victims of accepted trauma incidents, cryptid witnesses found few outlets for the effects of their experiences. Of the 148 subjects interviewed, 141 reported that they were at least hesitant to share their experiences with anyone. Invalidation, ridicule, persecution and lack of understanding by others were the chief reasons reported for delaying or not sharing experiences. Sixty-one (61) subjects reported altered or terminated relationships as the result of sharing their experiences with others. The affected relationships included family, friends and professional settings. Six (6) subjects reported termination of immediate familial relationships of some kind. Nineteen (19) subjects reported termination of relationships with friends. Two (2) subjects reported career limiting changes in their professional lives. All of the 148 subjects reported feeling isolated or abandoned for a period of at least a month. One hundred twenty-one (121) subjects reported the same feeling for at least six months. Eighty-nine (89) subjects reported said feelings for a period of at least a year. Thirty-seven (37) subjects reported continued perception of isolation or abandonment for at least five years. Seventeen (17) subjects reported said feelings never ceasing. One hundred twenty-eight (128) subjects reported a strong desire to share their experiences concurrent with their hesitation to do so. Finally, of the 148 subjects ninety-six (96) reported definite desire to see the creature again. Thirty-eight (38) reported no desire to see the creature again. Fourteen (14) were unsure if they wanted to see the creature again. Other articles by Rich Daniels: Visit our YouTube Channel and Subscribe! This collection of over 170+ articles, direct from newspapers of the 1800s and 1900s, brings some of the most bizarre, amazing, and incredible stories of true monster encounters out of the past and into your hands! Presented with zero spin or bias, this book delivers just the facts and allows you, the reader, to decide for yourself if the stories within actually happened or not. From the funny to the frightening, the sincere to the weird, there is something for everyone within these pages!

November 2019 – Week 1 The Ænigma Project PodCast, where we discuss the paranormal, close encounters with the unusual and interactions with the supernatural. We’ll play Truth or Tale and share a little paranormal news now and then too. Join Paul Cagle, Sushi and Spring as we provide information from our differing points of view. Paul the Paranormal Investigator, Sushi our investigator and resident skeptic and Spring the Metaphysical/Spiritual teacher. All this month we’re covering: Cryptids. Although Cryptozoology is not considered a real science, it is based on the sciences of Zoology and Paleontology. Many Cryptids probably don’t exist, but there is a high possibility that others do. In fact, National Geographic proved that Hogzilla and the Congo Elephants, two Cryptids thought to be hoaxes or not real, did exist. If more Cryptids do exist, there are scientific evolutionary roots on to how these creatures possibly evolved. – Fandom’s Cryptid Wiki This week : Fall is a busy time for everyone and that includes us. We’re taking this 1st week of November off. But stay tuned for the rest of the month. Here’s what we have scheduled: Our Upcoming Shows this Month, November 2019: Week 1 – Off the air Week 2 – Mothman – uploaded 10/13 Week 3 – Loch Ness Monster Week 4 – Slinderman Week 1 – Dragons Send us your questions, topic suggestions or just let us know what you think of our show. We might use one of your question in our next Free Form Show! Visit our website AenigmaProject.com/contact-us/ and drop us a line! © 2019 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Spring has finally sprung (it’s mid-May, so it’s about dang time!) so check out this beautiful Spring Sea-Dragon by Canadian professional artist Piper Thibodeau, posting as Cryptid-Creations. (You can find the corresponding Summer, Autumn, and Winter Sea-Dragons at those links!) Just this month, Piper was awarded a prestigious Deviousness Award from the DeviantArt powers-that-be! Cryptid-Creations‘ DeviantArt story is a perfect circle. Inspired by other artists she found on DA to experiment with Digital Art, she has gone on to craft a successful, artistic career for herself. You have likely stumbled across one of the many images that Piper has drawn as part of her “Daily Paint Series”; a personal daily task she set back in 2012 that is quickly approaching its 2000th installment. [She hit that on earlier this week on May 13, 2018!] Her gallery is a treasure trove of color, whimsy, humor — and the mark of a truly creative mind. The inspired artist of yore has now become the inspiration for many and there is nothing more kindred to the community than that. It’s obvious that Cryptid-Creations is “punstoppable” and we are tickled pink to award her Deviousness for May 2018. Her wordplay art is really great, and here is one of my favorites called Dragon Fruitfly. You can check out more recent pieces titled Drummingbird, Shiba Inuyasha, and Pretzelcoatl, to give you a sense of her humor. 🙂 Piper is a “former full-time character designer for Dreamworks TV, [now] a freelance designer” with an astounding gallery, and you can follow her on Tumblr, Twitter, and Imgur, and support her work (and get behind-the-scenes insights!) through Patreon. I absolutely adore Piper’s artwork, so it was extremely hard to pick only three pieces to share with you this week! But future-me will be grateful I’m sticking to my new schedule and not taking too long on these off-week posts. I’ll tell you more about what I’m doing to focus on my novel and how that’s going next week, so stay tuned! Thanks as always for reading, take care, and stay creative!

Dean Traylor is a freelance writer and teacher who writes about various subjects, including education and creative writing. In some parts of Latin America, people are genuinely scared of the Chupacabras. Mention its name to some – especially in the rural areas of Puerto Rico and the Central American countries – they will shudder in fear. The farmers, peasants and others living in the region will tell endless tales of a nocturnal beast with an insatiable appetite for the blood of livestock and -- in very rare instances -- humans. In recent years, the legend of the Chupacabras has exploded. Accounts of supposed sightings have spread from its place of origin in Latin America and the US territory of Puerto Rico to places such as China, Indonesia, and mainland United States. Many, who claimed to have seen it, swore it was the legendary beast. However, eyewitness accounts are historically not reliable ways to prove they exist. There is also the possibility that those that have seen it may have been misidentifying them for common animals such as coyotes or foxes. Call them boogeymen, monsters, aliens or cryptids; the supposedly mythical Chupacabras are very real to many. Thus, it begs the question: Are people really seeing the legendary bloodsucker or are they misidentifying other beasts of the wild? Whatever the case may be, it's rattling a lot of nerves. New Beast in the Jungle It’s tempting to believe that the legend of Chupacabra (or Chupacabras) is several hundred years old. However, the first documented sighting of the beast goes back to 1995. Most sources place the origin of these initial sightings to rural Puerto Rico. There, farmers reported finding goats and other farm animals “dead with puncture wounds and a loss of blood.” The “beast”, as many believed it to be, was given a name, which roughly translated to “goat sucker” from Spanish (interestingly, one man, Puerto Rican comedian, author and radio DJ Silverio Pérez was credited with coining the term). To a degree, the eyewitnesses may have been onto something. It turned out that there was more to the Chupacabras than one thought. Initially, authorities investigating the mysterious deaths concluded that stray dogs were the culprit. However, many residents in the island’s interior didn’t believe the findings; they were convinced that an unknown beast was suspect. In part (and due to certain factors), the eyewitnesses described something that didn’t look like stray dogs. Many were convinced that an unknown, demonic beast was lurking in the dark jungles. To a degree, the eyewitnesses may have been onto something. It turned out that there was more to the Chupacabras than one thought. Accounts about the Chupacabras varied. Some claimed they were bipedal while others described a beast on four legs. Other differing descriptions included “demonic” red eyes, mane running along the back, and very sharp claws. Still there were few tantalizing traits shared among the accounts. Nearly all accounts described the animal as having: - smooth or hairless skin, - big “glowing eyes”, - a snout, - Sharp teeth, and Some eyewitnesses (as well as a few artist renderings) described something akin to the “grays” from the alien/UFO lore crossed between a wild beast with razor-sharp teeth and claws. To make matters terrifying, most eyewitnesses spotted this beast (usually alone) either mauling livestock or standing over a freshly killed one. Just about all accounts described puncture wounds on the carcass’ necks or upper torso with signs of drained blood nearby. Chupacabras Leave the Island Within five years of its first report, the legend of the Chupacabras spread throughout the Caribbean and onto the mainland in the Central American and South American countries. Later, it headed north into Mexico where the accounts gained infamous traction throughout the countryside. In addition, some claimed they saw it roaming urban and suburban streets in the dead of night. Eventually, the Chupacabras sightings popped up in Southwestern United States, especially within the Hispanic communities. Reports began to spread around the globe. They came from the Philippines, China, Indonesia, and Russia. It seemed within a short time, the Chupacabras went from being a local legend to a global phenomenon. Flaws in the Eyewitness Account Yet, with all the publicity, one had to wonder if there was anything compelling in the accounts that proved that the Chupacabras was the real deal. There were some compelling flaws in the accounts. They were: - Sightings made from afar. - Most if not all the accounts occurred at night. - Many accounts placed in bushy areas or places that obscured the view. - Many attacks occurred in regions with large coyote, fox or wolf populations. As a result, these flaws affected the perception of the contours, size and physical features of this mysterious beast. In addition, some of the most distinctive accounts such as the glowing eyes and the hairless bodies are not as unique in nature as many perceived it was. “Glowing” eyes are often associated with nocturnal predators. It’s not necessarily natural either. Often, animals such as wolves, coyotes, panthers, and dogs (both domesticated and wild) will hunt under the moonlight. Moonlight may reflect off their eyes, giving the impression that they glow. In addition to that, it’s likely that many witnesses had flashlights or other sources of artificial lights with them. This, too, can reflect off their eyes and give the same impression to an eyewitnesses. Accounts of the red eyes, however, doesn’t seem to have much credibility to it. It was possible that red lights may have caused it. On the other hand, it may have been an exaggerated or false report. Fear Can Distort Glowing eyes in the middle of the night is enough to terrify anyone. And when this happens, fear takes over the eyewitnesses, especially to the point that what they see may not be clear. In her thesis, “Eyewitness Memory: How Stress and Situational Factors Affect Eyewitness Recall”, Anne Yilmaz wrote, “ For eyewitnesses, high stress levels are typically due to fear—whether it is fear for their well-being or the well-being of others.” She continued by stating: “There are two main effects of high stress in eyewitness: decreased encoding of information in general and a narrowing of attention to specific stimuli.” (Page 12). In other words, according to Yilmaz, fear adds to stress, which affects the ability for person to recall all the details of an event. For those seeing a vicious beast attack their livestock, one can surmise that this is an extremely frightening, albeit stressful, moment for them. Parasites Create the Monsters Still, many reports, if not all, contains something about the animal’s hairless skin. This doesn’t appear to be a form of stress and fear affecting the these people’s eyewitness accounts. A National Geographic News 2010 article indicated that evolutionary biology – in terms of a parasite – may have played a huge role in the appearance of the “Chupacabras” Over the years, several biologists investigating the Chupacabras sighting noticed that many of the them mirrored known predators afflicted by a skin disease known as mange. As the article, written by Ker Than, details, mange is “a painful, potentially fatal skin disease that can cause the animals' hair to fall out and skin to shrivel, among other symptoms.” The disease is the result of mites (Sarcoptes scabiei). These particular mites are also responsible for causing scabies (an itchy rash) in humans. They tend to burrow under the skin of humans and nonhuman hosts and deposit eggs and waste byproducts (National Geographic, 2010). However, as Than points out, humans have evolved to the point that it becomes nothing more than a minor rash. This is not the case for canines and other wild animals, in which it can be potentially lethal. According to Kevin Keel, a wildlife-disease specialist for the Southwestern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia (and a “witness” of the alleged Chupacabras) he understood how sightings of these inflicted coyotes could confuse eyewitnesses. “It still looks like a coyote, just a really sorry excuse for a coyote,” Keel stated in the National Geographic News Article, “I wouldn’t think it’s a Chupacabras if I saw it in the woods, but then I’ve been looking at coyotes and foxes with mange for a while. A layperson, however, might be confused as to its identity.” Bloodsucker or Not? In many respects, researchers have made a strong case that the Chupacabras were actually misidentified animals such as wolves, coyotes, or other canines (some reports indicated they were large raccoons or small bears). However, many eyewitnesses stated that the animals targeted livestock and appeared to have sucked their blood. Again, the researchers pointed to an actual culprit in the animal kingdom, as well as some possible myth surrounding it. The National Geographic article contained an interview with another researcher, Barry O Conner, a University of Michigan entomologist who specialized in Sarcoptes scabiei. “I think that’s pure myth" — Barry O Conner, a University of Michigan entomologist “Animals with mange are often quite debilitated,” O Conner stated in the article. “And if they’re having a hard time catching their normal prey, they might choose livestock, because it’s easier.” When asked about the eyewitness account of blood sucking, O Conner was dismissive of the claim. “I think that’s pure myth,” he stated. He was not the only one who felt this way. Other researchers have dismissed this part of the accounts as mere exaggeration or a mis-identification by eyewitnesses. The deadly effects of mange may explain another aspect about Chupacabras; nearly all existing photographs of the supposed cryptid are the dead ones found on the side of a rural road. Chupacabras are urban legends; however, some legends have some element of truth. There’s no doubt that eyewitnesses spotted something attacking their livestock; however, many didn’t get a clear view and possibly couldn’t make out the shape of a known predator in the area. To make the matter more compelling, the creatures they spotted had a skin condition that could easily obscure the typical features of a coyote, fox or wolf. The mange they suffered from made them more menacing and mysterious than before. In a sense of irony, the evil, monstrous Chupacabras eyewitnesses thought they spotted were actually creatures debilitated by a disease that would eventually kill them. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. © 2019 Dean Traylor Dean Traylor (author) from Southern California/Spokane, Washington (long story) on August 28, 2019: Hey Jodah, thank you for reading...i myself was surprised that something like this legend can emerge in modern times; however, the chipacabra comes at a time and place when public distrust in government explanations was (and still is) at an all time high. Also, some of that distrust seems to be leveled at scientists and academics, too. I didnt mention this in the article, but i believe it can be a potential component as to why some people still believe in it...even if the appearance of a coyote with mange is apparent. John Hansen from Gondwana Land on August 28, 2019: A very interesting article, Dean. It is strange how recently the Chupacabra legend started and how sightings have increased and spread. There are usually some facts behind all legends, but those photos have to be coyotes. None of the animals that it could have been mistaken for are blood suckers however, so how can that be explained?

Happy Amateur Night! In this episode, Nick and Cait celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a couple of Emerald Isle tales. First up is the ghostly denizens of Malahide Castle, then the story of the fierce aquatic cryptid, the Dobhar-chú. After that, we present a bright and fruity St. Patty’s cocktail alternative to green beer and stout shot-bomb drinks. Éirinn go Brách! Get the recipe for Lizz’o the Irish here! We got research about the Dobhar-chú from all over the internet, but we want to give a special shout-out to In The Dark Air for having a write-up way more extensive than anything we did! Check it out! More Dobhar-chú goodness: The Creature Codex stated one for Pathfinder tabletop games. Very cool! Like the podcast? Want more? Tell a friend! You can also support our show buy shopping our Teepublic store or subscribing to our Patreon! Your support allows us the freedom to create more, bigger, and better content! Remember to drink responsibly and in accordance with your local laws. Don’t be our next ghost!

Whether you’re looking to cool down in the midst of grueling summer heat or need some comfort during the cruelest winter chill, these snow horror movies may be just the entertainment you’re looking for! An ultra-violent creature story filled with seduction, love, and a cast of well-written LGBTQ+ characters… AJ Spencer shares his thoughts on Briana Morgan’s latest novel, The Reyes Incident. Christi Bandy says “A great body horror film is just the right mix of fun, gory, gross, and thought-provoking – a movie you want to look away from, but you just can’t, and that’s okay.” Here are 20 of the best body horror movies you can watch this summer! Podcast Episode 20: Actor Daniel Roebuck Shares His History with the Horror Genre and How He Became Rob Zombie’s Grandpa Munster Actor Daniel Roebuck, Grandpa Munster in Rob Zombie’s The Munsters, catches up with his pal Lauren Spear sharing EXCLUSIVE stories! A veteran of the horror genre, Dan Roebuck has portrayed memorable characters in films, shows, plays, video games, and was even a clown in the circus! A.J. Spencer reviews Flicker, a horror short story written by Jed Shepherd (Host 2020) and illustrated by Trevor Henderson (creator of internet cryptid Siren Head)! Sidney, Laurie, and Nancy are amazing, but they aren’t Christi Bandy’s #1 favorite! Find out which Final Girl has her heart in this loving tribute… If your reaction to “What’s your favorite horror movie musical?” was “There are horror musicals?!?” then my list of 13 musical horror movies is about to change your life. Enjoy! Podcast Episode 19: Rob Tharp Shares His Memories Doing Special FX Work for Class of 1999 (GIVEAWAY!!!) Horror special FX artist Rob Tharp shares his memories (and his exclusive photos!) from his time spent working on effects for Mark Lester’s Class of 1999 — the sequel to Class of 1984 (shown on season 3 of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs). HorrorFam.com Podcast host Lauren Spear shares her thoughts on one of her favorite horror movie subgenres: “Kids” horror movies that are NOT for kids! Do you have any faves in this “who the heck was this made for?” category of film? Let us know in the comments! Christi Bandy reviews Ti West’s X (2022 A24), now in theaters. Should you go watch it?? Read to find out! (Don’t worry – no spoilers!!) Christi Bandy investigates whether Hulu’s horror original Fresh is a “rare” treat or a stale offering. VIDEO: Lauren Spear wishes you a happy International Women’s Day and gives shoutouts to lesser-known horror queens ♥ (12 minutes)

“What ya looking at?” “Tire? Tire-frame is more like it. From an old tractor by the looks of it.” Dan Kennedy stood over the tire-frame with a glum look and prodded it with his work boot. “Yep. Says C. B. on it. Whose tractor do you fancy this used to be?” “Tell me, Mr. Ellis, you ever heard of Chester Bedell?” “Can’t say as I have.” “Was a prominent landowner here in Berlin Township in the late nineteenth century. Owned some 1700 acres. This used to be his land. One of the reasons I brought you out here.” Ellis perked up and swiftly drew a small black, leatherbound notebook and a pen from his red plaid jacket, opened it and began energetically scribbling down his guide’s story. “Bedell was an atheist. Problem was, most who lived thereabouts, then as now, were Christians. A woman by the name of Mary Hartzell caught his eye and they married in 1851. Mary’s father, Henry Hartzell demanded that Bedell and his family come into the fold. Propriety and all that. Wanted his daughters kids to be brought up right. Demanded that Bedell have his baby boy baptized. Bedell, despising the church, would have nothing to do with such a proposition. He had his own philosophy and, in his opinion, no need for a Christian one. Well… Hartzell didn’t like that. Not one bit. So he sent in a Presbyterian minister to baptize his newly born. Bedell was furious and began publicly denouncing the Bible as a myth and Christianity as foolish superstition. Caused quite a stir, as you can well imagine, only furthered the tension between the two men. So tensions rose throughout the community, some of the folk siding with one or the other in the dispute. Not long after, there was a string of barn burnings. Arson. One of them burned down with a little girl still inside it and a choir girl for the church at that. The murderous fire-bug was fingered as none other than Bedell himself. Said he wanted to get back at the Hartzell’s someways and that torching their flock was one of them. Now Chester, he denied he had anything to do with it, said that just before the latest barn had burnt, he’d seen three men heading thereabouts, three associates of Simon Hartzell, Henry Hartzell’s son. Hard to say who was at the bottom of it, but one of the supposed arsonists kilt hisself and the other two were clock-cleaned in court by Bedell who sued them for defamation. Bedell publicly boasted of his victory, blaming his old foe Hartzell for siccing his son and his men on him, said it was a frame job and that again and again, he were an innocent man, maligned. As the disputation grew, so did Bedell’s disdain for religion, his contempt for the clerisy, such that he told his family to “Shun priests of all orders.” Well, many years passed and Chester Bedell was now an aged and sickly man, he knew he was nearing the end of his life and, unrepentant, said, “If there be a god, let him fill my grave with snakes.” Shortly thereafter, the old farmer died. He left behind two sons and two daughters, the sons, having took up the irreligious philosophy of what Bedell called “Universal Mental Liberty,” received equal shares of his property, whereas his daughters, who had gone into the fold of the Presbyterian church, received nary more than a dollar each. After the funeral, the bearers took Bedell in his coffin to the spot they’d dug in the North Benton cemetery and then froze to a hissing. They looked down into that gaping hole and saw that it were filled with snakes of every shape and had to put the coffin down and clear out the attendees so they could kill the serpents without making a scene. When Bedell was finally buried, his will dictated that a bronze statue of hisself which he’d commissioned in his final days be erected over his grave. This was done and yet… you know what they found on the statue, not a day after it had been placed?” Garret Ellis looked up over his notebook and smirked, “Lemme guess. Snakes?” “That’s right. Snakes. Whole area is infested with them. Don’t matter how many they kill, they just keep coming back, as if they’re materializing from the very air…” At this point in the tale Ellis laughed. “Well, that’s quite a story! I could definitely use this in my book. Uh, look, its getting dark, I’ve gotta head back to my motel.” He shut the notebook and pocked it alongside the pen, “But I wanted to thank you for showing me around, filling me in on the local history. Searching up articles online is one thing but actually being here, that’s quite another.” “It was no trouble at all Mr. Ellis-” “Please, call me El, all my friends do.” “Well, was no trouble at all El. I hope you just remember to include me in the credits of your book.” “Of course, I always include my sources.” Ellis drove swiftly, racing against the encroaching darkness and arrived at the North Benton Motel just before nightfall. The moment he closed the door to his room the phone rang. He cursed under his breath and picked up the phone, lighting a cigarette as he did so and gazing out the front window at the half-dead trees which loomed across the road like gigantic, bony claws. “Oh, hey Jimmy.” “Hey Jimmy yourself. You’re wife’s been blowing smoke up my ass ever since you left. You have your phone turned off, as usual.” “I don’t like distractions when I’m working.” “Well take a break, El. You’re wife is worried sick.” “She only has two hobbies. Worrying and let me know it.” “Kinda cruel for a man not to give his wife a call.” “I’m busy Jimmy. Anyways, what are you, my psychiatrist now?” “The way she’s been speaking, I think a marriage counselor would be more appropriate.” “So whats on your mind, Jim. I know you didn’t call just to remind me I’m married to a shrew.” “Sheesh. Harsh. But true. I just wanted to know how your research was coming. There’s plenty of books out about the history of Ohio but there aren’t many out there that are solely about so small a place as Benton. You dig up anything interesting?” “Yeah, actually think I might have. Old urban legend. Very juicy.” “Oh? Like a murder?” “Nah. A curse.” “Curses are good. Curses sell paperbacks. Look, I’ve gotta go. You ring me up in the morning and tell all about it.” “I’ll send you an email.” He hung up on the editor, returned the phone to the ringer, took a drag and looked out the window once more. He could have swore he saw something moving out there beyond the treeline. The flee market hummed like a overworked engine as Ellis, notebook in hand, strolled down the main thoroughfare, between the stalls of the vendors, busily hocking their wares to the easily ambling fairgoers. Upon arriving at the eastern-most stretch of the fairgrounds, Ellis paused and beheld a young Amish woman step up to a clothing stall, wait until the vendor’s back was turned at which point she grabbed hold of a ornate, hand-sewn dress and slipped it up underneath her shirt and began walking away. The stall owner turned about in perplexity, aghast that her dress had vanished. Shortly her eyes met Ellis’, the man raised his brows and pointed to the slowly ambling Amish woman. With astounding velocity, the dress merchant leapt over her stall grabbed the Amish about the hair, shouting, “You blind? Sign says flee market, not free market! Only thing free round here is a beating.” “You must be mistaken-” The dress vendor yanked hard as she could upon the thief’s hair, snarling, “Don’t bullshit me, sister!” at which point the Amish let out a howl, saying “Alright, alright! Here, here!” Once the dress was returned the vendor, slowly and with narrowed gaze, released her quarry, who, bug-eyed and gulping, ran away as fast as her plump and knocking knees could carry her. A few people turned to look and stare, but most were too absorbed in buying, selling, conversing or trying to thieve their own prizes to notice the incident. Police were nowhere to be seen. Ellis walked up to the vendor who had set about re-folding the lifted dress. “Oh, hello, thanks for that. She would have got away clean if it weren’t for you.” “Why aren’t there any police officers here?” The woman laughed, “You’re not from around here are you?” “Nope. From the coast. Hope you don’t hold it against me.” “Depends on how smug and over-syllabled your verbiage is.” They exchanged smiles and Ellis strode forth with his hand extended. “Name’s Garret Ellis.” She smiled, arching her brows with surprise, “Debbie Barrow. What brings you to our little corner of nowhere. Ain’t much around here of ‘historical significance. We had the mob, steel works… ghost stories. That’s bout it. You ain’t one of those UFO, cryptid people are you?” “The who now?” “You know, tin foil hat types – oh, most of them don’t really believe it, what they write and blog about, but it sells – we had a couple of guys from the history channel come by asking if anyone had seen any bigfoots recently. The HISTORY CHANNEL. Don’t that beat all.” “It does indeed. But no, to answer your question. That’s not my wheel house. I’m researching the history of Benton for a book. See it occurred to me a little while ago that though there are no shortage of history books on Ohio generally, there weren’t very many on Benton, give how small it is, that made sense, but I wanted to uncover the reality of the place. Heard some interesting stories. I was told you were a member of the historical society, thought you might be able to help.” “You picked a strange time to ask, Mr. Ellis.” “Yeah, sorry to drop in on you like this – your dresses are very nice by the way – you make them by hand?” “Impressive. I quite like them. Think my wife would like them even more.” “You’d think that would be the appropriate response.” “Ha. I’m bout to wrap up here. Going to be heading down to Hal’s diner which is inside the historical society council hall. You’re welcome to come along. Could use some company.” “To protect you from the Amish?” “Nah. That I got covered.” Hal Hewit was an enormous man with a head like an overripe melon and two small, squinty eyes that twinkled with keen intelligence. He doubled as both the chair of the Benton Historical Society and the rustic diner inside it, which he’d named after himself. When he spotted the two entrants, he smiled broadly and raised one of his enormous, meaty hands and waved from behind the polished wooden counter. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. Who alls ya friend, Debbie?” Ellis returned the smile and walked up to the diner counter and shook the man’s hand. “Garret Ellis. I’m a historian. Researching the history of Benton. Daniel Kennedy might have mentioned me.” “Oh yes, yes of course. Dan had mentioned you’d be stopping by. Well, ya’ve met Dan and Debbie and now me, that’s half the town already, haha.” “Dan had told me about Chester Bedell.” The big man froze. The smile slowly vanishing from his face. “W-well, ah, I don’t know much about that; how bout some coffee and doughnuts, or bacon and eggs? Yall hungry right?” “Hungry as a hog,” Debbie replied. Ellis was confused at the man’s reticence. How could he, the leader of the historical society, “not know much about that?” Perhaps, Ellis thought, there was some family history. Perhaps the Hewits were, at one point, as bounded up with the Bedells as the Hartzells… perhaps… “Debbie, I got the doughnuts over here, why don’t you come and grab them so our guest doesn’t wither away while I’m rustling up the eggs.” Debbie stood up from where she sat across from Ellis and made her way across the patternless green linoleum floor. Ellis watched them from the corner of his eye; the big man was whispering something into her ear, then he stood up straight with a cheezy smile and slide a tray of doughnuts across the table to the woman. When she sat back down opposite the investigator he folded his hands together and leaned forwards. “What did he say?” She paused a moment, waiting until Hal had vanished into the kitchen. “Hal’s kinda superstitious. He doesn’t like talking about bad things that happened around here. Thinks it will scarce off customers.” “Well, he’s dead wrong about that. Brought me here didn’t it? Besides, why do you think there are so many ghost hunting, cryptid-catching, conspiracy theory shows on television? So many websites with that stuff plastered everywhere? Its because people love it. They gobble that stuff up. Rather than driving people away, it’d drive people in. By the boatload.” “Maybe.” She grabbed a doughnut and began munching idly. Ellis’ mouth began to water, it only occurred to him then that he had not eaten all day. He plucked out a fine chocolate glazed pastry and popped it into his mouth. “Splendid. Ya know my father always said, ‘Be happy for what you have to eat. There are starving kids in Biafra.” “Secessionist state in West Africa.” “Oh. My mother always used to withhold our desserts until we had ‘earned them.’ She’d say ‘Plenty breeds indolence.” “She’d have gotten along well with my father then. Oh, tell me, is Hal religious?” “Yeah, he’s a Presbyterian. Goes to The North Benton United Presbyterian Church.” “Where is that?” She smiled and shook her head, “Ya know, you might be a historical expert but you sure aren’t perceptive about the present.” The woman jerked her thumb over her shoulder and out the diner’s front window. He followed her gesture and discerned a large church situated directly across North Benton Road. “Oh,” he grinned sheepishly. After Ellis and Debbie had finished up at the diner they said their goodbyes and she departed to go see to the dog of a neighbor whilst he stayed and convinced Hal to give him a tour of the historical society. When they passed through the library, Ellis paused to query. “You have archives I take it.” Hal’s small, squinty eyes flicked to a door to the left momentarily. “You can look through the records if you like, but its quite a bit of paperwork.” Ellis pulled out his notebook and smirked, “I’m used to long hours.” He flipped through a stack of records until he saw the name “Bedell” and then flipped upon the folder and rifled through until he lit upon a grainy photograph of a intelligent, yet imposing looking man with a thick, well-groomed beard and dark suit. Chester Bedell. All the while Ellis worked through the files, Hal watched with interest. When Ellis had satisfied himself as to the archives and filled his small, black notebook up with dates and names and hidden stories, he closed his book and headed for the exit, the image of Chester Bedell burning in his mind. Pausing at the counter of the diner on the lobby floor to thank his gracious host. Hal nodded stoically and put his hand on Ellis’ shoulder. “You ain’t going up to Ole Bedell’s grave, is ya?” “I was planning on it. Files say his grave was moved up by Canyo on Hartzell Road. Figured I’d go have a peek for my research. Why?” The big man shook his head, his brilliant black eyes going wide and mournful and filled with something else. Something that looked a lot like fear. “I wouldn’t say its wise. Now listen, I know its easy enough to laugh. To dismiss the whole thing as nothing more than an ole wives tale… but there’s usually some truth in such tales and I tell ya, there is truth in this.” “Well… I’ll keep that in mind.” It took considerable effort for Ellis to keep himself from smiling. When Ellis pulled into the wide, gravel drive of Hartzell Cemetery he was surprised at how small and sparse the place was, nothing more than a few slabs of stone stuck into a couple of tiny plots of grassy land, boarded up in the middle by wind slashed oaks. He had expected gargoyle statues and grand iron-works and roiling clouds of mist, maybe a spooky old groundskeeper, yet his only company was a fat raccoon which looked up from one of the graves with an oily hamburger wrapper in its mouth. Its eyes flashed and it bolted into the treeline. The daylight waned as Ellis made his way between the graves, the ground, hard and unyielding; probably thick with clay, he thought idly. He passed a grave which read ‘Henry Hartzell,’ Ellis tipped his hat towards it, then bent and placed a sheet of paper over the tombstone and ran a piece of charcoal over it until he had a good impression. Then he folded up the paper, slid it into his inner right coat pocket and moved on. He could see Chester Bedell’s grave up ahead, even if one wasn’t looking for it, the edifice would have been hard to miss, for it was the largest grave in yard, with the largest font. In the archives, Ellis had read that there used to be a statue of the old farmer with a raised tome in one hand that said ‘Universal Mental Liberty,’ whilst his foot crushed a scroll which read ‘Superstition,’ however, some yahoos had shot it up in a drunken frenzy and it was removed to a local museum for renovation. As he stood before the grave in the twilight, he tipped his hat. “Howdy, old man.” Moments later, as if in response, there came a hissing. Ellis whirled and leapt aback as an enormous snake slithered up from the ground and coiled about the grave. Once his heart-rate returned to normal he smiled, shook his head and leaned toward the serpent as if in defiance. “You seem to have mistaken me for Hal, old girl, I ain’t afraid of snakes. My friend Julie’s got a pet python that would gobble you up for lunch.” He gingerly grabbed the snake by its tail and, with the utmost caution, slid it across the ground until it was well and clear of the tombstone. Then he bent to Bedell’s grave and jotted down some notes and made a copy of the faceplate as he had done with Hartzell’s. Just as he was about to finish, there came yet another hissing and another; jerking his head to the left he could see two massive black rat snakes coiling up about him. He drew back silently, rising from the grave. Such a concentration of the animals wasn’t natural. Something was very wrong. He turned to make his way back to his car and beheld a figure in the distance, standing at the treeline. The man was tall, with a thick beard and a fine black suit over which he wore a battered overcoat, drab and dark. His eyes were pits of void and the hissing of the serpents then grew louder as the clouds slithered over the warming light of the sun and choked its bountiful rays from all existence. Ellis gasped and ran. Night fell like a blanket of smog as Ellis drove back from the cemetery to his motel on North Benton Drive. Upon returning he locked the door behind him. His breathing erratic; eyes bulging, slightly crooked teeth grinding back and forth. “It couldn’t have been real. It couldn’t have been real…” He muttered to himself, pacing, veins flashing out like ruddy-blue worms against the pallor of his skin. He lit up a cigarette and poured himself a glass of wine to calm his nerves. Then he paused, mid drag, a thought flashing through his skull with blinding clarity. The apparition I saw was extremely tall. Who else in town is of a similar height? Debbie laughed like a hyena as Hal recounted his twilight haunting in the dimly lit confines of his diner, now closed up for the night. “Ya should have seen the look on that fella’s face!” “Oh, its a little cruel. I feel bad for laughing.” Dan Kennedy waved away her concerns as if they were a gaggle of mischievous pigeons and gestured to the owner. “Don’t be so melodramatic, he weren’t hurt. Just scared. Like Hal said before, this is gonna drive business. Big business. We keep this up, we’ll be practically rolling in cash.” Hal intervened, suddenly severe. “That’s as may be, but we’ve gotta be careful.” He stabbed his finger through the air at Kennedy. “If anyone finds out that you’re the one whose been putting snakes on the grave it will all be for nothing.” “Well, I always do just like ya say and check to make sure there ain’t no one there before I place um. Them ole rat snakes are easy ta catch once ya can find um, so I been breeding them out behind my barn and ain’t no one ever goes out there.” Hal nodded as if that were acceptable and turned to Debbie, “Alright, now when your historian friend calls you – you did give him your phone number right?” “Ok. Good. When he calls you and tells his story, you tell him that’s happened before, really ham it up, if we keep saying there’s been tons of these sightings and enough people listen, they’re bound to believe it. At that point I won’t need to play dress up and Danny here won’t need to keep bringing snakes, they’ll be all so convinced about the truth of it, they’ll starting seeing things themselves, now that’s bound to bring in some news stories.” “Hell,” Dan snickered. “Forget the news, that fella is bound to write this up in his book, I looked him up, he’s pretty well known. Not quite a New York Times bestseller, but close enough.” “Alright we just have to-” Suddenly there came a thumping, but wherefrom, none of the conspirators could tell. Hal rose first and swiftly, “What was that?” Dan shrugged, unconcerned, lighting a Marlboro and taking a swig of Coors. Moments later there came a second thumping. Debbie jumped and Dan shook his head, his brows going up and his facade falling to amused disappointment. “Yall are jumpin’ at shadows, probably just a coon. Ya know how they get up on top of the roof sometimes-” “It werent no coon.” Hal whispered grimly. Debbie yelped suddenly as a black snake twined about her ankle. She windmilled her arms and fell to the floor howling and kicking whereupon Hal froze and Dan cursed aloud. “How the fuck did one of your snakes get loose?” “It weren’t one of mine Hal, I swear they’re all locked up.” Both men paused and looked at each other as Debbie rose and steadied herself as the snake moved out to the middle of the floor. They followed it with their eyes and when it reached the center of the diner they heard the thump once more and followed its source to a tall man in a dark suit with a thick mane of hair who stood at the window outside the restaurant. His eyes were luminous and dark as collapsing stars and his mouth formed a cold and motionless line and the only expression he made were as the face of Death himself. Debbie cried out, Hal went white with terror and Danny swore and took a step back. When they looked again, he was gone. Only the serpent remained. In the little cafe to the immediate right of Hartzell road, Ellis sipped his coffee; the place was packed to bursting. A Amish woman came in and asked to sit and he nodded, “Sure. Yeah, of course. I don’t own the table.” She sat down beside him, ordered coffee and eggs and asked to see the newspaper. She flipped it open and raised a brow. “What is it?” “Hal and Dan Kennedy, co owners of Hal’s Diner recently claimed that they had been attacked by… a ghost.” “Oh? Does their ghost have a name?” “Chester Bedell. Apparently.” “They’re claiming that they’ve been cursed. That the grave of Chester Bedell is haunted.” Ellis grinned like a jackal as he sipped his coffee with his left hand and zipped up a bag filled with a fake wig and beard and a dark, old-fashioned dress suit. “Mighty good for business.”

Hi, I’m Frank Perrotto, owner of Threshing Press and author of the Find the Needle series of books. This site is meant as a place for me to periodically write articles on self publishing, my work in television and film (shameless IMDB link), and my thoughts on other things which I are simultaneously published on Medium. It’s also meant as a place for me to post updates on the book series, appearances (someday?), and to connect with readers who are fans of my work. Writing can be a really lonely process, so it’s great to get feedback, good or bad, and if you ever have a question, even about the ridiculous reality shows that I (mostly) work on these days, shoot me a message! If you’d like to stay updated, be sure you’ve subscribed to the mailing list above and/or the RSS feed. As I said in the Preface to Find the Needle, Part 1: Diary of a Digital Outlaw and in the Welcome email if you signed up for the mailing list, I’ll be sending out free short stories between full book releases that will add other layers to the work of Find the Needle. These shorts stories exist outside the “Outlaw”, in-book game world, i.e., they involved the scientists in charge of the experiment and how they interact with Dmitry and what their goals and disagreements are. The Prologue to Find the Needle began as a short story, but I soon realized I needed to stick it up front in Part 1 to contextualize the rest of the book. A little more about me – I live in Hoboken (soon to be Westfield), New Jersey and work in New York as a television editor. Some of the shows I’ve worked on include Dora the Explorer, Killing Fields, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Alaskan Bush People, Mob Wives, and Made. I’ve been doing it for roughly ten years now and while I probably can’t say anything too specific here for fear of upsetting people or violating some NDA I don’t remember signing, if you’re ever in New York and want to know all the dirt on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Miami, Atlanta, or Mob Wives, shoot me an email and I’ll… probably… ignore it. Seriously, if you made it to this website, you more than likely read a lot and don’t care about some silly reality show characters. That’s a healthy perspective. Besides television, what I’ve always wanted to do, as cliche as this might sound, is to write and direct scripted film and television shows. In the past several years I’ve made a short film about alien abduction that did well on the festival circuit (but not as well as it’s done on Youtube!), and written several screenplays and pilots, one of which did well on the screenplay competition circuit. All of that got me exactly nowhere beyond my day job, and that’s okay. It took me a long time to realize that all I want to do is tell stories and to have an opportunity and an outlet where people could enjoy them. I get some small measure of that from my day job, but not nearly enough, so I turned to writing narrative fiction… mostly for the mountains of cocaine and piles of cash that people told me every self-published auth – wait, what?! No cocaine? No piles of cash? Someone lied about all this?! As I’ve done on Medium, I’m going to write a lot about switching from screenplays and pilots to writing novels and how it turned out to be nowhere near as difficult as I thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a huge learning curve, but there’s also a tremendous amount of freedom in self-publishing narrative fiction. Screenplays are all about crisp dialogue and the details you leave out more than the details you leave in. Economy rules the script format, whereas with a novel, if you want to spend an entire chapter on the history of a building the character lives in, well… go right ahead. You risk boring the audience to death but that risk could also pay off in that someone will find your ideas just as fascinating as you do. At the end of the day, it’s all about communicating our weird little (and big) stories to one another and hoping there’s somebody else out there who gets it. If they don’t, well, try not to cut your ear off. Or build a time machine and keep going until you find some future people who’ve discovered your work. If you don’t find any, definitely cut off your ear. Alright, this ‘About Me’ section is already too long, so I’m gonna cut it here and just say welcome again to Threshing Press (the name began as a Led Zeppelin reference), and I hope you’ll stick around for the entire Find the Needle series as well as what I have coming up next, another three part series of books called The Cryptid Cabal. All the best,

This exceedingly dangerous aquatic predator is said to have a bovine shaped head complete with two stalk eyes, razor sharp claws and a mosquito-like proboscis, through which it sucks its victims blood. Embedded deep in the Andes mountain range, in the Southern Province of Neuquen, is a small glacial lake, which is situated approximately 25-miles away from the Chilean border. This pristine stretch of icy water known as Lago (Lake) Lacar, shares many traits in common with other high altitude, freshwater bodies (such as LAKE BAIKAL and LAKE VAN) not the least of which are the reoccurring reports of a large – and extremely dangerous – unidentified animal dwelling beneath its surface. Dubbed El Cuero, which roughly translates to “The cow-hide,” by the local population, this leathery creature is also known by the names “el Threquelhuecuvu,” “El Bien Peinado” (“the smooth-headed one”) and has even been referred to as an AQUATIC-TIGER. Along with Lago Nahuel Huapi’s resident beast NAHUELITO, the AHUIZOTL and the vicious aquatic mammal known as the HUALLEPEN, El Cuero is one of the many examples of amphibious cryptid to appear on the South American continent. Described as having a hairless head and spine, this animal’s body structure has been compared to that of a cow-hide which has been splayed out to dry, hence its appellation. This analogy has led some investigators to speculate that the animal may be distantly related to the family of South American freshwater stingrays known as the Stenohaline. The creature’s face is said to be repugnant, and bearing two, reddish stalks, upon which rest its snail-like eyes. Even more disturbing are the reports of this animal’s proboscis-like mouth – located in the center of the creature’s torso – through which it reputedly sucks the blood of its human and animal victims. This is a trait which the El Cuero would seem to share with thew notorious “African Brain Sucker” also known as MAMLAMBO, although this animal’s description bears more likeness to the ancient invertebrate, known as the TULLIMONSTRUM. Eyewitnesses have also reported seeing a series of razor-sharp claws along the fringes of this animal, which it uses to secure its prey. Although this animal is most assuredly a LAKE-MONSTER, as Lago Lacar is undoubtedly El Cuero’s favorite haunt,we here at American Monsters felt that the unique features of this beast (not to mention the fact that there have been numerous eyewitness accounts of similar creatures hailing from rivers and lagoons in both Argentina and Chili) made it a perfect candidate for Aquatic-Enigmas. While legends of these vicious predators have circulated for decades throughout the indigenous populations of these two nations, there are some investigators who believe that the similarities between this beast and the equally ferocious HUEKE-HUEKE’ are so startling as to indicate that they may be one in the same. One tale which has become synonymous with this animal involves an unwary mother who, while washing her clothes in the Hua-Hum River, watched in terror as the animal lunged out of the water and snatched her infant child as it lay next to her on the shore. Additional evidence of this creature’s amphibious tendencies are said to be found in the bird and animal remains, which litter the Lacar shoreline after one of its voracious, nocturnal feasts.

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While I was watching humans trying to save dinosaurs from extinction in the fictional cinema-verse of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, I remembered reading an article from Creation Ministries International called “Dinosaurs are almost certainly extinct” (February 22, 2018). The article’s message was that that “It is time to let go of the idea of ‘living dinosaurs.'” The article is co-authored by Robert W. Carter, Gary Bates, and Jonathan Sarfati, ostensibly to present a united front against a possible backlash against Creation Ministries International’s opinion that the very idea of living dinosaurs should be placed on the list of Arguments Creationists Should Not Use. I wouldn’t really have a problem with this article if the authors only said that Creation Ministries International would no longer consider the possibility of living dinosaurs. After all, if their arguments against the possibility of extraterrestrial life are any indication, CMI’s grasp of logic is inconsistent at best. Yet they’ve gone a step further to say that, really, no one else should say that dinosaurs and plesiosaurs might be alive today either. Technically, the list of Arguments Creationists Should Not Use is comprised of a primary list of arguments which definitely should not be used and a secondary list of arguments which are doubtful and therefore inadviseable. They’ve placed living dinosaurs at the top of the secondary list. Let me tell you why abandoning the living dinosaurs argument is a bad idea. Living dinosaurs are part and parcel to the Cryptozoological Implication of Creationism, which is the observation that if the Earth is young and God preserved animal kinds aboard the Ark roughly 4000 years ago, then we should expect to see living species today which evolutionists and old earthers profess went extinct in the ancient past far removed from the appearance of modern man. It’s an implication of the literal history of Genesis and it includes the possibility of the present-day re-discovery of living dinosaurs. Lest I be accused of thatching together a straw man, let me be clear that the authors are not saying that dinosaurs did not live with post-Flood man perhaps even up to medieval times. They are saying that “dinosaurs are no longer alive today, unless proven otherwise,” so we need to abandon the argument, at least in the meantime. I suggest that their preference does not meet the sufficient criteria for being placed on any sort of universal list of arguments creationists should not use. Indeed, no other major creationist organization seems to have added living dinosaurs to their list! One further note before we continue: In their summarized position, CMI states (in part) that, “While creationists some time ago thought that some dinosaurs might still be alive in some obscure part of the globe…” This is an outright attempt to obscure the truth that it is recently and presently rather than “some time ago”! Why is such an erroneous statement included in an article which claims to be concerned with facts? The article begins by noting that the Ica Stones (already on the list of Arguments Creationists Should Not Use with good reason), which show man and dinosaurs living together, also portray those dinosaurs with dragging tails, evidencing the work of a forger using out-dated notions of how dino tails were held. Thus, the authors correctly note: “This is one of those things we would love to be true, but since the evidence is equivocal, we should put it on the back shelf.” They use this as a springboard for their argument that the very concept of living dinosaurs should be discarded by creationists. “The thought that dinosaurs might be living in some long-forgotten corner of the world has fanned the flames of curiosity for a long time. Many of our supporters believe it is true, and we have done much to support the possibility over the years. However, it is time for a critical reassessment… when an argument becomes untenable. We believe that ‘Living Dinosaurs’ has become one of those arguments.” They start off their appeal with something of a straw man argument that thatches its way through the entire article: the idea that those of us who are searching for evidence of living dinosaurs (no question-begging quotation marks required, by the way) are really just looking for “the ‘magic bullet’ or ‘knockout punch’ evidence” to prove the Bible is true. In actuality, we are looking for and should expect to find corroborating evidence of the Bible’s historical truth claims. The authors point out that we already have such evidence in the form of dinosaur soft tissue, dino DNA, and Carbon-14 in every dinosaur sample that has been tested. We even have it in the form of living fossils like the Coelacanth, all of which (as “out-of-time” creatures) are technically former cryptids. Concerning dinosaurs and the implications of Biblical revelation, the authors note: “Scripture does not speak directly about dinosaurs… but we have enough evidence to conclude that dinosaurs certainly existed. If we are to fit them into biblical history, they would have been on the Ark, because they were air-breathing land animals, and therefore they would have been alive at least early in the post-Flood era. We note that many land animals have gone extinct. The promise God made to preserve animals on the Ark was a general promise, not a specific claim that every species, or indeed every kind, would remain on the earth indefinitely. Indeed, extinction is just another reminder of the Fall and how the earth is subject to continuing decay.” I would only add here that if fossils are a result of the Flood, this is further evidence that dinosaur kinds must have been brought aboard the Ark. Logically, the authors conclude: “The evidence is strong that they lived in the post-Flood era, and there is nothing that categorically tells us they must be extinct, so the idea that they might still be alive is tantalizing. This brings us to a discussion about cryptozoology.” They admit here that they’ve written many articles on the subject of “creatures widely regarded as extinct or imaginary are actually alive but merely hidden” (i.e., cryptids). “While we have never claimed that dinosaurs are still alive today, we have always remained open to the possibility of finding one. Why wouldn’t we be? However, we have now had decades to verify the claims. To date, not a single one has been confirmed.” Like so many other critics of cryptozoology, they think it’s time to give up the search on this particular class of cryptids, the relict dinosaur (including pterosaurs and marine reptiles associated with the evolutionary “Age of Dinosaurs”). “And as time goes by, it is increasingly unlikely that we will ever find one. What about the argument, ‘One can only say they don’t exist today if we could explore every inch of the earth at the same time.’ This is actually nonsensical, because we could apply it to anything that we want—even non-existent or imaginary things like fairies that people believed in over 100 years ago (based upon alleged eyewitness testimonies).” Let’s compare this with a statement from the position of Answers in Genesis, from Chapter 12 of the New Answers Book: “One cannot prove an organism is extinct without having knowledge of every part of the earth’s surface simultaneously. Experts have been embarrassed when, after having declared animals extinct, they were discovered alive and well. For example, in the 1990s explorers found elephants in Nepal that have many features of mammoths.” The problem is that this argument CMI calls “nonsensical” isn’t nonsensical when applied to things which aren’t imaginary or non-existent. And we have already established that dinosaurs are not imaginary and that they once existed in the recent past. The question is whether or not they still exist. And in this case, the cryptozoologist is valid in appealing to the fact that we have not yet explored the entirety of the places on Earth where they might currently still exist. Regarding their analogy to fairies, I am appalled (but not really surprised) at this attempt to Poison the Well with imaginary creatures, as this is a tactic that opponents of Christianity often employ against the idea of God, associating it with the idea with Sky Fairies and Flying Spaghetti Monster. In both cases, one is literally comparing apples to oranges. “In addition, unlike the oceans, which are more difficult to explore due to the extreme depths and lack of light, we have explored essentially the entire surface of the earth.” Just because we have Google Earth doesn’t mean we’ve physically explored an area well enough to rule out the possibility of cryptids. Entire mountain ranges (such as the Himalayas and the forested mountains of Venezuela) remain undiscovered, not to mention tropical rain forest areas. As their article later admits, it is the “least explored” areas that are in contention. “From time to time we have found weird and wonderful creatures and species that we did not even know existed, but these have generally been small creatures, and they usually belong to an already-known taxon, such as the okapi (a member of the family Giraffidae, named in 1901) and the saola (a muntjac ‘discovered’ by a son of Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s, it was finally found alive in Vietnam in 1992).” First of all, dinosaurs would be members of an already-known taxon. I’m just gonna leave that there. Second of all, who says living dinosaurs are bigger than an okapi or the Vu Quang ox? My personal belief is that only smaller dinosaurs are likely to be alive today. Almost all mammal species have much bigger variants in evidence in the fossil record. If dinosaurs were like reptiles (and we have certainly appealed to such things in Ark apologetics), the large size of some species in the fossil record could be to their longevity. Unlike mammals, who tend to stop growing after reaching a certain size, reptiles tend to just keep growing and growing throughout their lives. Kangaroos are also indeterminate growers. This could mean that contemporary dino species sizes could be much smaller than their fossil and legendary relatives. “In the case of dinosaurs, we know what to look for. We have their fossils (meaning they are dead), and we have pretty much explored the whole planet. But the areas that are least explored (e.g. the Congo and West Papua) are the places where dinosaurs are supposedly living today, so we are left in a difficult situation.” OK, let’s unpack that. “We have their fossils (meaning they are dead)” is a purposely misleading statement. We have coelecanth fossils. Are they dead? The fossilized ones certainly are, but that’s not the same thing as being extinct, is it? In fact, creationists believe that dinosaur fossils are found in rock layers laid down by the Flood; this means that dinosaurs (and everything else on those layers) would have been alive before the Flood and that Noah would’ve taken living representatives after their kind aboard the Ark. As with their position on the possibility of extraterrestrial life, the authors appeal to the fact that we haven’t found relict dinosaurs yet as evidence that we never will. I will say that they are on surer ground with the amount of unexplored terrestrial space on Earth than they are with the amount of unexplored outer space! “It is not like no humans live in these places. Loggers, explorers, drug runners, poachers, and subsistence farmers regularly traipse the back woods areas of the world. It is nearly impossible to find places not impacted by humans, thus observed by humans.” That is just bullroar, and I suspect that they know this. This also ignores the fact that most of the time cryptozoological searches are initiated by legends, rumors and isolated reports of the existence of such creatures, meaning that something may have been encountered but its identity and existence has not been confirmed. So whether we haphazardly ran across such cryptids is irrelevant. In fact, more modern accounts that cryptid hunters seek to corroborate often find their source in the very loggers, etc, whom CMI mentions. “But our position is no longer ‘wait and see’. Instead, it is time to say that living dinosaurs no longer exist unless there is proven evidence to the contrary, otherwise claims that dinosaurs must still exist will be used by the evolutionists as yet another club with which to beat creationists.” So here they offer us an appeal to consequences, a logical fallacy. if we continue to claim that dinosaurs might be still living somewhere on this planet, the evolutionist could make fun of us for it and claim that we really don’t seem to care about the evidence. Bates, et al., claim to worry that the claim that living dinosaurs might be alive today “will be used by evolutionists as yet another club with which to beat creationists;” however, they are inconsistent because another claim Creation Ministries International makes (that extraterrestrials are demons in disguise) was used by evolutionists in 1981 to discredit Dr. Norman Geisler’s testimony during McLean v Arkansas Board of Education …and we don’t exactly see CMI pulling Alien Intrusion from their shelves! I will point out the obvious: that cryptozoology, by its very nature, has little more than anecdotal evidence …until it finds what it’s looking for. For example, the Vu Quang ox of Vietnam wasn’t proven to exist until 1994, when a live specimen was captured. More importantly, not all cryptozoologists, even those who affirm the possibility of dinosaurs living today, are creationists. You see, the authors are correct in their view that living dinosaurs would not be seen as irrefutable proof of creationism. Many who entertain the idea of living dinosaurs already do so within an evolutionary worldview. Karl Shuker, author of In Search of Prehistoric Survivors: Do Giant `Extinct’ Creatures Still Exist? (1996) and Still in Search of Prehistoric Survivors: The Creatures That Time Forgot? (2017) isn’t a creationist either. Regarding living dinosaurs, Shuker claims: “If, however, such mystery beasts are truly modern-day dinosaurs, this means that they have undergone 65 million years (or more) of continuous evolution from their fossilised antecedents…” Likewise, leading cryptozoologist Loren Coleman is on record saying that he knows “few creationist cryptozoologists,” and, though he personally believes evolution is a fact, says they “seem an intelligent lot.” In any case, blissfully unaware that a search for living dinosaurs is not a purely creationist endeavor and does not really amount to a club evolutionists can beat us with, Bates, Carter and Sarfati continue: “This does not mean we reject the idea that dinosaurs previously lived with man, only that they are extremely unlikely to be living today, and there are strong creationist scientific reasons for saying so.” OK, I’d like to hear these “strong creationist scientific reasons.” Even after that atrocious grammar. So long as it’s better than an appeal to consequences. I cannot help but point out that the idea that living dinosaurs are “extremely unlikely” is not the same thing as saying that they no longer exist. “Moreover, valuable Christian resources are being devoted unnecessarily to what appear to be fruitless endeavors, rather than supporting ministries or efforts we believe are more demonstrable in bearing fruit (that is, helping to bring people to Christ, our #1 priority). All the evidence indicates dinosaurs are not still here.” So here they appeal to an economy of resources. We have better arguments that CMI believes are more demonstrable in bearing fruit in bringing people to Christ. And besides “all the evidence” indicates that dinosaurs are no longer living today. The problem with only using our best arguments is that it’s only really advisable in the forum of an official debate or perhaps even a conversation. Certainly in those situations you would want to marshal your best arguments; however, the internet is a much different forum. Evangelism often requires a wider net. Our critics are going to bring up subjects that we feel are weak points in our armor. If we only specialize in the “best arguments” (and that is definitely an ever-changing category!), we may find ourselves ill-equipped to field other arguments. Since the Cryptozoological Implication of Creationism is inherent in our model, we are going to get questions and criticisms regarding whether living dinosaurs exist today. If we continue to propose as the Bible implies that the Earth is young, that dinosaurs co-existed with man, and that dinosaurs were aboard the Ark a it is not really an argument we can avoid. Besides, “all the evidence” is really just, “thus far, we haven’t found anything.” One can say that it’s less likely that we will find a living dinosaur now, but if we’re being honest we have to admit that this isn’t anything we can be sure about. It’s an argument from ignorance. Absence of evidence is not necessarily the evidence of absence. If it were, CMI would not feel the need to add the caveat that “dinosaurs are no longer alive, unless proven otherwise.” “We are already fighting on a major front with our opposition to mainstream scientific belief on evolution. It is therefore important to maintain integrity in our creationist arguments, and not be sensationalists, even if this means loss of opportunity for ministry exposure or even loss of financial support from well-meaning Christians who get excited about such claims.” Wait. Um, what?? Isn’t this the same creationist organization that’s been promoting sensationalist material that aliens are actually demons?? I call Bolshevik. We must ask, however, why this is so important for biblical creationism? If a living dinosaur species were found, evolutionists would still not change their minds. They would just incorporate it into their pre-existing worldview. We know this because many ‘living fossils’ have been discovered (such as the wollemi pine and the coelacanth), and there are many fossils out of their assumed evolutionary place. They even said finding the wollemi pine was like “Finding a living dinosaur!” But putting aside some of the easily-forgotten sensationalist headlines, the general reaction is, “Huh. Isn’t that interesting? One of them managed to stay alive all this time.” We can confidently say that living dinosaurs would not be the death-knell of evolution. Therefore, why spend such valuable resources in looking for them? This is a nonsense question. While the discovery of a living dinosaur would not prove creationism is right and it would be unlikely to convince evolutionists that they are wrong, said discovery would certainly be more consistent with the Bible’s revealed history than millions of years. We would rightly use a living dinosaur as corroborating evidence for creationism, much as we do with the Wollemi pine and the Coelacanth. Alternatively, some of our supporters feel that cryptozoology is an embarrassing chapter in our history, and thus should be buried as deeply as possible.” And yet they have dedicated their resources to promoting the embarrassment known as the Demonic Hypothesis of UFO… They can charge me with tu quoque, but this does not erase their hypocrisy in this matter. We are suggesting that, instead, we should lay it aside and focus on the most powerful, up-to-date Achilles’ heels of evolutionary theory. There it is: a bona fide appeal to novelty wrapped up in a false dichotomy. I see no reason why we should abandon the notion of living dinosaurs. There’s no reason why we can’t, and no logically consistent reason why we shouldn’t, use all available evidences. Note that it seems like they are saying we should lay aside both the idea of living dinosaurs and cryptozoology itself and focus on newer arguments. It is cryptozoology itself that they describe as an “embarrassing chapter” that we should be laid aside and “buried as deeply as possible.” This baby-with-the-bathwater prohibition would include abandoning the Coelacanth and other living fossils as corroborating evidence, if that is what they mean to say. This would mean laying aside the entire Cryptozoological Implication of Creationism, even though it is implicit in the Genesis narrative. I’m pretty sure they’re simply guilty of overstatement here, unless the authors are just talking out of both sides of their collective mouths, because later in the post they recommend a creationist cryptozoology book about relict dinosaurs. “None of the crypto material can be scientifically documented since it is made up of personal testimonies. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable for a number of reasons, including those related to our fallen, human condition, and usually involves individual sightings (not sightings by groups of people). Even honest people can be prone to confirmation bias, so they ‘see’ what they are expecting to see. For instance, millions of people claim to have encounters with extraterrestrials, but we can say for certain that they did not have an encounter with a being from some distant planet.” I’m just gonna lay out Creation Ministries International’s hypocrisy here. And to be fair, THEY brought up extraterrestrials, so… It is an undeniable fact that their “smoking gun” for the idea that fallen angels are masquerading as demons is based on eyewitness testimony that cannot be corroborated. Aside from the fact that neither the book nor documentary version of Alien Intrusion ever bothers to mention the fact that resistance and willpower are just as effective as invoking the name of Jesus in ending so-called alien abduction experiences, the fact that CMI decries eyewitness testimony in cryptozoology but embraces it in ufology is nothing less than an inconvenient hypocrisy. Again, if they were at all consistent, they’d take Gary Bates’ bestseller off their shelf as well. “Our rule of thumb should be to not accept any testimony unless backed up by solid evidence (i.e. catch one!). As stated above, we are already held to a double standard. Let us, therefore, hold high standards ourselves and not fall prey to wishful thinking.” I’m sorry. I’m still thinking about their claims about aliens and demons and I’m thinking… They’re gonna have to call Ghostbusters to get the kind of evidence they need for their ufological theory. I’m pretty sure I have a better chance of catching a living dinosaur than they do of catching a demon! Their next section goes over the population requirements of large animals. Again, who says that these animals are necessarily large at this point? A Monsterquest study of the Mothman of Point Pleasant, WV, has shown that eyewitnesses as to the size of a reported cryptid can be incorrect. In the case of the Mothman, the Monsterquest team created wooden Mothman cutouts, with its trademark reflective red eyes, at varying heights. Drivers along the test route were to estimate the height of the cutouts as they passed them to recreate the conditions of the original encounter. The heights of the cutouts were overestimated by as much as two feet. The data showed that the accuracy of the drivers decreased as light decreased and speeds increased. Certainly, poor lighting in a swamp or jungle could play a part in overestimating the size of a reported living dinosaur, since a person’s inherent biases would suggest that dinosaurs ought to be big, even if most of them were the size of sheep! CMI’s objection isn’t new. Baron Georges Cuvier had this peculiar presuppositional bias. Though cryptozoology was yet emerging as a science, Cuvier’s attitude towards the field is a good example of the bias cryptozoologists face. In 1812, he uttered his “Rash Dictum” in which he declared: “There is little hope of discovering new species of large quadrupeds.” The irony is that several large quadrupeds have been discovered since he uttered that statement. Just four years after Cuvier uttered his rash dictum, Governor Farquar of the Asiatic Society discovered the white-backed tapir of Malaysia. Nor was it the last large quadruped to be discovered since. A short list would include: Przewalski’s Horse, the Mountain Gorilla, the Kouprey, Bonobo, Saola, Okapi, White Rhinoceros and the Pygmy Hippopotamus, the Giant Mutjac… and the list goes on and on! “Dinosaurs cannot live in a sparse desert environment like the Australian outback because they need a lot of food. Giant marine reptiles cannot be out in the open oceans for the same reason. The open oceans are extreme deserts. Large animals need to live near a food source, and all such oceanic areas are currently being exploited by human fishing activities. Regarding fabled creatures such as Dragons and Sea Serpents, Cuvier opined: “I hope nobody will ever seriously look for them in nature; one could as well search for the animals of Daniel or for the beast of the Apocalypse.” Yet he appears to be comparing apples to oranges, much as when the authors of this post compared the possibility of living dinosaurs to the idea of fairies. As far as dragons go, we’ve confirmed the existence of the once-legendary Komodo dragon since then. We also feel compelled to point out that Megamouth Sharks and Giant Squid [Architeuthys], also known as from legends as the Kracken, would both certainly qualify as Sea Monsters. Speaking of which… “…we knew the giant squid existed because of the evidence of huge sucker-disk scars on sperm whales, who hunt them for food. Actually, before we had such circumstantial evidence, we simply had sightings and stories. “They evaded detection for many years because they can live in very deep water and don’t need to breathe air, but we knew they were there.” We had naysayers well into the 20th century. “We have fishing boats anywhere in the oceans where there are fish, and human eyeballs and video cameras cover most coastlands.” We didn’t manage to catch film of a giant squid until 2001, which kind of underscores the point that an absence of evidence is not the same thing as an evidence of absence. “Similarly, Loch Ness in Scotland has lots of tour boats and many hotels on its shores. The famous Nessie photos that spawned the legend have now been revealed as a hoax. But think of the industry that grew around it!2 Plus, sensors and automatic cameras have been installed all around the area, by people hoping to ‘catch’ Nessie, but without result. If Nessie was a plesiosaur, and if the story was inspired by historical sightings from centuries ago, she is certainly not alive today. It is time to move on. Note the sweeping generalizations. Modern Nessie hunters acknowledge that the Surgeon’s Photo was faked, but the Loch Ness Monster wasn’t “spawned” by the photo. It is derived from Scottish legend. Skeptics have brought up the points CMI is adopting here. Cryptozoologists who still believe that a population of “Nessie” animals (be they plesiosaurs, zeuglodons or big seals) know the Surgeon’s photo was faked. Personally, Nessie is not my hill to die on and I happen to agree that the evidence for an extinct large-bodied marine organism (much less a population, even if they are utilizing as-yet-undiscovered subterranean passages between lochs) living in Loch Ness is unconvincing. “Clear and unmistakable photographs, animals in a cage, DNA … these are the evidences required by modern science. Even then, photographic and video evidence has become too easy to fake nowadays, so we should be skeptical of any new ‘photograph’ of a living dinosaur. But millions of people in the world today have a high-quality camera on their smart phone, and yet we have essentially no unambiguous photographs anyway, so the point is moot. At least show us some photos, not grainy images or excuses for why we don’t have good ones.” Are going to accept photo evidence or not? They seem to find it acceptable but caution that is probably photoshopped anyway. They claimed it anybody with a cell phone out of be able to snap off a picture but seem to ignore the fact that having the ability to snap off a high-quality picture on your cell phone does not mean that that happens every single time. Personally, I have snapped off more bad pictures from my high quality cell phone then I have good pictures, probably because I’m not a professional photographer. My point is that the quality of my equipment does not necessarily translate into a quality picture taken in an excitable moment or in a moment where the subject is not actually the focus of the picture and is found in the background, et cetera. Cryptozoologist have long noted that photographic evidence alone is not enough to confirm the identity and existence of a cryptid, so I’m not actually sure wht they delve into this dissembling aside. “Some evidences are better than others. We are not the ‘evidence police’, but we prefer Bishop Bell’s brass behemoths and the Angkor Wat stegosaur over most other examples. Similarly, the Behemoth in Job 40, with its tail compared to the Middle-Eastern cedars, seems to be a huge, herbivorous sauropod. (We recommend Vance Nelson’s book Dire Dragons for more good examples of these).” I do not recommend Dire Dragons. I have long delayed a review of this book out of polite courtesy. Suffice it to say that it sees dinosaurs in places that are just a stretch. It’s a bit too credulous. “The quality of any piece of evidence is important. If we cannot use something in a courtroom or in a scientific debate, why would we even bring it up?” Well, that would invalidate most apologetic arguments, because the type of evidence that is allowable for courtroom or a scientific debate is very specific. For example, the sort of evidence that we have for the existence of God would not be allowable in a courtroom or scientific debate. Do they really want to go there? Or do you think that maybe they’re overstating their case? “And how is this helpful to our supporters if they likewise can’t back up their claims? Why should we use doubtful arguments when there are stronger ones available? And if the arguments don’t even convince reputable creationists, why would they convince evolutionists? People are trusting us to give them good arguments, so it is critical for us be selective about the information we provide.” Apologetics isn’t about convincing the other side so much as giving a reasoned defense. Truth does not necessarily compel acceptance. This is why Jesus gave us the parable of the sower as an illustration of how we spread the gospel. Next their article considers dragon legends in relation to the fossil record and the Flood of Noah’s day. “Dragon legends most likely derived from post-Flood interactions of humans and dinosaurs, and biblically we know that they must have been on the Ark. But one cannot discount the slight chance some of the stories may have come from pre-Flood legends, dreams, or just people’s imaginations. Coupled with the fact that no unequivocal dinosaur remains have been found in layers most biblical creationists would call ‘post Flood’, this is a real sticking point. The ‘latest’ dinosaur remains are from Mesozoic layers. While it is true that any layer with dinosaurs in it would automatically be labeled “Mesozoic”, this is not really a circular argument. An entire suite of plant and animal fossils are found together in the “dinosaur” layers, which most of us believe are Flood deposits. Case in point, we do not find T. rex bones with mastodons, and most creationists place mastodons after the Flood. These later layers are simply absent of dinosaurs. One way around this is if we place the Flood/post-Flood boundary higher in the fossil record. This would mean that most all fossils are in Flood deposits, not from later times like the Ice Age. But we have unequivocal evidence of animal remains from more ‘recent’ times. This includes camels, horses, lions, bunnies, and bears, just not dinosaurs.” It is wildly inconsistent to allow for the “slight chance” that some dragon legends were derived from pre-Flood legends, dreams or people’s imaginations while denying the “slight chance” that dinosaurs still exist in some remote corner of the globe. Furthermore, if a lack of post-Flood dinosaur fossils are a “real sticking point,” creationist geology is in real trouble. The FACT is that we do believe dinosaurs were brought aboard the Ark and that they spread out over the globe after the Flood. There was rapid adaptation and speciation in the post-Flood world, so that [for example] giant ground-dwelling sloths became much smaller specialized tree-dwelling sloths, so it is possible and even probable that dinosaurs became smaller over time. Creationists generally propose that we do not find Velociraptors and bunny rabbits together [and this would certainly apply to mastodons] because they did not live in the same habitats in order to be fossilized together. Point in fact, creationists do not agree on the exact location of the Flood/post-Flood boundary, but (according to an article on Creation.com itself!) it may be as recent as the late Cenozoic. If this were the case, most of the fossil record is basically the result of the Flood, making post-Flood fossils truly rare and the question of a lack of post-Flood dino fossils rather moot. “Another technicality is the fact that we do not see fossils of large creatures forming today. When an animal dies, the flesh and bones almost always break down quickly. The Flood was a great fossil-generating engine, and those conditions do not exist anywhere on earth today, except on a very limited and small scale in a select few places. However, this does not mean we have no evidence of post-Flood animals. We see animal bones all the time in archaeological settings. Spines from fish and sea urchins are abundant in modern oceanic sediments. Etc. Most of those fossils are marine fossils and most of the vertebrate fossils are fish. CMI knows this. They continue to cling to an argument from ignorance, citing an absence of evidence as the evidence of absence. Spines from fish and sea urchins are abundant in modern oceanic sediments because fish and sea urchins are themselves abundant. We are speaking of species which, if still extant, would be considerably more rare, and their traces rarer still. While we do have historical evidence for them, dinosaurs/dragons must have been incredibly rare to leave no post-Flood fossils behind. This is not impossible, and evolutionary theory requires this to be true in many cases (e.g., why are no whale fossils found with coelacanth fossils?), but the evidence against recently-living, and especially currently-living, dinosaurs is strong. The authors have not presented any evidence that rules out recently living or even currently living dinosaurs. They have simply demonstrated what cryptozoologists of all stripes already know: the evidence is elusive …until it isn’t. It may be that dinosaurs are truly extinct. Then again, the legend of mokele-mbembe may actually pan out to be a living dinosaur. There’s nothing wrong with being skeptically open to the possibility. Closing the lid on the matter makes us look like we have something to hide. “Let’s be discerning. Let’s engage our minds with the best arguments. Let’s major on the best evidences—and we have some very good ones in this very area—and put the lesser ones on the back shelf. Let us especially reject the bad evidence when found. Why use the doubtful evidence before the clear? ‘Living dinosaurs’ was a good idea from the past and was associated with the birth of the modern creation movement. However, and despite a lot of effort on the part of some, it did not pan out. Excuse me while I point out that even the ALMOST CERTAINLY of chosen title of CMI’s article, “Dinosaurs are almost certainly extinct,” is a tacit admission that they can’t explicitly rule out the possibility of dinosaurs living today. No one’s saying to use doubtful evidence before the clear. That is a blatant straw man. We’re saying that if the Cryptozoological Implication inherent in the creationist worldview is true that there should be post-Flood evidence of dinosaurs and man co-existing and even the possibility that a few dinosaurs survived even today in some remote corner of the globe. Admitting that possibility as an undeniable implication of our worldview does not amount to abandoning better evidence. And they know it! “This does not mean that dinosaurs are not a great entry point for the creation/evolution debate. Quite the opposite, because the evidence we have gives us some of the strongest refutations of the grand scheme of evolution. ‘Living dinosaurs’ is not nearly as good an argument as soft tissue preservation and carbon-14 in dinosaur bones. The former remains undocumented, the latter comes straight to us from the laboratory. Which do you think is a better argument?” Regardless of whether I think one argument is better than the other, abandoning the possibility of living dinosaurs isn’t something we can do and still call ourselves creation “science.” Since the Cryptozoological Implication of Creationism is inherent in our model, we are going to get questions and criticisms regarding whether living dinosaurs exist today. If we continue to propose, as the Bible implies, that the Earth is young, that dinosaurs co-existed with man, and that dinosaurs were aboard the Ark and proliferated thereafter, the possibility that dinosaurs might still be alive today will remain open. Unless we wish to parrot Cuvier’s Rash Dictum. If we believe it to be true, we should not hesitate to search out potential positive evidence for the creation model. It suggests a weak position indeed to suggest we suspend the search for positive evidence for the creation model and instead “focus on the most powerful, up-to-date Achilles’ heels of evolutionary theory.” While the discovery of living dinosaurs would neither prove creation nor disprove evolution, it would be powerful corroborating evidence for the creation model. It is not enough to poke holes in your opponent’s theory. We must provide positive evidence for our own model. The search for such should never be discouraged …especially if it’s only because you wish to make room for being ridiculed over the unprovable idea that demons are posing as aliens instead. We may never find living dinosaurs. It may be that they went extinct shortly after the Flood or survived only until recently. We certainly know that extinction is the rule of the day! I’m certainly not rash enough to be dogmatic about it either way.

Although rhinos live in nearby large islands like Borneo, Java and Sumatra, they are generally thought to have never lived in New Guinea despite various anecdotal reports. In 1875, lieutenant Sidney Smith reported that while he was surveying the north coast of New Guinea, he came across droppings he recognized as that of a rhino, an animal he saw many times in Java. No animal native to New Guinea is also large enough to leave a dung pile of the size Sidney Smith claimed. That same year, German zoologist Adolf Meyer claimed that locals told him of an enormous six foot tall “horned pig.” He attempted to get the locals to find him one, but they refused, claiming it was too dangerous. Many locals up into the 2000s have recalled hearing rhino calls in the Jungle. Some have lumped various reports of Papuan rhinos with another large, horned cryptid in New Guinea, the devil pig.

Freshwater Sea Turtle The freshwater sea turtle was one of the cryptids that was reported to the cryptozoologist John Warms in the early 2010's. The reports were of completely aquatic, four to five-foot long turtle species with flippers, that inhabited freshwater lakes and rivers in northern Manitoba. For instance, in the early 2010s, a large “sea turtle” the size of a dining room table was spotted in a lake near Little Grand Rapids near the Ontarian border, hundreds of kilometres from the ocean. Another witness, who is a Cree Chief, told John Warms that his father-in-law knew about a lake south of his community that had sea turtles inhabiting it. In the Berens river, a four-foot sea turtle was reported, and another report was in the Churchill River and various lakes north of Nelson House. Another sighting was by many passengers in a ferry in Split Lake, who all saw a turtle with flippers snapping and biting at sea gulls who were harassing it. Other reports have been in the Assiniboine River, Birdtail First Nation and the Sioux Valley. What’s most baffling about this cryptid, is that the closest ocean is hundreds of kilometres in the Hudson Bay, but even the Hudson Bay doesn’t have sea turtles, so its unusual how sea turtles could end up so far inland in Manitoba of all places. It's worth noting that John Warms was unable to find elders who were familiar with the animal, suggesting they're not native to the area.

Brandi Redmond has had quite the season so far on The Real Housewives of Dallas. After seemingly working through her racism scandal, she’s finding herself at odds with the other women in the weirdest fights ever. She continues to be incredibly awkward around Tiffany Moon out of deep paranoia. Now, she’s in a random feud with D’Andra Simmons whom she believes has somewhat turned her back on Christianity. For some reason Brandi is choosing the oddest hills to die on, and it’s getting weirder by the episode. For someone who is in tune with ghosts and spirits, it’s strange to watch her pick apart D’Andra for a meditation exercise. There may be a ring of truth to the claims that Brandi is acting like a cafeteria Christian. She’s picking and choosing what parts of her faith she wants to acknowledge. There’s no way she’s going to come back after all of this. Stephanie Hollman’s taking all of the girls to Oklahoma. Okay. Alright. This pandemic has really forced us to go to the bottom of the barrell for cast trips. Nothing against Oklahoma itself, but I miss the grandeur of trips to Europe & Asia! Stephanie’s arranging for a bigfoot hunter to come and speak to the women on the trip. This is already set to be one of the weirder trips of the season. They’ve done a lot this year despite the pandemic, but this might take the take in bizarreness. Bigfoot people genuinely intrigue me though. The dedication someone must have to be on the hunt for something many people scoff at the idea of even existing, fascinates me. These women have no idea what they’re in for on this trip. This won’t be their cookie cutter cocktails and fancy dinners trip. This is camo wearing and cryptid hunting territory now. The idea of Tiffany and Kameron Westcott in this environment has my full attention. Take my money! Tiffany’s twins are celebrating a birthday, and she’s going all out for them. Whatever wishes they have will be granted! They’re having a tea party in one of their hotels, and thankfully Tiffany has time to spend with them now. Being able to drop a day out of her busy work schedule is already having a positive impact on her family life. Prior to the schedule change, she wouldn’t be able to have this moment with these precious twins. Lately her twins have taken a new interest in getting her hair and makeup done. She doesn’t mind it because they’re the most well behaved little girls and it is their birthday after all. I have to say though, this glam team is packing on the makeup a bit too much. They’re only five years old and the amount of eye shadow on the one daughter is staggering. It might be just me, but I find too much makeup on a child to be borderline uncomfortable. Tiffany’s mother shows up to celebrate their birthdays and arrives with cash money for them. I want to be six years old and be handed a $100 bill. What is that? I feel like I was getting a yo-yo and a potato head at that age. I feel jipped! The girls open their money in front of their grandmother which is traditionally a big no no. However, Tiffany’s mother doesn’t mean because they’re just kids. Naturally this is frustrating Tiffany because clearly the rules have changed since she was a child. Everything she endured when she was growing up isn’t being applied to her own kids. Even though she’s an adult now, that still has to sting on some level. This is the most elegant tea party for a children’s birthday party. I’m not a fan of tea, but I am SOOOOO here for the snacks. Give me some chocolate dipped pastries and CAVIAR, and we’ll be good. These kids are eating better than me as a grown ass man. Who spends that kind of money on a random birthday tea party? Excuse me while I chow down on this ramen. Ugh. D’Andra tells Brandi she wants to have a conversation with her about their issues before this trip. Nobody wants to go on an extended vacation with someone they have lingering issues with. That’s uncomfortable for everyone involved. It’s better to try and hash this out prior to going. Brandi feels like it was all something so simple that escalated out of nowhere. She’s kidding right? SHE is the one who turned all of this into something. If she just kept her ignorant opinions to herself, they wouldn’t be in this mess. Brandi & D’Andra both think the other should apologize. This sit down isn’t going to go well because both of them cannot come out of this fight as the victor. It just doesn’t work like that. Court Westcott slips out of the house to speak to the realtor who delivers great news. They’re officially under contract for Kameron’s dream house. This is huge because even though she’s always complaining about being out of the loop, this time it’s for the greater good. He’s not good at hiding things from her, so he might blow this secret. Kameron really wants this dream home, but she doesn’t think anything is set in stone yet. She’s going to freak her freak when she learns about this! I’m glad this storyline is heading in a positive direction because I was getting major douchebag vibes from him this season. It’s great to see that in the end it’s all to make Kameron a happy woman! Kary Brittingham is not feeling the idea of going camping. It’s not her scene at all. To make up for that, she’s bringing tequila Jello shots for the trip. As annoying as I found Kary at the beginning of the season, I’m somehow starting to come around to her. She’s funny at times, and seeing her with her children has also changed my viewpoint a bit. I suppose she can stick around a little while longer. Brandi & Stephanie need to take a hike though. D’Andra was planning a romantic date for Jeremy Lock, but the alarm starts going off. She’s creating a whole mess in the kitchen that causes the police to show up. Nothing else kills the mood like law enforcement crashing it. I want to know what she’s doing so wrong that the detector keeps going off. It’s deafening. At least they know it works. In the event of an actual emergency, they’ll be alerted! D’Andra’s trying to become a less judgmental person, and she wants her friends to understand that. T his has to be directed at Brandi, right? For some reason Brandi is taking an issue with D’Andra’s recent work with the shaman. For the most part, I think there has been somewhat of a change in D’Andra’s energy, so something is working. However overall, I think there’s a lot of work still to be done. Court won’t stop messing with Kameron about the status of her dream house. I can see why though. Her reactions and expressions are priceless, and who wouldn’t want to get inside her head a bit before making her dreams come true! Kameron doesn’t want to tour the house if the owners don’t want to sell to them anymore. She’s losing her mind about the entire idea of us. His plan is going south so quickly because of his own prank. She won’t even get out of the car to tour the home. Eventually he has to come clean, and she knows she’s the new owner of her dream home. The home is stunning beyond comprehension. If there was ever a house worth $7.5 million, this is it. The kitchen island is to die for. I’ve never seen one that large in my life. I want to live vicariously through Kameron & Court. Tiffany stops by Momma Dee’s for a visit, and I’m obsessed with their relationship. I swear their dynamic is more mother and daughter than Dee & D’Andra. There’s a deep level of respect between the two. Dee understands juggling everything the way Tiffany is. Having it all isn’t easy. The husband, the children, and the career. They both know what it takes. Dee asks about Tiffany’s relationship with her mother, and Tiffany thinks her mom is pretending to be supportive. I hope that’s not the case because obviously Tiffany’s struggling. There’s so much hurt because Tiffany’s mother went back on what she planned on doing. Her mother originally planned on helping out with the kids, but when she learned it was twins she stepped back. To me that’s insane because with the arrival of twins comes the needs for MORE help; not less. It’s crazy to hear Tiffany be envious of D’Andra and Dee’s relationship. That relationship is as tumultuous as they come. I guess it’s true that someone out there always has it worse. Dee urges Tiffany to open up to her mother and face the fear of rejection. If her mother won’t be receptive to it, then so be it. Tiffany’s never had a deep conversation with her mother about all of these pent up feelings. I know it’s not their way or their culture, but it needs to be done. Tiffany’s at a breaking point. Before her meeting with D’Andra, Brandi is blindsided by an unexpected news bulletin involving her. D’andra gave an interview discussing the new season of Real Housewives of Dallas. She made it known that they’d be tackling Brandi’s racism scandal head on in the early parts of the season. Woah. FOURTH WALL BREAK. META TO THE MAX. Brandi doesn’t think this was D’Andra’s story to tell or her place to discuss it. Listen, I sort of understand where Brandi is coming from. However, what one person does on a show like this can impact ALL of them. Of course, the press is going to be asking the other cast members questions about something that huge. Brandi is naive to think otherwise. Brandi sends D’Andra a text that she is too disgusted to meet with her anymore. She’s not going to see her until the trip. The tension has grown, and their issue has escalated to new heights. This camping trip is on an entirely new level of awkward because of this. D’Andra isn’t surprised that Brandi took this the wrong way. She doesn’t get how she’s the bad guy in this scenario. In her mind, it doesn’t make sense that Brandi is the victim since she’s the one who was actually racist. FACTS THOUGH! Brandi has done a great job this season at trying to garner sympathy. It’s time people stop letting her do that. Save the tears. Enough is enough. D’Andra starts ranting to producers about how she’s done with all of this, and sick of Brandi twisting s**t. Not only that, she doesn’t even want to go on the trip anymore. She thinks everyone’s going to have Brandi’s back because of this. It’s a lose-lose position to be in. Before the trip, Stephanie asks Brandi how she’s feeling about seeing D’Andra. It’s going to get addressed, but Brandi doesn’t think D’Andra is self aware of what she’s saying. WERE YOU SELF AWARE WHEN YOU MADE A RACIST VIDEO MOCKING ASIANS? LITERALLY SHUT THE F**K UP. When D’Andra arrives, Brandi brings up the alert involving her in the press. I actually think D’Andra did her best to protect Brandi from negative press. Whatever hate Brandi was getting online from that article is NOT on D’Andra. The self righteous attitude is entirely bonkers and maddening to witness. Kary jumps on the defending Brandi train, and just like that I’ve soured on her again. What is she even defending? Does she have a clue? Or is it more about getting a chance to take another jab at D’Andra? They all call D’Andra selfish, but she isn’t phased by it. How is Brandi not the most selfish person in this group? These women are insufferable! TELL US – TEAM BRANDI OR TEAM D’ANDRA? WAS D’ANDRA WRONG TO DISCUSS BRANDI’S SCANDAL IN THE PRESS? IS D’ANDRA SELFISH? [Photo Credit: Bravo]

Savage Jungle: Lair Of The Orang Pendek by Hunter Shea My rating: 4 of 5 stars After recovering from their ordeal in Loch Ness Revenge, Natalie and Austin McQueen head to the Sumatran jungle with their friend Henrik to find the legendary Orang Pendek, primitive ape-like humanoids. Specifically, they're looking for the Orang Pendek that killed Henrik's father. Can they find the lost city of Gadang Ur and the Orang Pendek that dwell there so Henrik can quench the desire for revenge that threatens to consume him? Since I am medically unable to resist one of Hunter Shea's cryptid books, I pounced on this one a few minutes after I finished Forest of Shadows. Savage Jungle is an Indiana Jones-type of jungle adventure, combining the thrills of Raiders of the Lost Ark with the gore of most of Hunter Shea's books. It's one hell of fun read. After recovering at a resort for a couple months, the McQueen twins attempt to return the favor Henrik Kooper gave them in the bloodbath that was Loch Ness Revenge. On their expedition, they encounter lost ruins, relict populations of dinosaurs, and the cryptids of the subtitle, the Orang Pendek. I actually preferred this one to Loch Ness Revenge by a slight margin. Maybe it was the jungle setting or the relentless action. The expedition got chewed up by dinosaurs and shat out the other end. It would not have shocked me if they were all killed. Shea even detailed Orang Pendek culture to such a degree that I wouldn't mind a return trip to Gadang Ur. Not to mention some breadcrumbs left at the end. The characters speculate that their experience at Loch Ness might have led to humanity taking off their blinders in regard to the unknown and there are some hints dropped toward the end at more linked adventures with the survivors of this one, something I'm definitely on board for. Instead of another tired Indiana Jones sequel or remaking The Mummy, Savage Jungle would make a fantastic summer blockbuster. Four out of five stars. View all my reviews

Chupacabra is the latest addition to the mysterious monster club, coming years after the debut of Bigfoot, and Loch Ness monste... Chupacabra is the latest addition to the mysterious monster club, coming years after the debut of Bigfoot, and Loch Ness monster. It is a legendary cryptozoology creature that has spread its fear in various parts of the globe. Initially sighted in March 1995, the existence of this hidden creature is yet to be proven or to be disproved completely by science. These hidden animals are collectively known as cryptids. However, many animals that are widely recognized today were once a part of cryptozoology. From massive water hounds in Ireland to giant bats in Java, every part of the world has some or the other mysterious creature that resides there. Chupacabra descriptions vary widely but the most common description is a reptile-like creature that stands about 4 to 5 feet tall. It is said to have leathery or scaly greenish-grey skin with sharp and distinctive spines on its back. It stands and hops similar to a kangaroo. Powerful legs of the creature allow it to leap huge distances. It has long claws and terrifying glowing red eyes. There is another description that suggests the creature be a strange breed of wild dog. This is mostly hairless with a pronounced spinal ridge and an unpronounced eye sockets, fangs and claws. Chupacabra, unlike conventional predators, drain the animal’s entire blood through three holes shaped like an upside down triangle. The term ‘chupacabra’ is derived from Spanish. Chupar means ‘to suck’ and cabra means ‘goat’. It can be literally translated as goat sucker. The creature gained its name from the initial reports from Puerto Rico in 1995. The officials of this Purto Rico were dumbstruck by the attacks on more than 150 farm animals in March and August 1995. Eyewitnesses spoke of a creature with a reptilian body that had bulging red oval eyes, fanged teeth, and long darting tongue. The attacked animals had punctured wounds on their neck that drained blood. However, no meat was taken from their bodies. Thus, the name comes from the attacking behavior of this creature, to drink the blood of livestock, especially goats. The summer of Puerto Rico in 1995 made everyone connect with the name “el chupacabra,” the four-legged fearsome creature that was thought to prey on other animals. A housewife in the village of Canovanas, Madelyn Tolentino, reported the first sighting of a mysterious creature to local news in August 1995. It wasn’t very long; she saw it only for a minute or two. But she gave the whole description of his alien appearance- the toes, eyes, teeth and it even had no genitals. As Radford reported, Tolentino spotted it four feet high with odd wide structure, thin arms, three fingers, dark eyes and two legs. It did not have ears and nose but small air holes and spikes on its back. UFO researchers immediately picked up the story after it appeared on the local news. 150 farm animals and pets were reported dead in this attack. Prior to this, eight sheep, each with three puncture wounds in the chest area and completely drained of blood were also discovered dead in an attack in March 1995. Based on the studies and research of scientists from renowned universities, they have given their theories on the evolution of chupacabra. Sarcoptes scabiei, a parasite that causes mange is known to cause scabies in human beings. In humans and animals, the mite burrows under its host’s skin. Eggs and waste material of the parasite triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system. Scabies is a minor annoyance in humans but mange can be life threatening for canines like coyotes. OConnor speculates that the mite spread from humans to domestic dogs and further to coyotes, foxes and wolves in the wild. He further suggests that the difference in response of mites in different organisms is because humans and other primates have lived with this mite for much of their history while other animals have not. This can also be stated as humans have achieved that stage of evolution where their immune systems can neutralize the infection before infection neutralizes them. But mites have been evolving. In nonhuman animals, specifically coyotes, the reaction can be so severe that cause their hair to fall out and constrict blood vessels. It also adds to a general fatigue and exhaustion. Theories about the mysterious creature vary as much as the sightings. In addition to the above theories of evolution of chupacabra, there are some other insights about its origin. Camazotz monsters (image) While chupacabras have been a recent cryptology finding, Mayans encountered the creature many years ago. Stories reveal that Camazotz was a creature in Mayan mythology that was known as the death bat or vampire bat. It had a bat or lizard-like face, two arms and the ability to turn into a statue during the day. Sharp snout helped it to suck the blood of its victims. The Mayan literature of 1400 BC has more findings of ‘goat sucker’. Ancient statue of Camazotz (image) Between the ruined Mayan cities of Kabah and Uxmal, there is a Mexican state of Yucatan. Superstitions run deep among these people. These people do not celebrate many religious festivals because of the fear of mythical beasts. Villagers of Santa Elena believe that these cryptids prey on livestock. Camazotz in Mesoamerica was associated with night, death and sacrifice. This ferocious demon lived in the Mayan Underworld of Xibalba. The word ‘chupar’, a root of chupacabra is often associated with vultures and bats. In the last 20 years, this hidden creature went from being a nocturnal monster in the areas of Puerto Rico to being the most sensational creature in the world. Some reports of the creature come from the Hispanic communities and Latin American countries while other reported its sightings in Indonesia and China. In some circles, it was also reported that it is the pet animal of alien visitors. While others believed that it is a result of NASA’s wrong experiment. Some even say that it is a source of AIDS virus. In April 2006, a journal reported that Chupacabra was spotted in Russia for the first time. In August 2006, Michelle O’Donnell of Turner, Maine revealed that an evil looking rodent-like animal has been found dead alongside a road. The animal was struck by a car and was unknown. Few pictures were taken and witness reports seem to be in relative agreement that the creature looked similar to a dog or wolf but in the published photographs, it did not resemble any canine of that area. On January 2008, residents of the province of Capiz in the Philippines believed that chupacabra had killed eight chickens since the owner saw a dog-like creature attacking his chickens. There are many other sightings and stories around the world that claim to witness and evident chupacabra. Nonetheless, the creature remains a mystery with diverse opinions and yet to be revealed. When it comes to proving the existence of a hidden creature or cryptid, evidence is everything. There are no known photographs or any credible footprints of the haunted sucker. Chupacabra is mostly known through dozens of eyewitness sightings and many dead animals with plausible explanations of their attack. The creature is probably the world’s best-known vampire after Dracula. Its victims are completely drained of blood without any missing meat. Tales of the mysterious creature sucking the blood of livestock started appearing since the mid-1990s in Mexico, U.S. Southwest and even China. In almost all sightings, the monsters have turned out to be coyotes suffering from severe condition of mange (a fatal skin disease that can cause the animal’s hair to fall and shrivels his skin along with other symptoms). A coyote suffering severe mange (image) Although several witnesses conclude that since the victim was not eaten, only his blood was sucked, the attacker cannot be a dog or coyote, their assumption is incorrect. Dogs and coyotes, out of their lack of experience or injury or facing difficulty to kill the prey, may not eat their victim. The prey may have survived the attack and died later from internal bleeding or circulatory shock. Also, most carnivores catch their prey through its neck, attacking with their two canine teeth which make two holes in the neck. There are also reports of stray Mexican hairless dogs mistaken with chupacabras. Barry OConnor, an entomologist from the University of Michigan supposes that this explanation is sufficient. He has deeply studied Sarcoptes scabiei, a parasite that causes mange. "I don't think we need to look any further or to think that there's yet some other explanation for these observations" Another wildlife disease specialist Kevin Keel, of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia, has seen the images of an alleged chupacabra corpse and identified it as a coyote. "I wouldn't think it's a chupacabras if I saw it in the woods, but then I've been looking at coyotes and foxes with mange for a while. A layperson, however, might be confused as to its identity." Benjamin Radford, an author and investigator of mysteries says - It doesn't matter what I write, it doesn't matter that I solved this. People are still going to see a weird hairless thing and someone is going to call it a chupacabra," he said. "I think the bigger answer is that people like mysteries. And the idea of a Hispanic beast that sucks goats' blood is kind of cool -- it captures the public's imagination." What’s next for the chupacabra? We are not sure but we would love to hear any help from you in tracking these magical beasts. If you have your chupacabra stories, share them with us. Harlequin Ichthyosis is a severe genetic disorder that mainly affects the skin. Infants with this condition are born with very hard, thick skin covering most of their bodies. You might be wondering about what a tree octopus is and where is it found? Why is it endangered? How can we protect it? Let’s find out answers to your questions by looking at some unknown facts. The news of lost people coming back to life or found alive makes for great headlines but is an emotionally wrecking experience in reality, here are some strange stories of missing people who were found alive!

“…there was a very large swirl in the water and up came a creature I was not prepared to lay my eyes on….” The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word cryptid as “An animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the yeti.” For the following witnesses to living cryptids, there is no dispute. In this series of National Cryptid Society’s case files, you will read what the witnesses have experienced in their own words. Keep an open mind when reading these accounts, and also remember one’s perception and memory of an event can be influenced by the emotions felt at the time of the occurrence. The contributors to this series of articles are doing the best they can to recount what are in some cases very shocking and traumatic experiences. If you have a personal cryptid sighting story you would like to tell us, please visit our “Make A Report” page on this site. The Trinity River is a 710-mile-long river in Texas, and is the longest river with a watershed entirely within the state. It flows onward to the south, into Trinity Bay, an arm of Galveston Bay that is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. In 1979, an avid fisherman familiar with the river and its inhabitants had a surprise encounter with a massive creature that had no business in the Texas river. NCS Case File #81: Trinity River Monster? Fisherman’s Encounter with Massive Aquatic Creature in Texas Location: Crockett, TX. Trinity River Submitted by Tim This is an encounter that my older brother experienced. He was fishing on the Trinity River in Crockett Texas when this occurred in 1979. He would have been 27 at the time. We have talked about it for years with one another. In his own words, this is his encounter. “I was just fishing on the little peninsula, like I always did because it was a good spot for bass. The water was about 5 feet down from the edge of the bank of where I was standing. The water was calm and slow moving. I never knew how deep the water may have been there. All of a sudden, there was a very large swirl in the water and up came a creature I was not prepared to lay my eyes on. It rose completely straight out of the water to a height of about 10 feet. It was even with the top of my head. I saw its left side. It was completely black and the width of the body was the diameter of a 55 gallon oil barrel. The eye was as large as the diameter of a coffee cup saucer. The mouth it had was approximately 4 feet long, with many sharp pointed teeth, like that of a pike or gar and were at least 4 inches in length. It had very large scales. It was as black as coal. It looked exactly like what is depicted as an Ichthyosaurus that you see in museums and books. I never saw a fin or any other appendage it may have had, as they must have been down below the surface. I just stood there, frozen in shock, until I realized it was looking directly at me. It was only about 8 feet away and could have easily reached over to grab me up, like I was an easy pickings for a meal and that I was on the menu! I just started slowly backing up, away from the edge of the little peninsula, toward my truck. After some paces back, making distance between the creature and I, it just slipped straight down back into the water. I got out of there and never went back to that spot again. I did not know things could get that big in fresh water. I will never forget how it looked or how it was staring right at me. “ My brother and I have discussed this encounter of his for over 30 years with one another. I have not heard of another account such as this one either, as most of the strange encounters from water are more serpent like or that of a plesiosaur. Follow-up questions and additional information: This is an account that was originally posted on Reddit accompanied by a video posted by the witness’ brother describing the encounter. After reading the account and watching the video I contacted the brother who agreed to answer a few follow-up questions. One question I asked was why he was reporting this encounter and not his brother. “My brother does not mess with the internet… My older brother is exactly like my dad was and that is he is old fashion and comes from a different generation. I have to call his wife and have her show him things online. I have asked him why he does not get on the computer and his reasoning is because he thinks he will mess it up! LOL! I know that sounds kind of funny but he does not want to mess with one. He is an artist, a gun smith, a fisherman and is an expert in archery. He is a big fan of the big game hunters like Bob Swinehart and Peter Hathaway Capstick. He reads and does outdoor things. He is in his mid 60’s. That is just how it is. I called and talked to him about the submission of his story and he was fine with it. He does not have an email address and his cell phone is the old flip style clam shell one. I could go on but that kind of sums it up. It certainly is not because he is not smart enough to use one, he just has no interest in a computer.” I also sent the individual two pictures, one of an icthyosaurus and one of a plesiosaurus just in case, which he was able to identify the difference between the two. “Yes he said it looked exactly like the swimming fish looking ichthyosaurus thing. Not the Nessie or Loch Ness looking plesiosaur as what most others describe in lakes or large bodies of water. It had a long pointed mouth full of sharp teeth which was about 4 feet long. He never saw anything below the murky water. But what he did see he described a creature and said it was an ichthyosaurus and it looked exactly like the ones on the first example fish type body in the picture you emailed me. He has been a sportsman since the early 1960’s and continues to do so today. He knows his critters that are out there. He has saw a few strange things in his life too. The story I shared on your site is one of them. As far as so called extinct animals go I think there are more things out there still around. Especially under water. Like you though I feel what my brother witnessed could have been something undiscovered or rare. However I do believe this is true or I would have never thought twice about it.” The Trinity river is known for some of the most active alligator gar fishing in Texas. Could your brother have been witness to a massive gar? I’ve been looking at some information on alligator gar and the largest ones caught in recent history have been around 8 feet, but in 1957, there was one caught in Caddo lake at 12 feet 9 inches (below). “Yes, we all know what the alligator gar specie[s] look like. We had them in our stock ponds where I grew up. Remember this thing exposed 10 foot of its body. 4 feet of it was just it’s mouth. The other 6 feet were from the mouth back sticking straight up out of the water. That is freaking big no matter what it was in my book. He should have saw some fins at the front in my opinion, had it been a gar. He has had one large gar show up beside his john boat while river fishing once. He said it was about 9 foot long. That one was identified as a large gar by him. Nothing like the other thing he saw. It is possible it could be something totally else too but he said the shape of the thing was more like that ichthyosaurus and not that of an alligator gar. That picture you emailed me of that 12 foot thing is really awesome. If that picture is one of 12 foot, then it looks to me like the head on that one would be approx 3 and a half foot total and it’s mouth maybe a little over 2 foot in length and the other foot and half back to the gills. The thing he saw must have been over 25 foot long if we were to go by the scale of the one in that picture from lake Caddo. If that 12 foot gar stuck straight up like what my brother saw though, he should have noticed some front fins as that is how their body type is. He was only 8 foot away from it but he saw no fins. I agree, we would not know what a 30 foot one would look like but, we have also observed that gar do not stick their bodies straight up out of the water taking a look around either. Although they do have some kind of lung and can take in oxygen. But they are observed doing that while being parallel with the surface of the water and not sticking straight up out of it. Now this so called ichthyosaurus was supposed to be some kind of reptile. But did it have scales? I do not know. My brother said this thing he saw had scales and was as black as coal. I have been fascinated with his sighting for years. I have often wondered how it looked myself. It is something I have talked to him about quiet a lot and his story has not changed one bit throughout the 30 or more years he and I have talked about it.” When at first I read this account, I automatically thought that the individual had observed a massive alligator gar. The trinity river is home to a large population of Alligator gar, which according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, can reach over 8 feet. Alligator gar are indigenous to Texas, and in another part of the state a specimen was hauled from the water measuring an (alleged) 12 feet 8 inches (post). However, the witness’ brother (who is the one doing the reporting) maintained that the creature observed was unlike a gar of any type as the skin was lacking of scales, and no pectoral fins were observed. Moreover, the height that the creature attained out of the water makes it less likely it was a gar, as suspending part or even half of its body out of the water for any length of time is not common behavior, although alligators and crocodiles have been known to do this from time to time. Discussion and Speculation With permission from the witness, I forwarded this report to three researchers who have had experience with reports of unidentified aquatic creatures. Each authors and researchers in their own right, I contacted Andy McGrath author of “Beasts Of Britain,” Denver Michaels author of “People are Seeing Something: A Survey of Lake Monsters in the United States and Canada” and researcher Scott Mardis (Cryptozoologist, On the Trail of Champ) to see if they had any opinions or speculations on this matter. Below are some selected quotes from the conversation.* Denver Michaels: “My mind tells me it’s a massive gar. On the other hand….it’s hard to discount the word of sportsmen, natives, and other folks well-aquatinted with the local wildlife. It didn’t act like a gar, and is it really that far-fetched for something prehistoric to be lurking in a river such as this? Especially when I believe in lake monsters… Also, there’s a lot of dammed up water near Crockett, TX giving a lot of room for something to lurk. Wonder if undiscovered things have become trapped in the series of dams on the river?” Andy McGrath: “So there it is. Appearance. Size. And physiological ability, does not match a Gar. He is a sports fisherman who identified it as having a dolphin like body. Even if he’s overestimating by a few feet, still doesn’t match the monster impostor theory. A very interesting sighting.” Scott Mardis: “Guys, I am at Lake Champlain and very busy but the location and morphology just screams “alligator gar”. They look a lot like an ichthyosaur. This is the best case I could make for ichthyosaur survival.” (shared in the following links). *note: there was much more to this conversation over several days, but the selected excerpt of our discussion pretty much sums it up. The Passage of Time I would like to add is that typically over time an eyewitness statement loses accuracy over the passage of time, and a lot of time has passed in this case. However, according to the submitter the account his brother has told him hasn’t changed over the years. Leave comments below or on our Facebook post. Visit our YouTube Channel and Subscribe! This collection of over 170+ articles, direct from newspapers of the 1800s and 1900s, brings some of the most bizarre, amazing, and incredible stories of true monster encounters out of the past and into your hands! Presented with zero spin or bias, this book delivers just the facts and allows you, the reader, to decide for yourself if the stories within actually happened or not. From the funny to the frightening, the sincere to the weird, there is something for everyone within these pages!

Indiana has seen its share of aquatic demons, monsters, and hairy, Bigfoot-esque marauders that haunt the banks of the Ohio River. There are so many sightings and so many different descriptions and names for these creatures. Sometimes these beasts bear striking similarities to one another, while at others remaining completely independent and unique. The thing that is certain, however, is that the Ohio River is a hotspot for crypids and cryptid hunters alike. Some people blame the area’s history of lizardman cryptids on the movie Creature from the Black Lagoon, which preceded a rash of sightings in 1955, just one year after the creature feature hit theaters. But the fact remains that even before this point in history, before monster movies were a big thing, there were stories surrounding the river and campsites around it, stories dating back to the 1800’s. It is convenient to point to someone’s overactive imagination, yet even with the advent of the new millennia, the 2000’s, there are still legends being passed from ear to ear of peoples’ personal experiences and theories. The story that caught the most attention in 1955 took place in late August. Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Lamble were a pair of gals enjoying the summer sun beside the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana. Mrs. Johnson was swimming around a few yards offshore while her friend drifted about nearby on a small raft, sunning herself. Mrs. Lamble sat bolt upright as her friend’s screams filled the air. She could only watch in horror as Mrs. Johnson was yanked underwater, clearly struggling against something that was dragging her down. Mrs. Johnson would describe it later as a hand, claws digging into her skin and pulling at her with inhuman strength. She said it felt as though the monster’s hand was covered in thick coat of slimy hair, which is ultimately what allowed her to twist her leg free and swim away. She was grabbed a second time after freeing herself, but she managed to wrap her arms around an inner tube, the splash of the impact apparently frightening the creature away. Needless to say, the two women got on land as fast as they could. Once on shore, the two of them examined Mrs. Johnson’s leg, which was where she had been grabbed. It was bleeding from a few puncture wounds, although that was not the most astonishing part. A vivid green handprint was tattooed into her skin, and it would not start to fade for many days. One of them collected a sample of the print and of the mud left on her leg for lab testing. The green substance could not be identified, but they were informed that the mud was a type only seen in deep underwater caves or ravines. Modern theorists like to link this monster, named the Green Claw Monster, to the Thetis Lake Monster because of a shared aggressive nature, but Thetis Lake is in Canada, nowhere near the Ohio River. In fact, Thetis Lake is entirely on the opposite side of the continent. There have been a few similar stories in other states, such as North Carolina, Delaware, and Louisiana, but it is hard to link the Green Claw Monster to any of these because the two women could not describe the thing beyond what Mrs. Johnson experienced as she was being dragged and what they both saw etched into the poor woman’s flesh. Besides that, she described it as “feeling furry”, which would be a major difference between this monster and the Thetis Lake Monster, which is said to look a lot like the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Interestingly though, this is one of the only monster cases in Indiana that has an epilogue of government interference. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were visited in their home by a man who claimed to be an Air Force Colonel. He asked Mrs. Johnson many questions about her experience and took extensive notes before warning her not to discuss the incident with anyone else in the future. This incident adds an element of eeriness to the situation far worse than a mere green handprint. The visit is very reminiscent of those of the Men in Black when someone stumbles upon a UFO or investigates too far in matters of alien abductions. Yet, in cases of cryptids, it always seems to be normal humans who intervene, not strange, ethereal men in black suits. One of the creatures that could possibly be the Green Claw Monster, although it is a stretch, is the Loveland Frogmen. These creatures were spotted by many people along riverside roadways throughout 1955 near Loveland, Ohio. They were described as being short, 3-4 feet all, humanoid creatures with damp-looking, wrinkly skin and frog-like faces. Their fingers were webbed, but humanoid enough to grasp onto nearby objects and throw them at passersby. Witnesses always described them as somewhat distracted, squatting in small groups of three to five near the water, but they would become agitated when they became aware of human intrusion. It is unknown if these creatures have true “claws”, however, and the aggressive nature of the Green Claw Monster indicates that it is most likely something else. The Frogmen have never attacked anyone who was simply minding their own business. A monster that has the “hairy” element that Mrs. Johnson spoke of is the Big Muddy Monster, who, surprisingly, does not get its name from its appearance, but rather the fact that it was spotted first on the Big Muddy River. A couple was camping beside the waterway when an unearthly, booming cry went up from somewhere in the trees, accompanied, rather alarmingly, by great, shuddering footsteps. The couple huddled together beside the fire, watching the woods for the thing. They did not have long to wait before a great, lumbering beast with whitish fur, which they said was streaked liberally with mud and plant matter, stepped into view. They stated that the thing had glowing red eyes and an incredible stench, like dead fish mixed with animal musk. Naturally, the couple did not allow the creature to get any closer to them. They got in their car and hightailed it straight to the Murphysboro Police Station. Skeptical, but willing to investigate, a pair of officers went to investigate the campground. What they found were a series of deep footprints, 12 inches long and 3 inches across, which circled the site before making for the water again. They immediately called for backup, and once a second pair of officers was on the scene, the four of them set about following the prints along the river. They did not have to follow them far before they, too, were assaulted by the beast’s horrid shrieks. Those same, ground-shaking footsteps were coming closer, accompanied by a wet sloshing as the beast traversed the boggy ground. The officers, faring no better than the couple, fled the scene. They stayed near their car all night, but daylight brought no fresh clues. It was not, however, the last of the Big Muddy Monster. There were reports of the creature in residential areas, all fitting the same description, “a white beast with a heavy step and horrifying cry”. It was even seen just outside of carnival grounds as the workers set up, watching a group of ponies tethered outside one of the tents. While this monster cannot necessarily be described as aggressive, its actions were certainly inquisitive, which frightened a great many people. Of course, the monster’s location, Illinois, might lead some to say that it could not be linked to the Green Claw Monster, but if one digs a little deeper, one might notice that the Big Muddy River is actually an offshoot of the Mississippi River, which is connected, to the Ohio River, thus linking both waterways. The last creature of interest is the Ohio Grassman, which sports a thick, stinky coat of green. This cryptid is most commonly viewed as some type of Bigfoot, as it is around seven feet tall with the stench to place it within most of the Bigfoot stereotypes. However, the Grassman is notable for its aggressive behavior toward intruders as well as its color and location. The Grassman tends to stick close to rivers, building huge nests on the ground as well as in trees. It is known for hurling rocks and twigs at hikers and hunters, sometimes at what could be considered a fatal velocity, should it strike a man in the head. Grassman encounters have been reported as far back as 1869, the first of which being a man and his daughter. The ape-like being tackled the father to the ground, wrestling with him quite fiercely until the daughter spooked it by hurling rocks at its face. Many more sightings have occurred along Morgan’s Trail, though none have had the terrifying experience of a wrestling match with the beast since 1869. Unfortunately, while the Grassman resides near water, he doesn’t necessarily spend much time in water. There has only been the one recorded case of someone actually physically touching the beast, and there was no mention of a lasting green stain after the experience. It is quite possible that the Green Claw Monster was something else altogether, or perhaps the Grassman has evolved in the past 100 years into something more aquatic and strange. If you’re interested in finding some water cryptids, though, the Ohio River definitely seems like the place to be.

Today we start off with the 80s garage and college circuit legends Fuzztones who have a new album. Then we check out 3rd Secret, which is really a collaboration between Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic and Jillian Raye who already collaborated on two albums as Giants In The Trees. From London, we check out Japanese Television and from Japan we check out Dhidalah. Satellites is a very interesting concept from Israel that pays a homage to the great Anatolian rock music from the 70s. Helicon from Glasgow are back with the new EP and we also check out a new track from Clara Engel over in Toronto. DOWNLOAD: OGG MP3 The Fuzztones – Nine Month Later; The Fuzztones – Marble Hall; 3rd Secret – I Choose Me; Giants In The Trees – System Slave; Japanese Television – Snake Shake; Satellites – Yagmur Yagar Tas Üstüne; The Id – The Rake; Baris Manco – Mozart; Lamp of the Universe – Return as Light; Dhidalah – Invader Summer; Helicon – Freakquency; Electric Eye – The Sleeping Sharks; Strange Attractor – Gaia; Clara Engel – Cryptid Bop. Today we have new music from Giants In The Trees, the new band for Krist Novoselic which had a wonderful album last year. Now they are back with volume two. Supergroup with Corin Tucker, Peter Buck and Linda Pittmon, Filthy Friends also has a new record. Legendary Wreckless Eric is more active than ever, new record just came out. Another legend, Rickie Lee Jones is also back with a cover of an old America song. Nina Romic from Zagreb Croatia, has a new single. And the legendary leader of True West, Russ Tolman also has a new record. We introduce also two new bands for us, Possible Humans from Melbourne AU, and Feels from Los Angeles. Rickie Lee Jones – The Blue Ghazel; Possible Humans – Orbiting Luigi; Giants in the Trees – Star Machine; Syd Straw – The Toughest Girl In The World; Ex Hex – Tough Enough; Feels – Car; Filthy Friends – Emerald Valley; Filthy Friends – Faded Afternoon; Tommy Stinson – Breathing Room (Live in CLE); Wreckless Eric – A Pop Song; Wreckless Eric – Strange Locomotion; Russ Tolman – Goodbye El Dorado – Almost Heaven; Russ Tolman – Blame It On The Girl; True West – You; Nina Romic – Crno; Rickie Lee Jones – Lonely People.

Ten Discoveries of 2014 that Suggest there is Truth to Ancient Myths and Legends Myths and legends have generally come to be viewed as work of fiction, superstition, or fantasy. However, many have theorized that myths were, in fact, a way for people to explain real—and perhaps perplexing—events using the knowledge and beliefs of their time. In support of this theory, a number of events described in mythology, which were once considered mere fairy tales, have now been proven through archaeology to have existed, or at least to have some basis in reality. Here we examine ten such myths, which may have some truth to them after all. Mermaids have occupied our imagination for thousands of years, originating in ancient Assyria with the legend of goddess Atargatis, whose worship spread to Greece and Rome. In history, mermaids have been connected with hazardous events in European, African and Asian culture, including floods, storms, shipwrecks and drownings. Homer called them sirens in the Odyssey, who lured sailors to their deaths. They have been depicted in Etrurian sculptures, in Greek epics, and in bas-reliefs in Roman tombs. In 1493, Christopher Columbus even reported seeing mermaids on his voyage to the Caribbean. But could our concept of a mermaid actually have originated from a real medical disorder? Sirenomelia, named after the mythical Greek sirens, and also known as ‘mermaid syndrome’, is a rare and fatal congenital malformation characterized by fusion of the lower limbs. The condition results in what looks like a single limb, resembling a fish tail, leading some to questioned whether ancient cases of the condition may have influenced legends of the past. It is known, for example, that ancient descriptions of sea monsters derived from sightings of real-life species such as whales, giant squid, and walruses, which were rarely seen and little understood at the time. Whether or not the congenital condition may have influenced stories of women with fish-like tails will never really be known. Nevertheless, the likeness between the two has had one positive effect – it has helped children suffering from Sirenomelia to feel proud of their resemblance to the beautiful and mythical beings described in our ancient past and which has persisted through popular media to the modern-day. Research published this year in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage suggests that an ancient Aboriginal love story written in the sky reveals the Aboriginals’ knowledge of variability in the star Betelgeuse, the ninth brightest star in the night sky and second brightest in the constellation of Orion. Betelgeuse, also known as Alpha Orionis, is a variable star whose magnitude varies between 0.2 and 1.2. This means that the star subtly brightens and fades over a period of about 400 days. The variation in Betelgeuse's brightness was believed to have been observed with a telescope in 1836 by Sir John Herschel, when he published his observations in Outlines of Astronomy. However, the recent study suggests the Australian Aboriginals knew of its variability long before this time, and that it was recorded in their ‘Dreamtime’ stories. One story, now referred to as “The Orion Story” involves the stars making up the constellations of Orion and Taurus. According to the legend, the story tells how the constellation Orion (called ‘Nyeeruna’), which is often portrayed as a male hunter, chases after the Pleiades star cluster, usually portrayed as a group of seven sisters (‘Yugarila’). Standing between Nyeeruna (Orion) and Yugarilya (Pleiades cluster), is their eldest sister Kambugudha, represented by the Hyades star cluster. Kambugudha taunts Nyeeruna by standing before him. The club in Nyeeruna's right hand, which is the star Betelgeuse, fills with 'fire magic' ready to throw at Kambugudha. However, she defensively lifts her foot, which is the star Aldebaran and also full of fire magic, causing Nyeeruna great humiliation and putting out his fire. A detailed analysis of the complete story led researchers from the University of New South Wales to suggest that the reference to the ‘fire magic’ of Betelgeuse is an observation of the star in its bright phase, while reference to ‘putting out his fire’ is an observation of the fading of Betelgeuse. In ancient Japanese folklore, the Kappa is a water demon that inhabits rivers and lakes and devours disobedient little children. While some believe the legend originated from sightings of the Japanese Giant Salamander, a species still alive today, others maintain that the myth, or at least part of it, is real and that an unusual set of mummified remains, showing a webbed hand and a foot, is proof that the Kappa exists. Now people have the opportunity to see for themselves as the unusual body parts went on display for the first time this year at the Miyakonojo Shimazu Residence on the island of Kyuushuu in Japan. The remains, which include a foot and an arm with hand attached, are said to have been given to the Miyakonijo Shimazu family after a Kappa was supposedly shot on a riverbank in 1818. Archaeologists discovered the skeleton of a massive dog that would have stood 7 feet tall on its hind legs, in the ruins of Leiston Abbey in Suffolk, England. The remains are near where an ancient legend spoke of a hellhound called Black Shuck, said to have flaming red eyes and a rugged black coat, who terrorized villagers. The name Shuck derives from the Old English word scucca meaning ‘demon’. He is one of many ghostly black dogs recorded across the British Isles. Its alleged appearance during a storm on 4th August, 1577 at the Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh, is a particularly famous account of the beast, in which legend says that thunder caused the doors of the church to burst open and the snarling dog crashed in and ran through the congregation, killing a man and a boy, before it fled when the steeple collapsed. Brendon Wilkins, projects director of archaeological group Dig Ventures, said: “Most of these legends about dogs may have some roots in reality.” The remains of the massive dog, which is estimated to have weighed 200 pounds, were found just a few miles from the two churches where Black Shuck killed the worshippers. It appears to have been buried in a shallow grave at precisely the same time as Shuck is said to have been on the loose, primarily around Suffolk and the East Anglia region. Over seven decades ago, an ancient skeleton was found in a well in Sverresborg, a medieval fortification located in Bergen, Norway. But World War II put an end to the excavations and the body was reburied and largely forgotten. Now, 70 years later, archaeologists rediscovered the remains and dated them to the 12th century AD, a period when the Sverris Saga was written, which tells the tale of a dead man thrown in a well in Sverresborg. Could it be that the recovered remains belong to that very man? The Sverris Saga provides a detailed account of the Norwegian king Sverre Sigurdsson, along with a large cast of characters, elaborate scenes, and dialogue. King Sverre led the Birkebeiners (“birch legs”), a party of rebels that were so poor they made their shoes of birch bark, in a fight for the throne of Norway against the church-supported Baglers. The saga tells of a battle in Sverresborg (“Sverre's Castle”) in Trondheim in 1197, where the Baglers won. The Sverre Saga says that after the battle: "the Baglers took all the goods that were in the castle, then they burned down every house that was there. They threw a dead man in the well, since they carried stone, and filled it." The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research wrote: “We are more than reasonably sure that the skeleton in the well can be attributed to the dramatic tales in the saga when Sverre castle was destroyed.” A government investigation carried out by the Fljotsdalsherao municipal council in Iceland has ruled that a legendary sea serpent named Lagarfljotsormurinn, which is rumoured to inhabit Lake Lagarfljot, actually exists. The commission ruled that a 2012 video of what is claimed to be Iceland’s most famous lake monster is authentic. The Lagarfljótsormur, or ‘Lagarfljót worm’ is an Icelandic lake cryptid which is purported to live in a freshwater, glacial-fed lake in Egilsstaðir. The earliest recorded sightings of the Lagarfljótsormur date back to the Icelandic Annals of 1345, and have continued into the 21st century. However, sightings increased exponentially after a home video shot in 2012 went viral. The home video shows what looks like a long, serpentine form swimming in the glacial lake in eastern Iceland. If the video is authentic, and actually depicts a living creature, it may not be as monstrous as the legends say. Many species of fish have been found which resemble ‘sea monsters’ described in mythological tales, for example, the frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus), and the giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne). It might just be that a similar species may inhabit Lake Lagarfljot, leading to the development of legendary tales over the centuries. Captain John Bennett and his crew were stunned when they dragged onto their fishing boat a creature with tentacles like fire hoses and eyes like dinner plates, while fishing in Antarctica’s remote Ross Sea. It was an enormous 350 kg (770 pound) squid which they had hauled up from one mile below the surface. Could this have been the creature that inspired tales of the legendary Kraken, rumoured to devour men and crush ships? The colossal squid, which measures the length of a minibus, was caught 8 months ago and was kept frozen until September, when scientists finally thawed it out in a bid to unlock the mysteries of this rarely seen monster of the deep. Kat Bolstad, a squid scientist from the Auckland University of Technology, said that it's possible that ancient sightings of the colossal squid gave rise to tales of the Kraken, a giant sea creature in Scandinavian mythology, which was first mentioned in the Örvar-Oddr, a 13th century Icelandic saga. Kat Bolstad explained that sperm whales often eat colossal squid and are known to play with their food, so sailors may have mistaken that for epic battles. 3. Did ancient gold mining methods create REAL Golden Fleece and inspire legend of Jason and the Argonauts? The mythical Golden Fleece is best known for featuring in the ancient legend of Greek hero Jason and his band of sailors, the Argonauts. Geologists have theorized from investigations that the Golden Fleece may have been more than a simple mythical plot device, and was instead a reality for the people of the Black Sea region. Evidence suggests that the quest for the Golden Fleece may have been based on an actual historical voyage to the ancient Colchis Kingdom. A field investigation study of the mythical ‘golden sands’ of Colchis published in Quaternary International theorizes that the story “took inspiration from an actual voyage sometime between 3,300 and 3,500 years ago”. In the myth of Jason, the son of Aeson, usurped king of Iolcos, commissions a ship built by Argus, the Argo, and gathers a group of heroes, the Argonauts. They embark on a quest to find the fleece - the skin of a winged ram, a holy ram of Zeus, - so Jason might return his father to the throne of Thessaly, Greece. There are many interpretations of the symbolism and meaning of the Golden Fleece, including it representing royal power, the flayed skin of a Titan, a book on alchemy, the forgiveness of god, a fabric woven from sea silk, and the wealth of Colchis. Geologist Avtandil Okrostsvaridze of Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and his colleagues, stated that mountain streams of the Svaneti region contain small particles of gold which tumble through the water after eroding from rock formations. Locals traditionally immerse sheepskins in the streams to trap the metal, creating a fleece rich with gold. This technique has endured for thousands of years, suggesting to geologists and historians that the region is the same ancient Colchis Kingdom as referenced in the Golden Fleece myth. The researchers wonder if the story of Jason and the Argonauts may have been based on a real and ancient mission to learn the secrets of the technique of gold extraction, or to retrieve sheepskins glittering with flakes of gold. The Vikings have been reputed to be remarkable seafarers who would confidently head into unexplored waters. This year a team of researchers from Hungary and Sweden claim to have a clue as to how the Norse warriors managed to fearlessly navigate their way through unknown oceans to invade unsuspecting communities along the North Sea and Atlantic Sea coasts of Europe – it is believed that they combined the power of a sun-compass, with that of a sunstone to navigate their ships after dark. A well-known ancient Norse myth describing a magical gem which could reveal the position of the sun when hidden behind clouds or even after sunset, was the subject of intrigue for many years, until researchers found a unique crystal in the wreck of an Elizabethan ship sunk off the coast of the Channel Islands. In March, 2013, a team of scientists announced that the crystal made of a calcite substance could have indeed acted as a remarkably precise navigational aid. In the latest study, researchers examined a fragment of an 11th-century dial found in Uunartoq, Greenland, and attempted to extrapolate its features into something that would allow Viking navigators to detect the position of the sun from the twilight glow on the horizon passing through two calcite sunstones. The results found that when used in combination, the dial and the sunstones could find the position of the sun even after it had passed below the twilight horizon. Scientists at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia rediscovered a rare and important find in their storage rooms – a complete human skeleton who lived around 6,500 years ago in the Sumerian city-state of Ur. The aptly named ‘Noah’ was originally found within a layer of deep silt, indicating that he lived after an epic flood. The first known recorded story of a great flood comes from Sumer, now southern Iraq, and it is generally believed to be the historic precursor of the Biblical flood story written millennia later. Sir Leonard Woolley, a British archaeologist who originally found ‘Noah’ in the 1920s, referred to the layer of silt, which was ten-feet thick in some places, as the ‘flood layer’, because, around 40 feet down, it reached a layer of clean, water-lain silt. The individual is known to have survived or lived after the flood as he was buried in its silt deposits. Woolley determined that the original site of Ur had been a small island in a surrounding marsh. Then a great flood spoken covered the land in the Ubaid-era. People continued to live and flourish at Ur, but many scholars believe it was this flood that was written about in the ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets and retold by many cultures around the world. Some also believe it was the Sumerian account that later inspired the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark.

JUNE 2000 (APROX.) I know the rules say that first person reports are preferred, but this is a strange story that my son encountered while walking through this park one evening. This is what happened in his words: My friend and I were still feeling a slight buzz when we left his house on a breezy summer evening. Having spent the late afternoon hanging out in my friends parents basement, trolling our friends on facebook and drinking a few cans of beer he had stashed underneath the stairs, we decided to meet some friends at the mall. Neither one of us had any bus money so they decided to walk the 3 miles to get to our destination. Wanting to shave off some time, we decided to cut through a wooded trail situated along a major highway that led into a tree covered park area. On the other side of the long winding forested path, was a large shopping center where the mall was based. If you passed by the trail during the day, you’d rarely see anyone walking or biking along it so it seemed a bit ominous but there was also a large pond inside the forested area that was rumored to have been a decent fishing spot and that made it a bit more approachable to some. As we made our way over a small bridge and through a dimly lit tunnel, we talked and joked about things that most teens did and we felt relatively safe walking through the semi dark pathway. But about 10 minutes later, we came upon a second bridge that led to the edge of a large semi dark opening in the woods. Even though the area lacked proper lighting, I noticed a shape hunched over something in the distance. This part of the woods was lit only by the soft light of the full moon which helped us navigate our way ahead. I stopped walking first and then my friend came to a halt as well. From where I stood, I thought it was a man possibly tending to his dog during a nightly walk, but the abrupt silence as we neared the end of the overpass, brought on a strange sense of weirdness. Like something inside my head was telling me to not get any closer. A couple of more cautious steps forward and we were able to see that the form hunched over wasn’t really a person at all…IT was bent over what appeared to be a young deer, and was feasting hungrily, making deep groaning sounds … My friend grabbed me by the elbow and I quickly turned to face him, noticing the shock on his face as he silently worded “WTF is that”????? I turned my head back around slowly, feeling terror pounding loudly in his chest as I took another look at the gigantic, hairless giant about 30 ft from us. My friend stupidly moved in front of me to get a closer look, almost in awe of what he was seeing and as he approached the end of the bridge, he clumsily stepped into a small pile of rocks, which made a loud, crunching noise that was hugely emphasized by the dead silence of the night. The beast then stood up and turned his head, staring in our direction. In the darkness, I estimated that he had to have been at least 8 feet tall with long muscular arms and seemed hairless. I cant even tell you what color he was, but he was huge! My friend’s eyes widened as he realized the monster was staring right at us. And before I could give the creature a chance to advance, I turned around and began to run as fast as I could. My heart was pounding, as I ran the 2 miles it took to get back to the other side of the trail. In my terror I almost forgot about my friend and finally forced myself to look back to see if he was behind me as I got closer to the entrance of the park. Seconds later I heard the sound of tired, thumping feet emerging from the darkness. As my friend approached me he demanded “Why did you leave me like that shithead”?? trying hard to work his way back to normal breaths. I looked at him and said “If you want to go back and find out what that thing was, you go ahead and do that but I’m going home”. To this day I have never gone back into those woods. That was 10 years ago and I still don’t know what I saw and I also remember having trouble sleeping for days after seeing that strange creature. Let me say that I have tried to look up stories online about cryptid stories in Delaware and cant find any. We have a lot of strange hauntings and even UFO sightings but not cryptid that I can find. One interesting thing I wanted to add. I’d never heard of Richard Shaver’s or his experiences until about a month ago when I was watching a you tube video about Brenton Sawin’s encounter with a strange being. He referred to Richard Shaver’s lifelong experiences with similar strange beings. If you read Richard Shaver’s stories about Deros and Teros and their underground civilization, you will find that he mentions that there are entrances to the underground cave systems that lead to these civilizations and one can be found in Delaware, as well as other places in the east coast. He never gave up the area where that entrance is, but I find it very interesting! And then I thought about my son’s experience and wondered if somehow they were connected? I don’t know, but it’s a thought. Submitted by Freetobemeinde

The North Bend Film Festival returns this summer with a hybrid festival taking place July 15-18, 2021. The in-person portion of the fest returns audience members to the historic art deco North Bend Theatre for a curated offering of feature film and short screenings, while both the virtual and physical programs will be complemented by special events, conversations with filmmakers, and immersive experiences. The majority of titles will be exclusive either to physical or virtual programs, with only a few overlaps making for a unique festival experience however you choose to attend. This year’s festival will open with the in-person screening of Swan Song, Todd Stephen’s ode to being singular in a world that pushes individuality to the side. Its endearing main character, Pat, is flawlessly embodied by screen legend Udo Kier. Closing the festival’s physical program is Carlson Young’s debut feature The Blazing World. A visually stunning, Neil Gaiman-esque dream that stars the director alongside Kier in another scene-stealing performance. Few films so perfectly encapsulate the distinct flavor of the North Bend Film Festival like Richard Kelly’s trailblazing and pivotal cult feature Donnie Darko, and for its 20th Anniversary, North Bend Film Festival will host a conversation with the visionary director, moderated by highly regarded screenwriter April Wolfe. The festival will also present the film in its original version for a special in-person screening. New to the festival this year is the introduction of the Dulac Vanguard Filmmaker Award. Named after French filmmaker, film theorist, and activist Germaine Dulac, her 1928 film The Seashell and the Clergyman is regarded as the defining first film of the surrealist movement. The award will honor an extraordinary achievement in groundbreaking filmmaking with a director’s first or sophomore feature. This year’s recipient is Jane Schoenbrun for their debut narrative feature We’re All Going to the World’s Fair. “World’s Fair is a beautifully haunting work that captures with surreal relevance the dual sadness and hope of life lived through a screen,” says Senior Programmer Joseph Hernandez. “We’re so excited to see Jane carry this torch and it’s our great pleasure to honor them with the first annual Dulac.” Continuing the festival’s mission to present groundbreaking immersive events, this year will feature a tongue-in-cheek pregnancy mystery party with I Swing, You Swing, a self-led storytelling experience that will take place across North Bend with Marcia Needs Space, and the in-person return of fest favorite Strange Storytelling Hour, which will be recorded in front of a live audience and offered online for virtual viewing after. Bolstering the virtual program are a duo of sports documentaries celebrating the female spirit and sheer athletic dominance in The Witches of the Orient and Luchadoras; a mad ode to casting and the filmmaking process with the latest from Sion Sono, Red Post on Escher Street; the outrageous and heartfelt SXSW audience award winner Ninjababy; and much more. North Bend Film Fest virtual programming is geo-restricted to the Pacific Northwest with two types of festival passes currently on sale: a 10 feature or shorts program package for $95 for the public (geo-blocked to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) and a 12 feature or shorts program package for Industry Members (geo-blocked to the U.S.) also priced at $95. All panels and podcast programming will be free to pass holders with a limited amount of tickets going on sale for virtual events. Individual ticket options also include a $3 discount for locals attending in-person screenings. To buy a pass, visit: https://northbendfilmfest.eventive.org/passes/buy All in-person screenings will be held in strict accordance with state and federal guidelines regarding safety through the ongoing COVID pandemic. FEATURE FILMS AT NORTH BEND FILM FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT FILM United States | 2021 | 105 Min. | Dir. Todd Stephens | In-Person A former hairdresser (Udo Kier, Bacurau) escapes his nursing home to style the hair of a recently deceased old friend for her funeral. His passion-fueled odyssey guides him to surprising revelations about a past event that has filled his later years with resentment. A Magnolia Pictures Release. CENTERPIECE FILM (DULAC AWARD WINNER) We’re All Going to the World’s Fair United States | 2021 | 86 Min. | Dir. Jane Schoenbrun | In-Person From the nest of her black-lit bedroom, Casey decides to embark on the World’s Fair challenge; a game that threatens to manifest mysterious change in its participants. Jane Schoenbrun’s narrative debut causes the line between dream and reality to waver in this coming-of-age exploration of identity. A Utopia Release. United States | 2021 | 95 Min. | Dir. Dash Shaw | In-Person Cryptozoologist Lauren Grey (Lake Bell, In a World...) dreams of the Baku at night—a legendary creature that eats nightmares. As she navigates the underworld of illegal cryptid trades and government schemes in the hunt for the Baku, the future of the Cryptozoo hangs in the balance. A Magnolia Pictures Release. CLOSING NIGHT FILM The Blazing World United States | 2021 | 101 Min. | Dir. Carlson Young | In-Person Decades after the tragic accidental drowning of her twin sister, Margaret returns to her family home in the hopes of finding her still alive in an alternate reality. Loosely inspired by Margaret Cavendish’s 1666 work of the same name, Carlson Young’s feature debut paints a dream-like world with dazzling arthouse visuals, completed with a chilling performance by Udo Kier. Donnie Darko (20th Anniversary Remastered Version presented by Arrow Video) United States | 2001 | 113 Min. | Dir. Richard Kelly | In-Person After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days 06 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. Before Stranger Things combined science-fiction, Spielbergian touches, and ‘80s nostalgia to much acclaim, Richard Kelly set the high-water mark with this debut feature. Restoration courtesy of Arrow Films and the American Genre Film Archive. United States | 2021 | 84 Min. | Dir. Floyd Russ | Hybrid Actress and singer Ayar finds herself without work in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and decides to reconnect with the estranged daughter she entrusted to her mother while pursuing her career many years ago. This somewhat predictable narrative morphs into a daring and unapologetic study on the creative process weaving through the tapestry of reality itself. Code Name: Nagasaki Norway | 2021 | 70 Min. | Dir. Fredrik S. Hana | Virtual When he was only five, Marius’ mother unexpectedly left his family to return to Japan and broke off all contact. Now twenty years later, he and his best friend Fredrik document their soulful search for her with vignettes ranging from samurai to noir and every genre in-between. Mexico | 2021 | 93 Min. | Dir. Paola Calvo, Patrick Jasim | Virtual A trio of female wrestlers grapple with life in Ciudad Juarez, inside and outside of the ring. The courage they exude in their personal lives is paralleled in the theater of wrestling, as they adopt personas that unmask feminist agency in a world dominated by machismo. Norway | 2021 | 103 Min. | Dir. Yngvild Sve Flikke | Virtual Rakel, a 23-year-old cartoonist, randomly finds out she is six months pregnant. She has many other plans than being a mother and the future father, “Dick Jesus”, is even less prepared. Yngvild Sve Flikke’s film is a raucous pregnancy comedy, with a great balance of humor and emotional depth, and an animated fetus in a bandit mask. Potato Dreams of America United States | 2021 | 95 Min. | Dir. Wes Hurley | In-Person Potato and his mail-order bride mother spend their days obsessing about American films and using their vivid imagination to dream of a better life outside of the Soviet Union. After several letters are exchanged with a man in America (Dan Lauria, The Wonder Years), they both venture out in search of a new life across the Atlantic. Red Post on Escher Street Japan | 2021 | 148 Min. | Dir. Sion Sono | Virtual For the chance to work with popular director Kobayashi, a wave of local aspiring actors send in their resumes through the same red post box on Escher Street. When the production is pushed last minute to cast famous talent, the actors discover another way they can have their time on camera—as extras. An absolutely wild film shoot ensues. South Korea | 2020 | 99 Min. | Dir. Jo Bareun | Virtual Yeon-hee’s dream is to be an action movie star. When she gets an audition for a major role, she’s cast as a stunt double because of her sword-fighting skills. Upon arrival on set, she is mysteriously transported to another reality—a village under attack and desperate for a heroine. But the danger is very real here and it’s going to take a lot more than acting for Yeon-hee to survive stepping into her dream role. United States | 2021 | 97 Min. | Dir. Erin Vassilopoulos | Hybrid Running from an abusive partner, Marian finds refuge in the home of her polar opposite twin Vivian. To better understand each other’s life choices the twins experiment with impersonating one another, to disastrous results when Marian’s past catches up with her. Netherlands, Belgium | 2019 | 86 Min. | Dir. Lodewijk Crijns| Hybrid With his wife and kids in the car, a hot-headed father gets involved in a nasty retaliatory bout of road rage with a van. Karma is unforgiving as the other driver is revealed to be a maniacal killer who relentlessly tracks them donning a hazmat suit and a pressurized poison spray. A Film Movement release. Chile | 2021 | 100 Min. | Dir. Leonardo Medel | Virtual Veronica (Mariana Di Girólamo, Ema), a soccer wife-turned social media influencer on the cusp of a major brand deal has a problem—her follower count isn’t high enough. When a prosecutor starts investigating the mysterious death of her first daughter, the darkness behind her picture-perfect persona may be exposed to the public. The Witches of the Orient France | 2021 | 100 Min. | Dir. Julien Faraut | Virtual In one of the greatest feats in all of sports history, a Japanese women’s volleyball team won a record 258 consecutive matches and captured Olympic gold. With astonishing archival footage, anime sequences, and electronic music, director Julien Faraut shows how these extraordinary women dominated their sport and rose to international stardom. SHORTS AT NORTH BEND FILM FESTIVAL Home Transmissions: PNW Shorts The deeply personal, fanatical, and horrific collide in this buffet of style and form all cooked up by Pacific Northwest filmmakers. Skinner 1929, dir. Aaron Blanton, Goitre, dir. Anna Weltner, Pool Service Announcement, dir. Dean Dickinson, Zombie Walk, dir. Rollyn Stafford, The Body of Levi, dir. Freddy Cheung, The Altruist, dir. Matt Smith Stories of the peculiar and outlandish sort are what Something Strange is all about. The Nipple Whisperer, dir. Jan Van Dyck (Belgium), You Wouldn’t Understand, dir. Trish Harnetiaux (USA), Grab Them, dir. Morgane Dziurla-Petit (Sweden), Mustachio, dir. Victoria Warmerdam (Netherlands), Picnic Pals in Dreamland, dir. David Ferino (USA), Swimmer, dir. Jonatan Etzler (Sweden), Today, dir. Andrew Jaksch (Australia) Across the genres, bold and unafraid, Cinema Vista will prove once again that our imagination has no limit. Sudden Light, dir. Sophie Littman (UK), Solution for Sadness, dir. Marc Martinez Jordán, Tuixén Benet Cosculluela (Spain), Trade Center, dir. Adam B Baran (USA), Flex, dir. Josefin Malmén & David Strindberg (Sweden), Pleasant Valley Drive In, dir. Brian Zahm (USA), The Expected, dir. Carolina Sandvik (Sweden), Kia Summer Sales Event, dir. Brendan Walter (USA), Lips, dir. Nicole Tegelaar (Netherlands) Beyond the Void What lies beyond our experience and our psyche? Six short films explore the mystic transition to another world or to another self. Stuffed, dir. Theo Rhys (UK), Still Together, dir. Christopher Piazza (USA), Goitre, dir. Anna Weltner (USA), Lucid, dir. Deanna Milligan (Canada), The Isolated, dir. Jason Giampietro (USA), Algorithm, dir. Edwina Casey (Ireland) In this selection of eight short films, time and reality melt into a cocktail of transformative stories. Cracks, dir. Andrea Cazzaniga (Germany), The Cocktail Party, dir. Jessica Sanders (USA), Atrophy, dir. Nick Hartanto, Sam Roden (USA), A Tale Best Forgotten, dir. Tomas Stark (Sweden), Young Forever, dir. Stevie Szerlip (USA), Golem, dir. Ryan Cauchi (Australia), Bird Lady, dir. Susie Jones (UK), Skinner 1929, dir. Aaron Blanton (USA) IMMERSIVE EVENTS AT NORTH BEND FILM FESTIVAL I Swing, You Swing: A Swinging 70s Mystery Game! Created by Darren Herczeg & Erica Elson It’s 1976. You’ve been invited to Dr. Darica Darren & Erica’s North Bend Love Lodge for a therapeutic night of swinging. But what you don’t know is that someone got pregnant at the last party, and The Drs. Darica desperately need your help to find out how it all went down! You’ll hop from “The Jacuzzarium” to “The Soft Media Room” to “The Orgone Accumulator”, interacting with as many swingers as you can to try and piece together this paternity puzzle! And you better believe that nothing is a straight line when it comes to this complex conception… Marcia Needs Space Created by Allyson Morgan & Kevin Laibson You’re invited on a self-guided interactive tour of North Bend, hosted by Fred, the Extraterrestrial. Fred will give you a robust understanding of this historic town while simultaneously using the participants as part of his own secret mission: to find a mysterious figure named Marcia. Part scavenger hunt, part comedy show, entirely ridiculous, go on this adventure and you’ll learn why Marcia Needs Space. All you need is your smartphone and a sense of adventure! This experience is able to be enjoyed both in-person and online Strange Storytelling Hour Presented by Northwest Film Forum & Volition Brewing In this beloved festival event, emerging storytellers recount peculiar tales and bizarre happenings based on their own real-life experiences. This year’s theme: “Strangetown.” Whether you hail from them or simply passed through, many have felt the warmth, mystery, and familiarity of a bizarre small town. Join our storytellers as they share tales and whispers from the hamlets that haunt their memories. This event will be hosted by Seattle-based storyteller, comedian, and weirdo Emmett Montgomery — NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Seattle Weekly’s Best Comedian 2015, 2017, 2018, and host and curator of the community based “comedy” show Joketellers Union (with Brett Hamil) and the experimental basement/storytelling show The Magic Hat. This event will be offered to a limited in-person audience and will be available for virtual viewing. Strange North Bend Walking Tour Hosted by local artists Bob & Laura Antone From the Mt Si Cemetery and stories of tragedy to haunted restaurants, crime scenes, and known film locations, Hidden Northwest Tours features the darker side of North Bend Washington. What eventually brought Hollywood to town? Perhaps the town’s real history is much stranger than you know. PANELS & DISCUSSIONS AT NORTH BEND FILM FESTIVAL DONNIE DARKO 20th Anniversary Celebration with Richard Kelly Presented by Arrow Video Since its release in 2001, Donnie Darko has risen from cult-film status to being widely considered one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Propelling the careers of award-winning actors Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film also spotlights an early starring role for the great Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Saved) and the feature debuts of Seth Rogen and Fran Kranz. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his landmark film, director Richard Kelly will look back on his enigmatic classic that remains a puzzle box for fans to this day. Moderated by April Wolfe (screenwriter of Blumhouse’s Black Christmas and former lead film critic for LA Weekly) Crafting Immersive Experiences during COVID Presented by No Proscenium In this in-depth conversation moderated by No Proscenium’s Noah Nelson, the NBFF2021 immersive creators behind I Swing, You Swing and Marcia Needs Space will explore the existing and residual effects of crafting immersive experiences in modern times. Reinventing the Reel Presented by Northwest Film Forum Over the past year, cinemas have been forced to navigate closures, virtual screenings, and hard choices as they’ve nimbly defined and reinvented their business models to stay afloat. In this candid conversation hosted by Northwest Film Forum’s Artistic Director Rana San, we’ll hear from locally-beloved theater houses about the significance of reopening their brick-and-mortar spaces and the cinema-going experience awaiting audiences and filmmakers as we enter the next phase of our hybrid reality. Elevating the Story with Animation Paved by the work of Osamu Tezuka, animation—historically regarded as a medium for younger audiences—gained traction among adult filmmakers as a boundless tool to visually and narratively explore the depths of their imagination. Led by Kirk Thatcher, mad genius behind some of the best Muppets shenanigans, Dash Shaw (Cryptozoo), Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King (The Spine of Night), and Kevin McTurk (The Haunted Swordsman) will discuss their inspiration and what drew them to these mediums. Up Close with Dulac Vanguard Award Winner Jane Schoenbrun Presented by In Creative Company For this special virtual event, NBFF’s first annual Dulac Vanguard Awardee Jane Schoenbrun will discuss their groundbreaking feature We’re All Going to The World’s Fair, the internet culture that inspired her, vanguard filmmaking, and their take on the industry’s climate towards boundary-pushing cinema. Moderated by In Creative Company’s Mara Webster. PODCASTS AT NORTH BEND FILM FESTIVAL Join Matt Donato and Matthew Monagle for a special North Bend edition of Certified Forgotten, the podcast that “rediscovers” horror films of the Rotten Tomatoes era. The Matts are joined by April Wolfe and Katie Walsh—a bit of a Switchblade Sisters reunion—for an even-more-special video episode to discuss the aquatic horror-thriller The Siren (formerly The Rusalka), an overlooked indie darling that once closed the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. Tune in for a conversation that wades into creature-infested waters as the gang analyzes why it was overlooked and how it becomes…well, no longer forgotten! Dead Beat Film Society Hosts Emily & Kevin of the DBFS podcast sit with musician Prom Queen to discuss the mysteries of David Lynch’s masterpiece Mulholland Drive (2001). The Good, The Bad and The What!? The Good, The Bad, and The What!? Is a weekly podcast in which hosts Ryan Oliver and Chris Thomas discuss through humor and edu-tainment what makes a film “good,” “bad,” or “other” within a certain theme, category, subgenre, filmography, and more! On this special episode for the North Bend Film Festival, the two are going to journey through the late-‘90s/early-2000’s boom of vanguard sci-fi/horror dramas that bend space and time in some way, starting with the 20th Anniversary of Richard Kelly’s 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko, following up with the contentious 2004 Ashton Kutcher vehicle The Butterfly Effect, and finally closing with perhaps one of David Lynch’s most polarizing films, 1997’s Lost Highway. The Witching Hour Co-hosted by Perri Nemiroff and Haleigh Foutch, Collider’s horror podcast The Witching Hour digs into all things horror, from the biggest titles at the box office to under-the-radar gems, exclusive interviews, early reviews, deep-dive analysis, and all the need-to-know in genre film from two horror die-hards. Hosted by Ashley Smith, Washed Away is a true-crime podcast that breathes new life into Washington state’s coldest cases. Host Ashley Smith talks to experts and family members to get the real stories behind unsolved crimes from the Evergreen state. This special episode premiering during the North Bend Film Festival will explore the mysterious unsolved murder of Hazel Drew, whose case served as the inspiration behind David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. More information on the 2021 North Bend Film Festival can be found at www.northbendfilmfest.com. - [News] Art Meets Horror in RLJE Films & Shudder ‘s ALLEGORIA Trailer - June 27, 2022 - [News] THE INVITATION – You Can’t Deny It in This Latest Trailer - June 27, 2022 - [News] BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Arriving Oct 4 - June 27, 2022

Better throw out your GPS for this trip with Brett and Harley as they take you to the mountains of Oklahoma! On this week’s episode, we travel to Honobia, OK to check out the Honobia Bigfoot Conference. Where else are you going to find bigfoot, but in the mountains of Oklahoma. The people of this town are super nice and they can point you in the direction of all of the bigfoot hangouts. Bigfoot may not be the only cryptid walking in these woods, but he is the only one that gets his own conference. We like to support cool people doing cool things, and what is cooler than having a bigfoot event to raise scholarship money for the local youths. Bigfoot has been around these parts for as far back as anyone can remember, but was brought to the attention in 2001 when a horrifying encounter made the news. We discuss the event that happens at the beginning of every October and some of the cool people we me along the way. This is an epic oddity hidden away in a scenic location. Our news story is truly disgusting and ripped from the headlines. ScienceNews.org brings us a new super-food. If you are planning a trip to Honobia, these are just a few other activities that you might be interested in checking out: Beavers Bend State Park 45 minutes away – Eagle watches are available from November through February. Trout fishing, fly fishing clinics, guided horseback rides, and hayrides throughout the park are other activities offered at Beavers Bend. Robbers Cave State Park 1 hour away – This park is a favorite of rappellers, equestrians, hikers and outdoor lovers. Robbers Cave is historically notable as a former hideout for infamous outlaws Belle Starr and Jesse James. Brett’s top 5 things you didn’t know about Oklahoma list. We also discuss one of the best burgers in Oklahoma. All this and more on episode 47 of the Travel Oddities Podcast. Give us some love on ITunes OK News story about Honobia Roach Milk News Story Original Honobia Bigfoot Story Defense against Bigfoot Honobia Creek Store Honobia Oklahoma Bigfoot Conference Lyle Blackbun – Author

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The Mothman Prophecies – John Keel Tor – 2002 (Originally published in 1975) When I picked this book up, I expected it to be fairly similar to McCloy and Millet’s The Jersey Devil, a book describing how a strange cryptid briefly terrorized a small town; however, The Mothman Prophecies is more a descriptive synthesis of 4-5 paranormal beings and events, and it doesn’t contain a huge amount of information specifically about the Mothman apparition. The Mothman, you see, at least according to John Keel, is quite probably from another dimension, and its mothy form is likely only one of its possible manifestations. The book describes several strange events: - The Mothman appeared to several people in Point Pleasant, a small town in West Virginia. - Several other people in this town saw UFOs. - Strange men, dressed in black, showed up in Point Pleasant, asking strange questions to these witnesses. - A few of these witnesses also received bizarre phone calls during which they would hear static, beeping, or a foreign man speaking quickly. This stuff went on for a while, but when a bridge leading into the town collapsed, killing 48 people, the strange events seemed to stop happening. The loss of 48 souls to a town that housed fewer than 6000 people would have been devastating, and one can sensibly attribute the cessation of paranormal activity in Point Pleasant after 1967 to its residents going into a period of mourning and spending less time looking for lights in the sky and weirdos in the streets. John Keel however, postulates that Mothman disappeared after the collapse of the bridge because his work as an ill omen was complete. Yes, Mothman has more in common with a guardian angel than he does with Bigfoot. Most of the book is taken up with descriptions of strange lights seen in the sky. When I reviewed Whitley Strieber’s Transformation, I noted that he had given up the idea that aliens are extraterrestrial and that he now believes that “the visitors are likely trans-dimensional inhabitants of Earth”. It is quite possible that Strieber got this idea directly from Keel. (Strieber was a member or at least attended the meetings of Keel’s New York Fortean Society.) Keel reckons that UFOs are manifestations of something that exists outside of the dimensions that constrain our reality. Whatever it is that is causing the UFO phenomenon is probably the same thing that made people believe in fairies and religious events. If you think about it, a Mothman, as imagined by Keel, is basically the same thing as a Banshee. Strange lights in the sky and cryptids sightings are cool and all, but the really interesting parts of this book are the bits about the peculiar men who dress in black and spend their time pestering UFO witnesses. Keel wasn’t the first person to write about the Men in Black; that honour, along with the honour of being the first to write a book about Mothman, goes to Keel’s friend, Gray Barker. Originally, the MIB were assumed to be government agents trying to keep witnesses quiet about their UFO encounters, but by the time this book was published, Barker and Keel agreed that the MIB were themselves aliens. Their descriptions in this book are actually pretty cool. They’re always dark skinned (although Keel repeats several times that they’re not black), they have pointy faces and unsettling smiles, their clothes are ill fitting, they don’t understand what common household items are for, and they speak like characters from a Samuel Beckett play. Overall, the book isn’t very convincing. I had been looking forward to reading it, and it took me quite a bit longer to get through than I had expected. Keel didn’t have enough material to write a more focused book, so he seems to have crammed in any old crap he could find. He starts to contradict himself in the latter half of the book, but he realizes that he’s doing so and attempts to make these contradictions part of his argument. (See the Paranoiacs Are Made, Not Born chapter.) The Men in Black have been so successful in their attempts to obfuscate the public’s understanding of what happened in Point Pleasant that Mothman researchers can’t really know what they know about the topic. I read a review somewhere that described the book as John Keel’s descent into paranoid madness, and if you were to accept all of its claims, I’m sure that reading this book would drive you quite mad.too. I’m not calling John Keel a liar, but many of the links he propounds are rather tenuous, some of his descriptions are vague, and much of his reasoning is plain shoddy. He was also admittedly very selective with the material he chose to use for this book. I’m not complaining about this (I’m all for that kind of writing!); I mention it only in response to the claim that Keel was paranoid. This is sensational, speculative non-fiction filled with what-ifs; it’s use your imagination stuff. Keel wasn’t mad at all; like he rest of us, he just enjoyed a good conspiracy. I was fairly disappointed with the cover of my copy of this book. It’s a shitty, ugly version that came out to coincide with the movie version of 2002. (Earlier editions have really cool covers.) I watched the movie there too. I’m still not sure what to think of it. It’s set in the 90s or early 2000s instead of the 60s, and it doesn’t strictly adhere to the events in the book. It also cuts out all of the MIB and UFO stuff, so it’s not quite as all over the place. It looks pretty good, and there’s definitely an atmosphere to it, but I can’t imagine it making much sense to anyone who hasn’t read the book. It’s a little more cohesive without the MIB and flying saucers, but these omissions also render it a little dull, and while it’s not tough to sit through, there’s so little explanation given that you finish the film wondering why they bothered making it. Well, that’s that. Another Fortean classic for the archives. Some of my long time followers may have noticed that I’ve upgraded this blog with a fancy .com address. My url is now https://nocturnalrevelries.com/. Any old links to the site should still work, but due to an irritating fuck-up, I managed to delete all post likes and cut my traffic in half. Still though, the blog must go on, and I have ordered some seriously atrocious sounding books for my summer reading. Expect to see posts about perverted werewolves, Lovecraftian magick, Satanic Nazis and rock’n’roll themed horror showing up here very soon.

Photo via Cryptid Wiki If you were burdened by a life spent hiding away in swamps and being referred to as a “skunk ape,” or even worse, a “stink ape,” you’d probably try to keep a low profile, and that’s exactly what the skunk ape does. A hominid cryptid that is most commonly spotted in Florida, North Carolina, and Arkansas, the skunk ape was given its name for exactly the reasons you would guess … it stinks. The beast’s odor, said to smell similar to that of rotten eggs or methane gas, is most likely caused by their preference for hiding out in alligator dens polluted by swamp gas, and other mucky areas often surrounded by animal carcasses. It’s also said that they get their calling-card odor from simply not bathing but, really, why would they when they’re already called a “stink ape?” What’s the point? Read More: The Skunk Ape: Bigfoot’s Stinky Cousin

The Oregon Coast is one of those places that somehow gets prettier with every visit. From incredible lighthouses and shipwrecks to hidden coves, stunning beaches, and impossibly gorgeous panoramas, the Oregon Coast captivates and inspires, placing it as one of America’s best areas for outdoor exploration. 10 reasons you shouldn’t move to Oregon. Oregon is the country’s top relocation destination, as Luke Hammill of The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Thursday.The stats come via two moving companies. How we determined the worst places to live in Oregon for 2019. To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what cities have the least amount of those things. None was immediately reported. Weak shaking was reported along the Oregon coast from Waldport to Cloverdale with scattered reports further inland. obsidian fields oregon I went on a field trip recently to one of my favorite places-Glass Buttes. Obsidian is everywhere you look! It’s like being a kid in a candy store. In fact in one of my previous posts, Glass Butte Dragonglass, I show a picture of some obsidian I have collected displayed in a candy bowl.growing marijuana outdoors in oregon oregon track records Get the latest Oregon & Portland high school boys track and field news, rankings, schedules, stats, scores, results & athletes info for high school football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and more at OregonLive.com.. Track and field recap: Records fall at Oregon Relays, Meet of champions.growing marijuana outdoors is often considered the most simple and natural method, as it replicates the way it has grown in the wild for thousands of years. This basic guide to on how to grow weed outdoors will provide you with the information to make the most out of what nature has to offer. The benefits of growing marijuana outdoors? #15 Best Places to Retire in Oregon Niche User : Columbia City is very wonderfully located right on the edge of the Columbia River in an elderly community where all of the neighbors look out for you and are there to help out anywhere they can. Whale Watching Week begins Thursday during the peak of grey whale migrations along the Oregon Coast. Each year. to keep your binoculars focused on the ocean – there are a few places and tips that. As you think further about opportunity to relocate to the Oregon Coast, you ponder the best place to live. You have choices to make: is the North Coast calling you, with the lush forested areas?How about the Central Coast, with wide expanses of sand dunes to enjoy? oregon cryptids oregon live high school softball restaurants ne portland oregon From farm-to-table cuisine to ethnic eats, Portland, Oregon, is where food culture reigns supreme. Le Pigeon has been named one of the best restaurants – if not the best – in Portland time and time again. Two-time James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner gabriel rucker, along with co-owner.OregonLive.com. PIL high school baseball and softball preview: Top players, outlook, projected finish for every teamChessie is another sea monster named in the style of legendary Nessie, but this cryptid reportedly lives in the waters of Chesapeake Bay. There have been numerous sightings of the creature, which witnesses describe as 25 to 40 feet long, serpent-like and finned. Fortunately for crab lovers, Oregon crabbing can be done year round with great success. There’s very little gear required, and coastal towns often offer gear rental to those wanting to try the sport. We’ve rounded up the five best crabbing locations on the Oregon coast for those without a boat in order to take the guesswork out of it for you. in Oregon and Marysville (11) and Bellevue (19) in Washington. 1. San Ramon, CA It is no surprise that San Ramon is our No. 1 place to raise a family on the West Coast given that it’s also one of the. new years eve portland oregon 2016 The four armed occupiers of a US government wildlife reserve in the US state of Oregon are preparing to surrender, a member of the group says. sean anderson said they would leave the Malheur.meteor shower 2016 oregon oregon rose bowl ring College football championship championship rings football Rings 10k gold ring gold rings college rings beaverton oregon Oregon Ducks World Series Forward This gorgeous, 1998 Oregon Ducks "Aloha Bowl" Championship Gold Ring is manufactured by Jostens (Stamped Jostens The ring is approximately a size 9 and weighs grams.events in oregon 2017 FEATURED EVENTS C.R.O.W. Center for the Performing Arts August 16th & 17th Florence “An Evening of New Works by Young Authors” will be performed by students in C.R.O.W.’s Advanced Acting program.Meteor Shower is an independent studio of designers and developers proudly based in Atlanta. We started off as a passion to bridge the gap between business model and product creation. Our focus revolves around brands, businesses, and startups where our clients are part of the family.

So, as you all know (or those of you who regularly read the reviews and comments on W2R) I was not a fan of Ari Aster’s recent film, Midsommar. I won’t get into why I was not a fan of that film (as there are just so many reasons) but I wanted to bring it up is so that we can talk about the new film that I am looking at today: Head Count. Head Count follows a group of teenagers who unknowingly summon a paranormal presence during their weekend trip to the Joshua Tree National Park which then begins to hunt them one-by-one. Now, I know you might be asking: But Reals, if you disliked Midsommar so much, why are you watching a movie with such a similar plot, tone and aesthetic style? That is a great question, reader, and no, the answer is not that I’m a glutton for punishment or that I enjoy trashing films (or subjecting myself to trashy films, for that matter) but that I thought there were so many missed opportunities for Midsommar to deliver a really cool, unique horror experience and I wanted to support an independent filmmaker trying to capture something similar. So, how did this one fair? (Note: I did go into this one with little to no expectations. I feel like I have to mention that because that may change the way I reacted to the film and how much I enjoyed it.) The film starts with a little poem about a creature called the HISJI – I didn’t know this entity, but that is because the director made it up for the film. I am actually on board with this, however, it seems like if you are using the Joshua Tree National Park (a real location) then it might make more sense to use an actual creature or spirit that has been reported around that area. Maybe that is just me, but It was something I thought of. We open with our main character, Evan, dropping some of his friends off for a cruise that he was not invited to or could not afford, it is never really made clear. I think this is another issue – if he wasn’t invited or was too poor or something, then we might really sympathize with him. I think we are supposed to assume that he felt obligated to hang out with his older brother, but since it is so vague, I feel like we could have really used this as a Save the Cat Moment or a character-building scene. Anyway, after dropping his friends off, Evan heads over to see his estranged brother who lives in a trailer in the middle of nowhere. Honestly, this would have been enough of a setup for an interesting contained horror feature – where something is either really wrong with his brother or something has taken/harmed his brother and is then coming for Evan. You could do this with only one or two actors and could film it in just one or two locations. Always try to think about how you can elevate your concept and, if you can do it in a contained way, that’s even better! Once Evan meets his brother (who is a hippie) they go hiking in the Joshua Tree Park. This did give us a nice character moment where we get to see the brothers interact. On their hike, they stumble across another group of people (essentially just our warm bodies who are going to get picked off) and we don’t spend too much time with them, which is good, as they are unimportant. There is a girl in the group named Zoe who Evan flirts with – this goes on far too long and felt forced, but at least it gives Evan a reason to follow Zoe and her friends to a rented house where they can start to get killed. Public service announcement: joining a random group of people that you just met in the middle of nowhere with no backup plan or information about them, where they came from, or what they want can never end well – at best, you’ll accidentally kill a stripper or one of your friends will overdose and you’ll have to cover the death/murder up – at worst, the group you joined are cannibals and you are their next meal. Just saying. Then they play a game around the campfire where they tell scary stories – pretty standard – except Evan can’t think of one, so he goes to anonymousnightmares.com (not sure if that is a real site or not and I’m not going to look it up) and reads a random story from the site. To clarify, it’s less of a story and more of a summoning of a demon. Which seems weird that, when looking for a scary story, you pick a weird spell and, instead of looking at it and just choosing something else, you decide to read it out loud. Can you guess what happens next? If you guessed “An extremely long and awkward hot tub scene where Evan and Zoe painfully flirt” – you got it! However, then creepy stuff begins happening – a strange man is seen standing out in the middle of the desert in the dark just watching their party. Then, the group has a few other suspicious encounters until things really go off the rails in the third act. It is pretty standard stuff, but there were things to like here, such as: Interesting Location – Apparently, the Joshua Tree National Park is, in reality, a pretty haunted place. I didn’t know this and was a little disappointed in my own paranormal knowledge, having come from a family of paranormal and cryptid enthusiasts. Regardless, this does make for a unique setting, as it is a real place and a really haunted place (if you believe the stories) so there is plenty of fun to be had with this concept in this setting. I do wish they had done more with it, as most of the action takes place in a standard house/condo, but I respect the idea. Cast of Unknowns – This actually plays to the film’s benefit, I believe, because when I saw Will Poulter in Midsommar, I couldn’t help but think of that scene from We’re the Millers where he gets bit on the genitals by a tarantula (That scene is below for those of you who haven’t yet had the chance to experience this moment of cinematic greatness) which sort of took me out of it. (Note: By the way, that sounds like I’m giving We’re the Millers or Will Poulter grief, I am not at all. We’re the Millers is hilarious and Will Poulter is great in it – it’s just that he now a recognizable face from some of his other work and so seeing him in Midsommar sort of took me out of the somber, dark ambiance the film was trying to set.) Doppelganger Angle – We have seen this done before (most recently in Jordan Peele’s Us) but it can still be effective and chilling if done right. It also reminded me a little bit of the criminally under-seen movie Coherence, which was a pretty cool psychological thriller/horror. Check it out if you haven’t seen it! Well Directed – This is very competently directed – especially the horror scenes where the tension is built slowly and steadily without resorting to jump-scares or predictable moments. I am excited to see what this director – Elle Callahan – does next. Creepy Moments – There are some pretty creepy/uncomfortable moments. Like when Evan walks past a girl in the kitchen and heads outside where everyone is waiting. He mentions that they are missing someone, since he just saw the blonde girl (I think her name was Camille) inside. Then, the car door is opened and Camille says she has been there the whole time. Or the fact that they keep hearing shotgun blasts while out on their hike, but don’t know where the shots are coming from or who is shooting. (This never goes anywhere which is a shame as it provides a sort of dread and tension from the knowledge that at any time they could be shot – intentionally or accidentally – by the mysterious hunter.) Or, when a character jumps off of a cliff without warning about halfway through the film. It is while two other characters are having a discussion and is one of our “calm moments” in a horror film, but then we are snapped right back into the horror. Sure, these aren’t groundbreaking, per-say, but at the same time, they are effective and adding moments like these help build the atmosphere and tension in your horror story. There are lots of things to like about this film, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t also mention some of the film’s shortcomings, such as: One-Dimensional Characters – No, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of character development, but we hardly have any at all for Evan or for Zoe (arguably our protagonists in this film) We know that Evan: - Goes to college - Has never had sex - Has some issues with his brother Other than that, we don’t get a lot of reason to root for him or to care what happens to him. With Zoe, we learn: - She likes to take photos - She giggles when things get awkward And the rest of the friends are disposable cookie-cutter bodies to be killed off. Evan’s Brother – With Evan’s brother (Peyton, according to IMDB) I feel like they really missed a play. He is a bit strange and leaves Evan with the group of teens, only stopping by after a day or so to check in. Though it’s pretty clear early on that there is something pretty creepy and otherworldly happening, I feel like they could have done more with this Peyton character. Maybe hinted that he was the one behind a lot of what was going on or leave it ambiguous as to what actually happened. As it is, “Dick Friend” (the douche teen who seems to have it out for Evan because Zoe is his ex and Evan is now into Zoe) suggests that maybe Peyton is responsible for what is going on, but we have seen enough by that point to know that’s pretty impossible and doesn’t even really make sense as to why he would be hunting or stalking the group. Peyton also just disappears from the story after the midpoint and really never has anything much to do in the film. HISJI – It is not until 57 minutes into the one hour and twenty nine minute film that Evan (or anyone for that matter) thinks of the HISJI. Now, honestly, reading the poem/spell out at the campfire was such a quick moment, the teens were all drunk and there is no specific reason to think it was anything, so that didn’t bother me that no one immediately thought of it, but from a storytelling perspective, this is your primary monster/entity/spirit that is causing everything, so some more build-up would have been nice. Oh, and Evan just gets on the house computer and Googles everything about the monster – there is a better way to give this information – just put some effort into it. Also, even after researching everything and “figuring it out” Evan doesn’t actually put anything together until one hour and seven minutes into the film – so it takes far too long for us to get to the point we need to. Plus, if you are going to create a creature/monster/spirit then you are responsible for setting up the rules for this thing: Why is it like this? What does it want? How can you beat it? The film is less interested in establishing rules for the monster and instead just satisfies itself with by letting creepy stuff happen without any real backstory or explanation. Also, when you finally get the reveal of the creature, it’s pretty goofy looking. Kind of like one of the little grey aliens from early UFO lore. They didn’t need this at all – just show us the bodies of the doppelgangers and you don’t have to get a goofy monster suit or use CGI – plus, it would totally make sense in context. This one was right on the verge of a RENT IT from me, but because of some poor writing and little to no explanation being given for anything that happens or for the creature hunting the characters, I have to give this one a SKIP IT. Want EARLY access to our videos, uploads, and movie/script reviews? Members get them FIRST! Follow this link to our Discussion Forum. And be sure to check out our Notes Service, where I give my detailed thoughts and suggestions on your script.

The Hero respawns, white armor gleaming in the light as the dents and kool-aid red blood fade away to nothing, and debates, not for the first time, switching to a server without friendly fire turned on. The co-owner of his guild jogs up to him, dark mage robes pristine as can be, and starts looting the singed corpses around them. hero_0f_light: I swear if you light me on fire one more time… hero_0f_light: that’s it. I’m out. I’m taking @bork_bork and @jazzhands and starting a new guild. DaRkLoRd: don’t leave me with @SirStabby and @TooHoot please im sorry come back DaRkLoRd: babe? lover? light of my life? DaRkLoRd: I’ll give you the rest of my fruit snacks if you don’t leave me hero_0f_light: be still my heart. Asahi shakes his head and ventures away from his computer to fix himself lunch. He loves Tooru, he really does, but some days he wonders why he ever thought listening to Ryuu and searching for his soulmate was a good idea. Soulmates are unusual. They aren’t exactly taboo but they’re not exactly the kind of thing you bring up in ‘polite company’ and all that either. They’re rare and strange and hard to find and harder to prove and Ryuu likes to describe them as a type of cryptid: they can't be entirely confirmed nor disproved by science. No one knows for sure how soulmates are decided or the details of what kind of talents or powers they might have. Asahi woke up on his fifteenth birthday with a dark flower blooming over the pulse of his left wrist with dark lines swirling down the inside of his arm to his elbow. Makki had studied it, carefully turning Asahi’s arm this way and that in the light before yanking his shirt sleeve down and giving Asahi a bone crushing hug. Daichi hadn’t said much about it but for the next week he had been a near permanent fixture at Asahi’s side, tugging Asahi’s sleeve down to keep the mark covered and diverting everyone’s attention away from Asahi by reminding them that he turned fifteen the other day too and why wasn’t anyone curious about if he had any special changes. Ryuu had taken one look at his arm and insisted that he needed to start searching for his soulmate immediately. He didn’t really feel comfortable diving into the seedy parts of the online world and even if he did he wouldn’t know where to start. So he poked through what was readily, and safely, available and decided that for the time being he would leave it at that. He had stumbled upon Tooru by accident when he was seventeen. They were both beta testers for a new MMORPG game - Tooru was apparently very much into them and Asahi had recently gotten hooked when he was home for nearly a week with the flu and had run out of movies to watch - and Asahi had happened to log on while Tooru had been in the middle of a World Chat rant about soulmates. One thing had led to another and after four days of worrying over it he finally sent Tooru a private message. Well Daichi sent it for him while Makki did his usual octopus latch of comfort around Asahi’s chest while Asahi tried not to worry and panic too much. But it had worked and they started talking and now Asahi’s here: back from grabbing a sandwich and seeing Tooru and Makki on screen apparently planning a wedding. He’s not sure if they’re talking in game or real life. Either way it’s bad enough he’s Tooru’s soulmate. He’s not marrying the guy. hero_0f_light: I am not marrying you because you gave me fruit snacks hero_0f_light: also you have not actually given me said fruit snacks so. no. DaRkLoRd: will you marry me for tax and medical benefits and so you can legally visit me when @bork_bork inevitably puts me in the hospital some day DaRkLoRd: also check out this link DaRkLoRd: >>>3 aliens walk into a diner and take it over, what happens next will SHOCK you hero_0f_light: I’ll consider it hero_0f_light: the marriage not the link A sound outside of the game catches his attention and Asahi taps his headphones off one ear to listen to his apartment. He doesn’t hear anything unusual or out of place but he leaves his headphone pushed to the side for a few minutes while he focuses back on the game and gets his character set up to run the dungeon with Tooru again. This time hopefully without getting lit on fire. He hasn’t heard anything but the normal ambiance of his apartment by the time they’re both ready for a second run so he pulls his headphones back on and focuses on their game with a shake of his head. He’s really gotta stop letting Makki convince him to watch all those cop shows with him on the weekends. He also really needs to stop staying up until the wee hours of the morning playing games with Tooru, he decides when he stumbles out of his apartment just before noon and glares blearily at the sun shining brightly down on him. These kinds of hours are easier for Tooru who gets by thanks to a large inheritance from a favorite uncle who passed away a couple years ago and the large number of followers on his various blogs. Asahi, on the other hand, actually has to drag himself out of bed and into a work uniform and go to a job. It’s not so bad, really. He enjoys his work for the most part. The few coworkers he deals with on a daily basis are decent people. He just sometimes wishes that he could be like Tooru and play games and dazzle people with his wit and charm and get paid for it. Though that would require him to have the kind of wit and charm Tooru does and actually interact well with people and he prefers working in the kitchen of the bakery a few blocks from his apartment, doing random small tasks and cleaning and helping with loading and unloading trucks, just so he can avoid that kind of interaction. Asahi pauses as he reaches for the handle of the shop’s back alley entrance, torn from his thoughts by the sight of a flash of purple cloth from the corner of his eye. He turns to tell whoever it is that the alley is off limits to the public, mentally preparing himself for the confrontation and to perhaps ask them not to stare at him so much - he can feel the heavy weight of an intrigued stare as easily as he can feel the sun shining down on him. His stomach drops when he turns and no one is there. A quick glance around the eerily empty and silent alley has his fingers quivering and he pushes open the door to the shop and rushes inside, nearly slamming into one of his coworkers in his haste. A shiver works its way down his spine as he recalls the crystal clear sensation of being stared at despite the apparently empty alley and he decides that he really, really needs to stop watching cop dramas with Makki on the weekends. His grocery bags hit the floor a step inside his door and Asahi wonders if he could get away with just going straight to bed. He can’t remember if he has anything cold or frozen in them, though - it’s been a long day, okay, and he’s only been awake about nine hours - so after he slips out of his shoes and jacket he decides to just go ahead and put them away. It had been hard enough to concentrate at the convenience store when he had been trying to pick up a few groceries for the week and Tooru had been scribbling little messages of warning in silvery scrawls along their matching marks. The messages themselves aren’t so bad even if they are often a bit dramatic. It’s kind of nice to know that they’re always connected no matter how far away they are and even as irritating as it gets sometimes it’s nice to know Tooru is concerned for him. The part that’s hard to handle is the fact that every single stroke makes Asahi’s arm itch like Tooru is writing directly on his skin with a pen dipped in poison ivy. Which makes it a bit awkward to try to concentrate on menial everyday tasks like paying for groceries or unloading a truck at work when he is also trying not to scratch the skin off of his arm. After he puts away his groceries - since apparently he is incapable of being lazy like that despite how tired he is today - he heads to his room to change but backtracks and squints suspiciously at his computer screen when he registers what he sees. It’s not his normal login screen nor is it the login for any application he can remember having on his computer. A quick glance around his apartment shows that despite his door being unlocked all day, though he could have sworn he locked it when he left earlier, nothing seems out of place. No used glasses in the sink or clothes left scattered in his room like there would be if Ryuu or Makki had let themselves in. Just his computer. And its black screen with blocky white text spaced across it. That alone wouldn’t really make him pause much because sometimes his computer does that when he turns it on or reboots it and it runs through all its scans and stuff - he is not a computer expert nor does he want to be one he just wants to watch silly animal videos and play ridiculous games with Tooru and watch Tooru try not to set their teammates on fire so he’s not entirely sure what all the specific processes are. No. The part that makes him pause is the little purple blotch in the middle of the screen. After another cautious peek into his kitchen and down the short hallway to the bathroom and bedroom he carefully steps to the chair he left his laptop sitting on that morning. The purple blotch is a small apple icon. At least he thinks its an apple. It kind of looks like some weird rendition that would come out of describing an apple to someone without using the word apple. Also it’s purple which is not exactly standard apple coloring that he’s aware of. The little mint green login box under the purple apple is waiting for some kind of input, white cursor blinking steadily at him, and he stares back at it, trying to figure out what he’s supposed to do with it. Is it waiting for him? Is this some sort of new security update he’s unaware of? The text on the screen doesn’t help him figure anything out. The letters look vaguely familiar and entirely alien at the same time, like something on the poster in the background of a video game. His eyes are drawn back to that blinking cursor. It’s strange how soothing a blinking cursor can be. Usually he finds them a bit stressful. But this one, in that nice mint green box, reminds him of napping in the sun and watching clouds high in the sky drift past. He reaches out for the keyboard. His fingers spasm when he feels the poison ivy scrawl of Tooru writing on their mark and he pushes up his sleeve to see what Tooru’s pestering him about this time. He misses the series of stars and hash tags filling the box and only looks up from Tooru’s worried words when he catches the screen flicker back to his usual desktop out of the corner of his eye. The computer looks the same as always when he gets back from changing out of his work clothes and he loads up Leaves of Astrye and prepares himself for the onslaught of messages no doubt waiting for him from Tooru. DaRkLoRd: DANGER WILL ROBINSON! [141 new messages below] He is not prepared enough. Asahi drags his hand down his face with a groan and debates just ignoring Tooru and his messages and logging back off of the game. hero_0f_light: One: plz tell me you didn’t send me danger over 100 times hero_0f_light: Two: I thought we decided you wouldn’t watch that movie again for at least another month hero_0f_light: Three: I was just getting breakfast and a few groceries and there was no one around except for the cashier. No danger. It also doesn’t help that Tooru often does it when he gets the niggling sensation that Asahi is in some kind of danger - yet another of their strange set of soulmate skills - which seems to be every day lately. DaRkLoRd: one: I sent you DANGER! once DANGER!!! 137 times and ASAHI WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU ANSWER ME PLEASE about 10 times DaRkLoRd: two: you decided. I do what I want DaRkLoRd: three: I can’t shut off the danger sensing thing you know this what if I ignore it and you’re dead in a ditch or something huh? DaRkLoRd: what then? hero_0f_light: if I’m dead in a ditch I doubt you’ll sense it hero_0f_light: since, you know, I’ll be dead hero_0f_light: but thank you for your concern Sometimes Asahi wishes they understood their soulmate quirks better. But he’s still wary to go looking for more about them. Despite Tooru being neck deep in government conspiracy and cover up stuff and Asahi being more on the skeptical side of things it’s one thing they both agree on: trying to search for more than just a general knowledge of soulmate information is practically asking for trouble. DaRkLoRd: idk why you act like tis nothing important DaRkLoRd: ik when you’re in danger why don’t you believe me hero_0f_light: I do. I just don’t think the danger of indigestion from fast food is something you need to warn me about. hero_0f_light: do you want me to worry and panic? hero_0f_light: cause i can. im good at that DaRkLoRd: NO. NO PANICKING. BE COOL. DaRkLoRd: IT’S JUST… I CAN SENSE IT! WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN? hero_0f_light: i swear if you tell me one more conspiracy theory about cameras in fire detectors i will personally throw you off a bridge DaRkLoRd: THERE IS PROOOOF! I SENT YOU THE LINKS! YOU- DaRkLoRd: you didn’t click on them did you? you click all of @SirStabby’s links This was it, Asahi decides as he rubs at his temple and contemplates going back to bed, this was the day he kills his soulmate. No one could blame him. Not even Tooru’s aliens and government agents in dad shorts and snapbacks that, according to him, were on every street corner. DaRkLoRd: okay but seriously. you’re good? no creepies following you around? DaRkLoRd: you’re not still seeing that car everywhere are you? hero_0f_light: haven’t seen it for a few days hero_0f_light: I thought I saw someone in the alley outside work but when I went to say something to them there was no one there hero_0f_light: but to be fair I was running on 3 hours of sleep, an energy drink, and a double shot espresso SirStabby: you and espresso and energy drinks are not a correct combination SirStabby: my friend. we talked about this. we had a Discussion (tm)

A battle is brewing between the undisputed king of the cryptids Bigfoot and his stone cold cousin the Yeti, who is sick of being left out in the cold playing second fiddle. In Bigfoot vs. Yeti you are an up and coming cryptozoologist mounting expeditions in the hopes of proving the existence of unknown creatures such as Bigfoot, Yeti, The Loch Ness Monster, the Jersey Devil or Chupacabra. Somehow you have landed smack dab in the middle of a feud between Bigfoot and Yeti so its time to choose your side as it will help shape the fate of your research and ultimately your success! Latest Updates from Our Project: Born to Serve Final Hours - Bonus Character 9 months ago – Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 12:49:50 PM Hello again Cryptozoologists! This is just a fast reminder that Born to Serve is down to it last hours here on Kickstarter. It is just $29 and features a bonus character that will not be available in the retail version. To those of you that already have backed us, thank you. As for those of you that have not, grab your cape, mask and order pad before the shift is over! About Born to Serve: You may be able to defeat a super-villain, but can you handle the breadstick crisis at table 5? The battle is almost over and the restaurant is about to close. The game is for 2-5 player and takes about an hour. Not your typical superhero game. Born to Serve is Live on Kickstarter! New Art, Lower Price and More! 9 months ago – Tue, Jan 08, 2019 at 07:41:48 AM Greetings Fellow Cryptozoologists, This is just a fast note to let you all know that Born to Serve has leaped back onto Kickstarter for a 23 day run. As you may know we fell just over $400 short of our goal last time, so we can really use your support. If you pledge the first time around, thank you and we hope to see you back. If you didn't, please take a look and consider backing Born to Serve. Thank you all. Dinae and Nick Born to Serve Final Hours - Only 13% Short of Funding 12 months ago – Thu, Nov 01, 2018 at 02:10:32 PM Just a very fast reminder that we are down to the final hours of the Born to Serve Kickstarter. Have you been waiting to pledge? On the fence? If you want Born to Serve to become a reality, now is the time! We are 13% from our goal and your help is really appreciated. Your Chance to Capture the Elusive Wendigo! 12 months ago – Wed, Oct 24, 2018 at 05:24:29 PM Perhaps the most frequent question we receive about Bigfoot vs. Yeti is where is the Wendigo that is mentioned on the Chupacabra cards? Usually, I tease that it is interesting that a game about hard to find creatures mentions a creature that players can't find. Well, not only has he been found, you now have a chance to capture one! As many of you already know we current have a Kickstarter campaign running for our next game Born to Serve. It is down to its last week and could really use your support (a big thank you to all of you that have already supported it). To encourage you all to consider backing I am offering all backers of Born to Serve two Bigfoot vs. Yeti related bonuses that are not yet available anywhere. They are the Wendigo expedition set that includes the Wendigo Psychosis which is the Wendigo Proof! and a Lucky Jackalope's Foot! These will be given to anyone that pledge's at the Superhero level or above. Literally no one has any of these cards as they have never been released until right now. Thank you all for your support and I hope you will check out Born to Serve and consider helping us bring that game to life. Born to Serve has Soared on to Kickstarter about 1 year ago – Tue, Oct 09, 2018 at 09:37:09 AM Greetings Cryptid Hunters! Hopefully you are all enjoying Bigfoot vs. Yeti and having great success in your pursuit of all of the various unknown creatures near and far. I just wanted to let you all know that we have just launched our newest game onto Kickstarter for a 23 day campaign. The game is called Born to Serve and it is a superhero game of sorts. As you might expected our game has a pretty unique theme. Born to Serve is a game for two to five jobless superheroes competing for the last job in town at the local restaurant. We would appreciate you taking a look and consider backing us and letting anyone who you might think would be interested know about the game.

Wednesday, 13 February 2019 Review: Spectacle - Rachel Vincent When their coup of Metzger's Menagerie is discovered, Delilah and her fellow cryptids find their newly won freedom brutally stripped away as they are sold into The Savage Spectacle, a private collection of "exotic wildlife." Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle's owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price. But Vandekamp's closely guarded client list isn't the only secret being kept at the Spectacle. Beneath the beauty and brutality of life in the collection lie much darker truths, and no one is more determined than Delilah to strip the masks from the human monsters and drag all dark things into the light. Visit Rachel Vincent's website for more information After Delilah and her cryptid friends finally managed to take back their freedom at the end of Menagerie I honestly expected Spectacle to be about them travelling the country and rescuing other cryptids along the way so the direction this story took really surprised me. They do manage to run Metzger's Menagerie for a couple of months but then they're captured by Willem Vandekamp, owner of The Savage Spectacle. No matter how brutal and humiliating the Menagerie was the Savage Spectacle somehow manages to be so much worse. On the surface they are kept in better conditions, they have mats to sleep on, they're fed proper meals and they're even allowed to shower but that is only because Vandekamp needs them looking their best. You see the Savage Spectacle caters to the fetishes of the rich and powerful, no matter how depraved your desires may be if you have enough money Vandekamp will provide your deepest, darkest wishes. I really enjoyed Menagerie but I think Spectacle was even better and I just couldn't put it down. If you've read the first book then you'll already know that this series is dark but I should probably clarify that it doesn't get any easier in this one, the things that Delilah, Zyanya, Lenore and the others go through were horrific but I'm glad to say most of it wasn't shown in full detail. Even Gallagher and Eryx are forced to kill in an arena to survive so this is not a happy book full of sunshine and roses. What it is is a book that will make you think about what it means to be human. Does it really matter that you're physically human if you're a monster on the inside, how does that make you any better than someone who is different on the outside but who just wants to be free to live their life in peace? It was far, far easier to relate to the cryptids in this book than it was to their human handlers and I spent most of the book just waiting for Delilah to find a way to release her inner furae on them all. I don't want to spoil the book by telling you if that happens or not but I will say that some characters definitely get what they deserve even if it isn't all of them. It's not often that I read a whole trilogy without taking a break between books but with the way this ended I'm incredibly relieved that Fury is already available because I'm diving straight in. I really want to see Delilah, Gallagher and the others find some happiness and a safe place to be and more than anything I want to see them punish anyone who has ever attempted to abuse them. Humanity had better watch out because the cryptids are coming for revenge! Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here. Paperback / Kindle:

The Mysterious Monsters (1975) 1970s cryptid documentary produced in the wake of Chariots of the Gods. Three reasons to riff: 1. Hosted by MST3K favorite/Film Crew favorite Peter Graves. 2. Shaky evidence and presented as schlocky docudrama 3. Bigfoot caught committing breaking and entering, complete with alleged police report. Thomas Mossman commented Just wanted to include the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44BUjnxwC_g&t=34s

Guest Spots, Lost Episodes, and More For completionists and curiosity-seekers, you can find a list of all our guest spots, crossovers, lost episodes, and other bonus content below. Have you ever met someone and said, “This is stupid, we should just be best friends”? If so, then you may cosmically connected to them much like life-long friends, Devon and Liz, from The Ouija Broads are connected to each other. In this installment of the Bestie Podcaster’s Series, Alysa talks to two spooky friends that were clearly meant to be friends because they can essentially read each other’s minds and have journeyed twenty-two years together through wolf shirts and spells, painful poetic presentations, drifted friendships, and scrapbooking flyers. Come meet these authentic brain twins who were clearly meant to be friends and check out their delightfully weird podcast about the Pacific North West! You might not be able to see their friendship, but you’ll be able feel their friendship. www.bestforeverspod.com After outing herself as a Ghost Adventures snarker back in the Manresa Castle episode, one thing led to another and Devon guested on a show that’s all about Ghost Adventures. She, Max, and Cassie discuss the Insanely Haunted Lizzie Borden house and it’s a spooky good time. Here's the story with this one... we were using Zencastr, and something odd happened when we both spoke at once. It gets blippy. (Zencastr said they'd look into it but we never heard back.) So this isn't our peak audio product, and I'm not putting it on the main feed as a result. But Devon still did a really good job with the story, and it's an interesting one, so I'm putting it here for anyone who wants to check it out. In Fall 2017, Liz guested on Historical Hotties, a fantastic show hosted by sisters Whitney and Lindsey Nelsen. She pitted her pick for Old West Historical Hottie, Josie Earp (wife of famed lawman Wyatt) against Calgary legend John Ware and sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Why are these three our top contenders? Who took the crown? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out. And check out all of Historical Hotties' other fantastic episodes, which make history fun and kinda hot. When we first launched the Patreon, we tried doing a special extra episode every month, but quickly figured out it was just way too much for us to keep up on. But they persist on Patreon for all Patron levels, and every now and then we do something extra just for kicks: Devon and Liz compare intuitive readings and discuss lucid dreaming, bullshit situations, lizard ownership, sad flowers, charismatic megafauna, and wind. DARK dark DARK dark DARK ONE, friend-os. PROCEED WITH CAUTION. These are two stories that I wanted to reserve for the patron feed because I wanted to keep them with a small, die-hard, savvy audience. The first one, the (alleged) killer is still out there. The second one, the (convicted) killer happens to be a trans woman, and the last damn thing I wanted was for any content I did about her to get taken out of context and used to support some transphobic/transmisogynistic bullshit. But she did kill residents of the Spokane Street Motel, which itself has a tragic story, so here they are together for your ears only. We played the Oregon Trail for you, pa-rump-a-pum-pum. Three Northwestern women who said “not today, motherfucker.” A little sampler of interesting tales: Seattle's umbrella man, the Faceless Roamer, and Mel's Hole. Just some conversations about depictions of the Northwest we like, which cryptid we'd be, our Zodiac signs, and other things.

You’re a big scary cryptid… what will the legends call you?! Just for fun, discover your creepy cryptid name and share it with us in the comments! Probably everyone is familiar with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, but how well do you know your more obscure cryptids? Check out the infographic below to learn a little bit about 45 less famous - but still very scary and disturbing! - mythical (but are they really?) creatures from around the world!

Hey, do you like podcasts? I sure do! Hey, I love podcasts how about you? I thought I’d share some of my favorites that I listened to this last year! - 1. The Cryptid Keeper Podcast In the Cryptid Keeper Podcast Addison Peacock and Alex Flanigan pick a Cryptid to discuss that week ranging from El Chupacabra to Santa Claus. For those of you unfamiliar, Cryptid is a slang term for Cryptozoological creatures, e.g. Bigfoot, the monster from Loch Ness, and possibly Jesus Christ. (There have been sightings.) Addison and Alex are a delight to listen to, and with an enthusiasm that is rarely matched they create a podcast that is fascinating, entertaining, and has some of the most positive energy I’ve seen in the medium. Thank you for Keeping us safe. - 2. Wonderful! In Wonderful, internet podcast power couple Rachel and Griffin McElroy share with you the things in their life that bring them the most joy! Soft pretzels, Nick Drake, Chanukah, and Virtual Reality are all considered with all the jubilation one can muster for one’s favorite things. They also share with their audience things that their listeners enjoy, which gives one the opportunity to reflect on what one might find the most joy in on the daily. I constantly fight the temptation to send them their own podcast as the thing I find most Wonderful. It’s an incredibly opportunity to let joy into your life! You two are truly wonderful. 3. Force Center Force Center is a Star Wars review and round up feed that features a few different shows. In the main show Joseph Scrimshaw, Ken Napzok, and Jennifer Landa discuss Star Wars news or themes. They also feature Data Bank Brawl in which they make obscure Star Wars characters fight in a fan-fiction-esque battle to the possible death, and Star Wars Ranked in which they create Star Wars top ten lists. The reason this show is so important to me is that in a time where ideas in fandoms are polarized and heated, these three positive and thoughtful folks come together to share in the joy of one of my favorite things of all time. The center of these programs is the childlike delight we take in story, learning lessons, myth, and super cool space battles. - 4. Queery with Cameron Esposito In Queery, stand up comedian and writer Cameron Esposito sits down with guests to discuss sexuality and identity. As a CIS White Male™ this choice might seem an odd one. What you need to understand is two things: One, Cameron is one of the funniest working comics and it has both nothing and everything to do with the fact that she is super gay. Two, as someone who isn’t queer this is a very enlightening and engaging way to learn about what it is like to be someone else. Everyone is facing struggles, or differences, or hardships, and the only way to help to normalize these experiences is by listening, and then taking what you’ve heard and applying it. Thank you, Cameron, for your frank look at identity and art. - 5. The Adventure Zone Okay, so this is my favorite podcast. I was going to pretend that I like them all the same amount, but I love this one with all my heart. If I could marry a concept it’d definitely be this one. We’d probably get a divorce. (My fault, not its.) This is the best long-form storytelling narrative I’ve ever had the privilege of experiencing. What the McElroys do is wonderful: They go from hilariously blasphemous to so sincere that you will be crying on your train commute. What Griffin McElroy accomplishes in the Balance Arc (think of it as season one), is incredible. The slow burn to what can only be described as the end of days, has in it the best use of a Chekov’s Gun I’ve ever heard tell of. This podcast has heart, heroes, and is incredibly sensitive to its audience in the kindest way possible. I cannot wait to see which new thing they choose for season II, as all of the test plays they’ve been going through have been immaculate. Great job, boys. - 6. The Turnaround with Jesse Thorn In Turnaround, Jesse Thorn interviews interviewers. He speaks to Marc Maron, Katie Couric, Larry King, Ira Glass, and a few others in this limited run podcast. Now, as someone who does interviews as well, it was great to learn at the feat (intentional) of these masters. To learn how to be truly present and engaged in the moment is the key of any great interviewer, and the exploration that Jesse hands us is wonderful. The fact that Jesse, an accomplished and skilled interviewer himself, is willing to sit and learn with you is incredible. Thank you very much, Jesse, for your kindness. - 7. Judge John Hodgman I know, I know. It’s been around for a bit. I just found it. It is incredible. I’m a huge fan of what Hodgman does in general, but the way he has distilled what makes him hilarious so well into an hour long podcast is a feat of alchemy that never ceases to amaze me. But more than him being funny, he is most often right in what he passes as judgements. His advice is always practical, kind, and at its heart, a compromise. He is someone from whom we must learn. This is the sound of a gavel. - 8. Hang Out With Me (A Myq Kaplan Podcast) Now, I have to be honest with you: I’ve guested on this podcast, which is a reason I like it. But more than that, I like Myq. He is a good friend of mine. He is also thoughtful, hilarious, kind, and knows how to listen to his guests. His program is a very fine one and never fails to cheer me up. At its center the program feels as though not only does Myq want you to feel the joy that he clearly does in learning about someone, but also he wants pass everything he has/can learn onto you. His guests are always varied and diverse from someone who works at NASA, to psychologists, comedians, and musicians. Thanks, Myq, for both having me on and listening as well as you do. - 9. Likely Mad as Hell So Rhea Butcher is a fantastic comic and loves baseball. I like to believe I have at least one, if not two things in common with her. In her eight episode podcast run, she discussed the 2017 World Series. I love how much she loves the game and how big of a nerd she clearly is about it. Her insight is wonderful and positive, even in the face of what happened. I love her frank attitude about baseball and its social meaning. I deeply hope that once the season starts up again she will as well. - 10. Radio Free Burrito The kindness with which Wil Wheaton approaches not only this podcast, but his life is astounding. In Radio Free Burrito Wil shares a bit of his life and also some excellent music. He is so very uplifting in these programs that I have welled up with tears and self-belief so many times on the train going into work that I cannot count them. Wil has a gift of making you feel not only loved but also that you are not alone in your self-doubt, your anxieties, but that through those things you can learn to love deeper. He also is very funny. Thank you, Wil. - Honorable mention: ‘Til Death do us Blart Okay, so Until Death do us Blart only comes out once a year on Thanksgiving Day. But it is worth it. From the folks behind Worst Idea of All Time and My Brother, my Brother, and Me comes the strangest idea for a podcast I’ve ever heard. They watch and review Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 every year from now until the end of Time. Each host will be replaced as they slowly die off. This is a hilarious look at how you can make anything fun by adding a strange meta-narrative. Thank you for reading! I hope you saw some you liked and some you didn’t know. (I hope you listen to both!) Thank you to all the content creators that made this year get-throughable.

On December 20, 1958 two friends were attacked by a group of bizarre, hostile alien creatures. After barely escaping with their lives the two would later go on to recount this disturbing tale. Episode Reference Links: TERRIBLE FLYING JELLY BAGS aka DOMSTEN BLOBS: (SWEDEN) Cryptonaut Podcast Tee Public Merch Store: Into the Portal Podcast Cryptid Crate Unboxing Video: Visit http://cryptidcrate.com and use promo code “GRAMPUS” at checkout to get 10% off The entire life of your subscription!

West Virginia is almost heaven, and is almost as weird as you imagine it will be. SO YOU WANT TO SEE WEST VIRGINIA? What an odd and beautiful and unique state to see. It is truly the land of coal mines, waterfalls, urban legends, winding rivers and incredible bridges. West Virginia is so scenic it isn't hard to see why it was referred to as “almost heaven”. Although, I think Mothman might be the reason its not quite heaven. He did terrorize a few towns there for a hot minute. So whether you want to uncover the mysteries this state has to offer, or are just passing through, I hope this travel guide helps you plan your day. Our first stop was the New River Gorge Bridge, located in Fayetteville. This bridge is a steel arch bridge that bends over the New River. The site ran by the National Park Service, and is free to visit (HOLLA). Once you arrive, a wooden walkway will take you to the various viewing overlooks. I am not a bridge expert (I am assuming you are not a bridge expert either.. I don't know I am making assumptions, maybe you love bridges more than you love your first born child) But this bridge freaking cool. It is MADE OF STEEL and a single arch HOLDS IT UP, and its so long! And so tall! Its quite impressive. I highly recommend this stop, even if you are like me and do not consider yourself a bridge enthusiast Another super cool thing about this bridge is you can pay to walk under the bridge (yikes, why?) For the THRILLS. I will put the link for this activity at the bottom of the post. We did not opt to do this, because we were not wearing the appropriate shoes, or outfit in general, and because it was a little pricey (around $75) which was not in the budget for the day. *REAL LIFE ADVENTURE GIRL PRO TIP: If you come across an activity (such as the Bridge Walk) and you feel like you don't want to do it, or its a little pricey. Just don't do it. (WOW revolutionary) But so often we hear, take every opportunity and say yes to everything. I think that can be great advice, but I also think we should evaluate our motives. Do I really want to walk under a bridge to experience this thing. Or do I want a cool picture for Instagram. As a rule of thumb, if its the latter, and it takes more than 5 minutes. It isn't worth it” So after you have “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers in your head ALL DAY. Now its time for, what I consider, the main attraction. Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Point Pleasant is a riverside town that George Washington used to pass through back during early American History. There was even a battle there, and it was considered by some, one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Oh, and a giant half-moth, half-man cryptid terrorized the town, and brought on the first documented presence of the Men in Black (allegedly). Needless to say, we did not visit to learn about some old white men from the 1700’s terrorizing indigenous people. We came to learn of some old weird Mothman, terrorizing West Virginians. Point Pleasant is around a two hour drive from Fayetteville. The drive from Fayetteville is scenic and interesting. We saw numerous waterfalls along the side of the road, raced along trains that chugged through the dense green mountains and saw first hand the tiny pockets of mining communities scattered among coal country. If you have the mindset “its about the journey and not the destination” you will love this scenic, true Appalachian drive. Once you reach Point Pleasant, there are a couple must sees: The Mothman Statue: This Mothman statue towers over the sleepy waterfront town in shiny, semi-nude, glory. And yes, the Mothman has a butt. Be sure you take lots of fun selfies! The Mothman Museum: Now that you have embraced this urban legend, by taking ALL the embarrassing selfies, Learn about the history behind this creature. See police reports, read eye witness accounts, see sculptures of the creature, rare-photos of the Men in Black and more. Also, please note that while its fine to be goofy and enjoy your campy experience, some visitors of the museum might take this more serious than you, and its important to be respectful of the people who might be WAY more into this conspiracy than you are. No one likes the person who laughs everything off and goes to things to make fun of them, and making fun of people is NEVER cool. All that being said, I’ve put the link below with hours and prices. MOTHMAN PIZZA: Yes, I know you have been searching for years and I am pleased to announce there is a place where you can get a pizza with toppings in the shape of the Mothman! Village Pizza will draw you in like a moth to a flame (wow it only took the whole post to make that joke) This pizza isn't on the menu, but if you ask, they will make it. At the end of our fun endeavor into the paranormal side of West Virginia, we tried to enjoy the ride home by stopping at things that caught our eye. AKA quirky roadside attractions. All in all, this trip started at around 7am on a Saturday morning in Johnson City, Tennessee and we made it back home at 9. While this is a long day, its a fun one! And the driving is made more than bearable by the view out the window. All in all this trip cost me around $50 dollars including gas, souvenir tee-shirt, entrance fees and food. That sounds like a Real Life Adventure Girl trip to me! So Travelers, that’s it, my guide to The Mountain State. I know I missed countless things worth seeing, but only so much can be done in a day. Comment your favorite thing to do in West Virginia and anything I might need to see next time. Mothman Musuem: http://www.mothmanmuseum.com/ New River Gorge Bridge: https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/nrgbridge.htm

The heroes just had the adventure of their lives and are finally relaxing after all perils they have faced. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door, or the phone rings or some indication of Here We Go Again! as they find themselves apparently about to find themselves in more adventure. But in this Ending Trope, the tired or alarmed heroes respond, "Forget it! We are not going through that again!" as they slam the door on their visitor, or hang up or go back to bed or run away. They have had all the adventure they could want and now they just want some peace and quiet. This is a variant of Refusal of the Call, but only when it is at the end of the story and the call is clearly repeating the adventure they just experienced. I'm Not Doing That Again is a smaller-scale version, in which the character refuses to repeat some incident within a story. Not to be confused with Let Us Never Speak of This Again, although they can overlap. - The end of Dragon Ball Super had the heroes come off the Tournament of Power which they barely won and are all set to go back home. The Zen-O's ask Goku if he has any more fun ideas for them. But before Goku can answer, Beerus quickly zips in, covers his mouth and drags him away since the last idea he gave them resulted in said tournament and nearly got their universe erased. - Played with in a The Smurfs comic: one of the Smurfs dreams of travelling to outer space in a spaceship he builds. Not wanting to disappoint him, Papa Smurf concocts a convoluted plan to drug him and make him think he's travelled to another planet populated by Smurflike humanoids called Swoofs. So convoluted, in fact, that after Astrosmurf "returns" (after drinking a similarly drugged beverage given to him by the Swoofs), another Smurf contemplates doing the same thing, only to be overridden by the rest of the village, who practically yell the trope name at him. They do go through it again, though, in the Animated Adaptation episode "Dreamy's Pen Pals". - In the second of the "Shadow Saga" (Issue #2) in Sonic Universe. Shadow requests Sonic's help in destroying a deadly cannon of Eggman's all the while we see a compressed rendition of Sonic Adventure 2 played side by side with the current timeline story. Eventually that ends with Shadow plummeting to Earth after helping to stop the Biolizard as Sonic tries to reach out for him and presumed dead. While in the present Shadow has managed to use his powers to keep the cannon from firing and nearly drops to his death after exhausting it. This time however, Sonic grabs him before he does citing "Yeah, we're not going through that again.". - At the end of the fanfic Fanfic Is Crapsack, the "trollfic," a diabolical entity embodying horrible fan fiction, tries to make a comeback as a minuscule, slowly-growing glob hiding in the cracks in the floorboards of the Ponyville Library. Twilight Sparkle drives it out of the floor by pouring boiling coffee on it, then destroys it by smacking it with a copy of Diana Hackney's Rules for Writers. It pops like a cyst, leaving behind a little spot of soot. - Not actually at the end, but in Dragon Ball Z Abridged, Dende cites this trope when he decides to nix immortality from the resurrected Shenron, not wanting another Freeza dropping in and causing trouble. - At the end of Kingdom of Heaven, Richard the Lionheart rides to greet Balian and tries to recruit him for another crusade. Balian simply responds: "I am the blacksmith". - Never Say Never Again Bond quits the service at the end of the film, though he does wink at the camera when he says it. - Tremors 2: Aftershocks had Earl act this way at the beginning. It didn't take. - In Freaky Friday (2003), the titular "Freaky Friday" Flip is caused when an older Chinese woman (the mother of the owner of a Chinese restaurant) gives the characters magic fortune cookies. At the end, the same Chinese restaurant is catering the big wedding, and the restaurant owner's grandma gives the grandpa and little brother the magic fortune cookies and the restaurant owner tackles them to prevent them from opening the cookie. - At the end of the Boris and Natasha movie, Boris blows up a crate of time travelling MacGuffins that individually reverse time for ten seconds when damaged. This causes time to reset to the beginning of the movie. Then they decide that they don't want to go through all the grief they went through over the course of the film a second time, so instead of delivering a priceless treasure to Fearless Leader and starting the plot, they sell the treasure and retire to Tahiti. - At the end of Strangers on a Train, the main character finds himself in a train carriage with a stranger who recognises him and tries to strike up a conversation. Having just gone through a hell of an ordeal resulting from someone else on a train recognising him and striking up a conversation, the main character gets up and goes to another compartment without saying a word. - Carry On Henry. Cardinal Wolsey and Cromwell call for the executioner to go ahead and chop their heads off rather than help King Henry VIII arrange yet another royal divorce. - Towards the end of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, after the kids have escaped Jumanji and adjusted to their Character Development, they hear Jumanji's drums again. They promptly crush the Jumanji console with a bowling ball and throw it into a dumpster. Though its beating drums during the end credits suggests it still exists somehow. - At the end of Bored of the Rings, Frito, having returned to his digs, is visited by a mysterious stranger who thinks he's the kind of person that takes quests. He slams the door, locks it and swallows the key. - In the final Harry Potter book, Harry gets the Elder Wand and has the opportunity to keep it (leading to a possible Here We Go Again! ending), but decides to put it back in Dumbledore's grave to end the cycle of violence after using it to repair his old wand. Ron asks if he's sure and Harry tells him "That wand's more trouble than it's worth. And quite frankly, I've had enough trouble for a lifetime." - In the film he goes further; he snaps the wand in two and throws it into an abyss. - In the short story "Chivalry" by Neil Gaiman, a little old lady finds the Holy Grail going cheap in a second-hand shop, and buys it because she thinks it'll look nice on her mantelpiece. Much excitement ensues. At the end of the story, she's back in the same shop, and finds an exotic oil lamp but decides, on reflection, to leave it where it is. - During Galaxy of Fear, DV-9 goes on several adventures but ultimately puts himself on a bus, tired of the constant danger and excitement. He reappears in the last book and helps the others, for a moment, but declines to leave with them for this reason. - In the epilogue of John Dies at the End, John and Dave are trying to have a game of basketball when they are drawn into another parallel Earth and asked to save it from a monster invasion. They find an excuse to leave, and let some teenagers with attitude handle it instead. - In an episode of A.N.T. Farm, the A.N.T.s plan a heist to steal a painting that Fletcher made and some guy is claiming credit for. The heist is a success; however, Fletcher puts an exact replica of the painting in its place rendering the whole thing pointless. When he tries to reform the group and give a rundown of their roles again, Chyna stops him. - Done repeatedly in a single episode of The Cosby Show. It's Thanksgiving and there's a huge storm raging outside. Despite that, Clair keeps sending Cliff to get stuff that she'd forgotten to get ahead of time. Each time he returns from the store, the first thing he says is "I'm not going back out there". He keeps going back out there. Incidentally, the final store run ends up being superfluous as Clair manages to get what she needs from a neighbor while Cliff was out, and the rain stops the moment he gets back. - In one episode of Drake & Josh, after taking the fall for helping Megan hide a goat from their parents, the boys decide against doing the same when she brings home a zebra. - The Flash (2014): At the start of season 3, Barry messes up the timeline by going back in time. He goes back in time again to fix what he did. This results in a timeline that is mostly fixed, but not quite the same as his original. He goes back in time to fix it as well... only for Jay Garrick to smack him out of the Speed Force and give him a stern talking-to on the consequences of repeated time travel. - In The Monkees episode "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth", the band, having just finished ensuring that a horse that they were stuck with by a kid got a good home, are approached on the beach by another kid who just happened to be looking to get rid of a camel. The instant they see this, the Monkees run away as fast as they can before the kid can say anything and given that the show cuts to a music sequence with them on a dune buggy and motorcycles, they are apparently really serious about avoiding getting stuck with another beast of burden. - In Season 4 of Person of Interest, Harold Finch tries to invoke this on the rest of Team Machine, but they all slowly work on him to bring him around. - By the end of the sixth episode of A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017), the Baudelaires have realized that Mr. Poe is and always shall be completely and utterly useless, so rather than go with him and be dumped God-knows-where and go through the same bullshit once more, they choose to take control of their fate and stow away in a truck to the Lucky Smells lumber mill. - The Suite Life on Deck episode "Maddie On Deck" is about Maddie catching the attention of a prince, who turns out to be an eight-year-old boy. The prince proceeds to attempt to force her into marriage. In the end, she has caught the attentions of the prince's brother, Timmy, and has a We Are Not Going Through That Again moment. As it turns out, Timmy was actually a hot guy around the same age as her. - Wizards of Waverly Place: In "Harperella", Harper reads the story of Cinderella to a group of children. However, since it is a magical book as Alex attempted to warn her, Harper gets sucked into the book and becomes Cinderella. It gets out of control when the pages get stuck together mixing the story between Cinderella and The Three Little Pigs with special guest appearance David Blaine. After the story is finally finished and Harper is freed back to the real world, a little girl asks her to read the story again. Unable to handle reliving everything she went through, Harper panics and yells at the kids to Get Out!. - In Peanuts, Charlie Brown is returning home from the best summer camp visit of his life helping and gaining a new friend. As his bus pulls out, he sees a new crop of kids who could use some help, but he sits back with a satisfied smile and says "Let them go, I've done my hitch." - The ending of Telltale Games' Back to the Future: The Game. Upon finally arriving home, Doc and Marty are visited by Marty's future self in an inverted homage to the first movie's Sequel Hook. Then two more future Martys show up. They all insist they come back with them into the future to fix the timeline. Doc and Marty simply get back into their own DeLorean and drive away, leaving the three alternates to fight amongst themselves. - Danger Mouse on the Orient Express has DM and Penfold in Venice museum where they are reunited after escaping from Greenback and Penfold lost a document in his care to a fish in the Grand Canal: DM: So you gave them the slip, eh? Penfold: Yes chief, but the fish... DM: Not "fish." "Slip." DM: For the fish. Penfold: (after a beat) Can we start again? DM: Hardly, Penfold. We've been through it fourteen times already. - In an episode of Dave the Barbarian, the gang are visited by Lula's sister Molly, who is actually Thor's hammer Mjolnir. After they get them back together, they're visited by Neptune's trident and immediately shut the door. - The Earthworm Jim episode "Hyper Psy-Crow" almost has a Here We Go Again ending, but when Jim comes in and complains about it (even using this exact term), they decide to Drop the Cow instead. The dialog: Psy-crow: Oh well. Here we go again! EJ: Hold it! We are not going to do a "Here we go again" ending on my show! (after Psy-crow asks what they'll do instead) EJ: Take a guess. Psy-crow: Uh... The cow thing? (a cow falls on Psy-crow) - In an episode of Family Guy, Stewie and Brian have lied to Loretta, saying that Cleveland wants to get back together with her, in order to allow Brian a chance with his ex (Cleveland's then-current girlfriend.) Loretta comes to Cleveland, saying that she's sorry she cheated on him and does want them to be a family again...and he considers it, though he doesn't want to give up Carolyn. When he finally does talk to Loretta, he tells her that the time they shared was special and he does care about her, but also that he's moved onto a new chapter of his life and that she should do so too. - In a later episode when Joe's son Kevin comes to Thanksgiving after faking his death in Iraq, the episode ends with another Kevin saying the first one is an impostor. Peter lampshades this saying that there's no more time left in the episode. - The Flintstones episode "Dr. Sinister" where Fred and Barney just come back after being shanghaied into a terrifying James Bond-like adventure with Madame Yes. When Yes appears on their front door at the end, they slam the door and begin boarding it up in fright. - The Penguins of Madagascar, "Treasure of the Golden Squirrel". After the penguins had been involved in an exciting treasure hunt involving a cursed artifact, a pigeon gives them a silver feather and instruct them to guard it with their lives. Skipper is excited at the prospect of a second adventure, but when he turns around he finds that the others have left, wanting no part in it. - Popeye: At the end of one episode of the treasure seekers segment, a descendant of Joan D'Arc wants to hire Popeye and Olive to seek one of her artifacts. They refuse. - Regular Show: - In "Eggscellent", Rigby is put in a coma trying to eat a giant omelette, which triggered his egg allergy, and the only thing that can wake him up is winning the net hat given as a prize to anyone who can successfully eat the whole thing. After Mordecai eats the omelette and gets the hat, they see an advertisement for a restaurant that will give free T-shirts to anyone that can eat a giant steak. Rigby suggests they attempt that challenge as well, and in response the rest of the staff try to remove his hat to put him back in his coma. - In "Sleep Cycle", Mordecai and Rigby get no sleep after watching a marathon that ran for an entire weekend and have to fix their sleep cycles by going through a magical life-or-death challenge (again). When they see a commercial for another marathon and are prepared to do it again, Skips punches out the TV and orders them to go to sleep. - In "Gamers Never Die", Mordecai and Rigby find a secret map on one of their video games and go to follow it. Though to do so, they had to steal Benson's car battery to keep the TV and game console powered, which he's mighty pissed off about and tracks them down. After going through an underground area and dodging traps, they find the secret room of the developer and get gold badges for their trouble before Benson activates another trap and causes the room to fly off. Just as it does, the spirit of said game developer congratulates the two on their find and offer another hunt via another map. Benson will have none of it, pushes the two into Skips' van, and drives off. - The end of Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School had the girls finishing up their term at at the prep school and Ms. Grimwood asking Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy to help with the next incoming batch. The three promptly decline...by jumping into their van and driving off as fast as they can. - The Secret Saturdays: Happens at the end of "Once More the Nightmare Factory" after the team has escaped from Argost's cryptid-infested mansion: Doc: It's over. We won.[Drew, Doyle, and Zak motion to warn Doc of the large seagoing cryptid behind him]Doc: No. We won. I'm not turning around and looking at it. We won. - Sonic Boom: - In "Can an Evil Genius Crash on Your Couch for a Few Days?" Sonic lets Dr. Eggman stay at his house for a few days while the latter's base is under renovation. It later turns out this was a ruse so Eggman could exhaust Sonic and his friends so they'd be too tired to stop his Obliteratorbot. The Obliteratorbot malfunctions and attacks Eggman's base, forcing Eggman to team up with Sonic and his friends to stop it. At the end of the episode, when Eggman's base is destroyed for real, Sonic just decides to drop Eggman off at his destroyed base. - In "The Curse of the Cross-eyed Moose", Sticks sends her and her friends on a perilous journey to find a marmoset monkey when she believes they are cursed following her encounter with a cross-eyed moose. At the end of the episode, after Sticks believes the curse is removed, she comes across a moss-covered, seven-legged spider, believing she and her friends are cursed again. Before she can send them on another perilous journey, Knuckles flicks the spider away and says, "Curse broken!" - Star Wars Rebels: In "Visions and Voices", after getting possessed by a Nightsister ghost as a result of going along with Maul's demands by letting Ezra go to Dathomir with him, as this is only the latest in a string of bad things to happen to him when they've worked with Maul before, Kanan declares that he doesn't care what Maul is holding over their heads next time, they are not working with him again. - In the World's Greatest Super Friends episode "Lord of Middle Earth", Gleek realizes his fantastic adventure was just a dream. But just as he relaxes, he sees a shadowy figure that looks like the same kind of Troll that was in his dream adventure. Rather than investigate, Gleek simply shrugs and goes back to sleep. - In the last episode of The Super Hero Squad Show, when the Infinity Sword is broken into fractals again, Falcon states that he's not hunting them all down again. - An episode of TaleSpin begins as Baloo and Louie were being chased by a giant walrus after being talked into a treasure hunt by a girl. After escaping, they vowed not to get involved with an adventurous woman again, only to spend the episode helping a female archaeologist look for treasure. Once that's over, a woman on the streets shows them a map and asks if they're interested in looking for some treasure. The two exchange glances and then promptly rip the map over her head, and leave. "...Was it something I said?" - In the Teen Titans Go! episode "Kicking a Ball & Pretending to Be Hurt", it turns out that the only reason the Titans were so interested in soccer was that all soccer balls in the world were filled with soccer trolls that gave people an overwhelming love for the sport. At the end of the episode, the same happens when they decide to take up bowling and crack the ball open to find that it's filled with a bowling turkey, but Cyborg immediately blows it up with his Arm Cannon. - In the Tom and Jerry cartoon "Duel Personality", Jerry is fed up with being chased by Tom and challenges him to duel (with the traditional ritual of a Glove Slap followed by My Card) to settle things. After a series of disastrous duels that kept ending in draw, the episode ends with Tom chasing Jerry again. However, when Jerry tries to challenge Tom to a duel again, Tom tears up his card and uses the glove to slap him around.

Monday, June 11, 2012 I have said this on a number of occasions and pissed off quite a few people in doing so. But I never considered that a professed belief in Creationism is equally a cultural signifier. Read this article carefully; it opens a whole slew of cans of worms. And by the way, yes I do believe in God, and no I am not a Creationist. ...THE fact is that belief in evolution has virtually no real-life impact on anything. That's why 46% of the country can safely choose not to believe it: their lack of belief has precisely zero effect on their lives. Sure, it's a handy way of saying that they're God-fearing Christians — a "cultural signifier," as Andrew puts it — but our lives are jam-packed with cultural signifiers. This is just one of thousands, one whose importance probably barely cracks America's top 100 list. It takes a long time to do and is a fairly tedious task so I am not promising that they will be done each day, but I will do them as regularly as I can. JD Like many commentators, I sincerely doubt whether these recent predations, which newspapers have attributed to 'The Beast of Bont, have anything to do with mystery cats at all.. News from the Edge Mystery Cats Back in the UK unknowncountry The Big Cats are back, stalking the fields of England and mutilating sheep. Locals have reported sighting a mysterious, unknown creature they call the " Beast of ... On this day in 1939 shooting began on 'Dr Cyclops', the first horror film to be shot in colour. And now the news: - Pretty flamingo - Shelling out for a divorce - 50,000 bees worry Orlando neighborhood - Engineered Robot Interacts With Live Fish - Ants in 3D: project begins to image every known sp... - Parasitic Plants Steal Genes from Their Hosts - Sexual Habits of the Adélie Penguin - 10,000 rare bird eggs seized in Finland The trailer for Dr Cyclops: So Tuesday dawns, and it is a glorious summer day. So how do I celebrate this unbelievable mnexus of the majesty of Creation? I am stuck in a dingy converted potato shed with a load of fish. Together (me and the fish) we are writing a whole slew of blog postings starting with... ...I am always impressed how many classic clices of rock and roll history can be found on YouTube, like this classic film of Rick Wakeman: Even after his death the peculiar world of Captain Beefheart is so full of smoke and mirrors that one cannot help but be confused: Across Britain the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' slogan has become a little bit of a cult. Now, Hawkwind have joined up: A fine specimen of Vulpes vulpes together with a Genesis LP. Now what is weird about that?http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/06/hey-reynard-suppers-ready.html The publicity machine for the forthcoming Gonzo Byrds DVD rumbles into action: As regular readers will know, I sometimes augment my writings about Gonzostuff with things that I find interesting. Today I review the classic Johnny Rogan biography of The Smiths, which has been updated and reissued: And that's about it for today. Tomorrow I teach Graham how to do the Gonzo Daily, thursday I go away for a few days. What will await me on my return? From Nick Redfern's World of Whatever: - The Foot of Bigfoot — Continuing controversy over the Patterson Film... - Bigfoot's Brain — A rather different debate on Bigfoot anatomy... - A Werewolf Podcast — The latest from the Mysterious Universe guys... - The Cryptid Fest: Sept. 1 — An Oklahoma-based event on Saturday, September 1st... - Monstrous Origins — Neil Arnold's origins in the worlds of Cryptozoology... If anyone wants to get hold of me by e-mail between thursday and monday/tuesday next week, please cc the email to email@example.com. He will pass the information on to me.... Here are a selection of mystery cat stories from around the world: This animal has eluded Jon Downes and my attempts to identify it. Remember c. 1910 was only 12 years after the New Territories came under British control. Remember too that there are absolutely no kangaroos in south China, unless a vessel was shipwrecked on the coast near Hong Kong in the 15th Century belonging to the explorer Zheng He,who some say reached Australia and may have brought kangaroos back, who then bred. . Nor is it very likely that it was a bear, though one web site I looked at said there was a population of Asiatic brown bears in southern China today. The long nose aspect demolishes all the proposed animals. Here is the story in full with my own annotations. Thanks to Bob Skinner for passing on the story. WHAT WAS IT ? Weird Animal Seen at Night – Correct Time for Such Things Great consternation was caused in Kowloon City one night recently when many excited people claimed to have seen a strange and mysterious animal variously described as a bear, a kangaroo, and an orang outang. The animal is said to have seated (1) itself on the hillside in full view of Hokyuen village , near Bailey`s Shipyard on the Kowloon City Road . One witness , says the “ China Mail” (2) thinks that the animal was a full grown man-eating tiger, but is not sure owing to the distance. He could see no stripes and the animal`s coat was of a dark brown. He estimates the mysterious animal to have been about seven feet long and 3 ½ feet high. Armed police were at once sent out but on arrival at the village, behold the beast had vanished! Excited villagers stated that it had sat for a long while on its haunches like a man, with its fore legs hanging down by its side. It had,they said, a particularly long nose. All the nooise they had been able to make with gongs had failed to scare it away. It was, they averred, in full view for a long time before it eventually strolled away and disappeared into the gathering gloom. No one was able to decide the exact nature of the animal but all were agreed that it was a huge thing of a very brutal appearance. If it was not a tiger, what was it the villagers asked themselves. Some replied that it was an extraordinarily huge bear, others that it was an orang outang, and yet others that it was a kangaroo. Hundreds saw it. What was it. 1. No animal just “sits” itself down alone on a hill and does nothing as far as I know. Despite this if it wasn`t a tiger was it an orang-utan as I was told by an America, Don Ady, a POW of the Japanese in Hong Kong (1941-1945) that there were reports of this mammal in the Hong Kong area in the 1930s? 2. Hopefully I`ll be able to find the China Mail for July 1921

| Part of RationalWiki's| Cryptid Petting Zoo |Hiding with Schrödinger's cat| Phantom cats or alien big cats (ABCs) are terms generally (see below) referring neither to cats from outer space nor actual phantom cats, but to alleged big cats found outside of their territorial range. The explanations for their sightings ranges from the sensible, such as escaped zoo creatures, military mascots and pets, to the absurd, such as there being a population of hybrid big cats in Britain. Scientists point to the improbability of a breeding population of big cats surviving and feeding themselves undetected in the UK, but occasionally big cats do escape from captivity. Given the number of zoos in the world, and the fact that big cats are a common feature in said zoos, one escaping at some point is inevitable. Notable occurrences have occurred in the UK with escaped pumas and lynxes. It has even been suggested that the Beast of Gévaudan was in fact a lion, not a wolf as was reported at the time. As with many things in cryptozoology, whenever there is something sensible, there is also something outlandish. In the case of alien big cats, the idea is that the cats in question are in fact relictual populations from the last ice age. And, of course, there are people who believe that the cats are indeed paranormal or perhaps shapeshifters. A notable film treatment of the subject is the movie Cat People. Famous British big cats Felicity the puma Felicity was captured at Cannich near Inverness in 1980. She was very tame and hence probably an escaped pet. She was rehomed in a wildlife park, where she died in 1985 and was stuffed and moved to Inverness Art Gallery and Museum. Beast of Bodmin Moor The Beast of Bodmin Moor was a panther-like creature reportedly seen several times in Cornwall in southwest England from 1978. Scientists pointed out that there wasn't enough food for a breeding population, but there were various rumours about animals released into the wild. A leopard skull was found by the River Fowey in 1995, but examination demonstrated that it had probably been imported to the UK as part of a leopardskin rug rather than a live animal. A government report found no evidence of an actual big cat. It was reported in 2016 that animal keeper Mary Chipperfield had let three pumas go into the wild around 1980, following the closure of Plymouth Zoo nearby, although such claims appear to be only hearsay. The Beast of Cricklewood A Eurasian lynx (also known as the Beast of Barnet) was caught in Cricklewood, north London, in 2001, sedated by a vet from the London Zoological Society. Other big cats The Beast of Gévaudan This was a mysterious animal that terrorized the province of Gévaudan in France in the 17th century. Though at the time it was thought to be a wolf or part wolf, its behavior was unlike that of wolves. Modern research has suggested that it may instead have been a lion that escaped from a nobleman's private zoo. Reports of a female lion moving around in the municipality of Ruokolahti in southeastern Finland caused a sensation in the country during the summer of 1992, despite the scarcity of hard evidence to support its existence. Initial reports suggested that a train or truck transporting circus animals could have suffered an accident across the nearby Russian border shortly before the lion reports started, although Russian authorities had no record of such an incident occurring. A circus without a warrant for keeping animals or a private household with exotic beasts have also been suggested as the origin of the lion. - British Big Cats- Sorting Fact From Legend - There's even a movie - MessyBeast:HYBRID BIG CATS IN THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE A good debunking - The Scottish Big Cats Trust: Felicity the Puma - The BBC:Police report solves lynx mystery - Squidoo:Mystery Big Cats of Australia - Fortean Times:Alien Big Cat thread - UFO Digest:Alien Big Cats — Paranormal Panthers — Shape-shifters? - Cambridge Paranormal Research Society:Alien Big Cats - Felicity the puma, ScotCats - The most unusual animals discovered in Scotland, The Scotsman, 2015 - Beast of Bodmin Moor - Beast of Dartmoor mystery solved after famous circus owner Mary Chipperfield 'set three Pumas free in 1970s', The Daily Telegraph, 21 July 2016 - The Beast of Cricklewood is Tamed, The Daily Telegraph, 2001 - If You Go Into The Woods ... Beware Of a Lion. But in Finland? AP News, June 29, 1992

There are two great dales in the County of Durham; Teesdale and Weardale. I always think of Teesdale as the pretty, agricultural dale. Whilst I tend to think of Weardale as having a great industrial heritage as well as its share of agricultural heritage. Tonight’s visit was to Weardale. If you wound the clock back to the 1800s, Weardale would have looked very different to how it does today. It would have been full of activity dedicated to extract lead ore from the hills. The Weardale Lead Mining Company also mined Fluorspar in the area during the late Victorian Era. In short, the area was an economic powerhouse for the mine owners in its heyday. However, I was not there to seek out history. I went to Weardale to investigate reports of ‘high strangeness’ in the area. The people of Weardale are a hardy folk. They need to be as the weather can turn very quickly, bright sunshine one minute, rain and sleet the next. I found that out this evening when a dry, warm evening suddenly turned into wind and rain. The wind was so strong that even when parked up, the car rocked when each gust of wind hit. One thing I had completely forgotten about the dale was how dark it gets at night. I know that may sound a little strange, but when I say dark, I mean really dark. The picture to the right isn’t merely a black block of colour pasted into a JPG file. When I turned off the headlights of the car and all the internal lights, even with the light from the screen of my mobile phone, this is what the camera picked up when I took a photograph. Once the mobile phone was in lock mode, I couldn’t even see if the car window was up or down. That’s how dark it was. I know I may be labouring the point, but I can’t really explain how dark and isolated this place was. I pulled the car over into a parking spot, turned off the lights and engine and opened my driver side window. I wanted to listen to the sounds of the night in the area. Despite the wind, it seemed remarkably quiet. I could hear the sounds of the woods, trees creaking as they flexed in the wind, the occasional burst of birdsong (which I thought was odd at that time of night). |Time of Arrival:||22:53| |Altitude:||2066ft Above Sea Level| |Weather:||Light rain exacerbated by gusting strong winds.| I took the approach that the best method to use would be to simply sit quietly and see what happened. In the past there have been paranormal reports in the area, and also some cryptid sightings. I have always had a skeptical approach to both. I think until I experience the paranormal for myself, I’ll remain a doubter. However, I had walked the area extensively over the years in daylight hours and felt that any cryptid would simply not have enough cover to traverse the land without regular sighting reports. I had failed to take into account the darkness of night. It was entirely possible for a person, with no intent of hiding, to walk cross country, follow rivers or streams, or even footpaths without being spotted by anyone else. Add into the equation someone wearing a ghillie suit (or camouflage) to try and break up their outline and the chances of being spotted reduce to near zero. Now if you consider an animal whose instincts are they really didn’t want to be seen, and a situation I thought was not possible, becomes the most likely of scenarios. In short, I had been wrong in my assumptions. The quick answer to this is nothing much. I didn’t hear the screams of a ghostly apparition that others had reported in the past. One thing that did happen after I had been there for about an hour, was a sound from inside the tree-line. I distinctly heard “Wurr-uh” with the emphasis and a rise in tone on the “uh”. It only happened twice, with around twenty seconds between each sound. I’ve no idea what it was. Could it have been a deer? I am fairly convinced it wasn’t a cow as they tend to sound more like a cough and would not have been amongst the trees anyway. As this was pretty much a spur of the moment type trip, I didn’t have a torch with me to shine into the tree-line. After waiting another twenty minutes or so without any further anomalies, I decided it was time to leave the area. The main conclusion is the entire visit was inconclusive. It was useful to experience the upper dale in the pitch black and see how such a familiar place can become so different at night. The main lesson I learned was to ALWAYS have my powerful torch in the back of the car ready for use and my video camera primed and ready. This visit will be the first of many over the coming months.

Sasquatch, Washington State’s best cryptid and Memorial Day music festival, just announced its 2012 schedule. Sure, the headliners – the Roots, Jack White, Bon Iver, Beck, Feist – are great, but check out the small print for a lot of awesome acts (we’re especially impressed by their profuse offering of amazing local Seattle hip-hop, from the bigger names, like Shabazz Palaces and TheeSatisfaction, to the more obscure Fresh Espresso, Grynch, and Don’t Talk to the Cops). Fortunately, it looks like there’s only a few pesky conflicts to worry about – Alabama Shakes vs. TheeSatisfaction, Childish Gambino vs. Araabmusik vs. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and that really painful Beirut vs. The Walkmen vs. Zola Jesus – but we’re sure you’ll figure it out. Check out the schedule here.

In the first half of the show, ufologist and cryptozoologist Nick Redfern talked about his new book Monsters of Texas and shared tales of bizarre creatures reported in the Lone Star State. One cryptid that he discussed was the Texas Chupacabras, which Redfern noted has a number of distinct characteristics that set it apart from the entity in Puerto Rico that shares the name. For instance, the Texas Chupacabras has been reported as hairless, with shorter front legs that give it a hopping gait, and its top jaw hangs over its bottom jaw significantly. While some skeptics point to the lack of hair as a sign that the Texas Chupacabras is merely a dog with mange, Redfern dismissed this idea since, unlike dogs who have the affliction, the animal shows no sign of discomfort with being hairless. Although tests on recovered bodies of the creature show that the DNA is canid, the sheer number of bizarre recurring attributes suggest that the Texas Chupacabras is some kind of extreme mutation. "The big question is why this is happening and how," Redfern mused. "A lot of people don't realize that Houston had a precursor to the Mothman," Redfern said, as he shared the story of "The Batman" from the early 1950's. This "flying humanoid creature" created a frenzy in the city when it was seen "leaping around the rooftops of Houston late at night." Detailing another "man beast," he recounted the story of the Goat-Man of Lake Worth, an entity reported in the late 1960's that resembled the satyr of ancient mythology. According to Redfern, "local police actually took it very, very seriously" and even had a file on the Goat-Man sightings. Talking about werewolf reports in Texas, Redfern described the creatures as "man-like in appearance, with hair covered bodies, but with a face like a German Shepard." He observed that many werewolf witnesses report the feeling that the creature "was actually able to create fear" and that it would then "feed on that high state of emotion." Other creatures covered by Redfern included Bigfoot, Thunderbirds, and "Phantom Black Dogs." The latter half of the show featured Open Lines with a special "I can't believe it" Hot Line. "It happened about 45 years ago and I still can't believe it," declared Raul in Miami as he recalled a story from his youth, when he would hang around a funeral home. One night, a pickup truck from the funeral home was delivering a casket to another town and Raul jumped into the back of the truck. Along the way, it started raining so he climbed into the casket to escape the inclement weather. When he heard the rain stop, he popped open the lid and the driver was so terrified that he jumped out of the moving truck. "We had to go to the hospital instead of going to the funeral," Raul laughed. Mike in Texas also shared an "unbelievable" story from his teenage years. He and his friends went to a graveyard with a Ouija Board on Halloween. As they were undertaking their session, they heard growling and hissing about 100 yards away. Turning their spotlight towards the sound, "we saw these red eyes, black coat of fur, and these fangs. And it was jumping over tombstones at us." Upon seeing this creature, the gang leapt to their feet, ran to their minivan, and escaped. "I never moved so fast in my entire life," Mike said, "and when we dove in that minivan, it just disappeared. It was really odd." The final half hour of the program featured a replay of George's interview with William Shatner from the 10/2/09 edition of Coast.

Thought for the Day: “Don’t say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.” ~ Mark Twain ~ Gifts for My Writer Friends: Legends of Windemere has an interesting post HERE by Charles Yallowitz that deals with being a single father. We have them in stories we are writing, so there are things in this post that can help you make your story more realistic. Having trouble coming up with the perfect name for your character? Bryn Donovan has a great post HERE that will help with that problem. Melissa Donovan has a really good post HERE to help you get rid of redundancies in your writing. Yes, you have them. Last week, Kelly Milner Halls was kind enough to offer an extra copy of her book Cryptid Creatures to one of you since I wasn’t willing to let my copy go. This week, Natalie Aguirre is our winner. Congratulations, Natalie! I will get your book out soon. You can find Natalie at Literary Rambles, a TERRIFIC blog I have mentioned here before. Natalie has wonderful interviews, great reviews, super giveaways, and more. Check it out by clicking on the name of the blog. No giveaway this week, but please keep reading to hear about a wonderful book. I actually had time this week to read a book that has been on my TBR pile for far too long. Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl was published last year, but just came out in paperback a couple months ago, so now is a good time to buy it. Let me tell you a little about it. Cricket is living with her Aunt Belinda, who, it turns out, isn’t really a relative at all, but a friend of the family. But Aunt Belinda took Cricket in after her father died suddenly and her mother left. Her mother did things like that. But Cricket was sure her mother would be back and even knew the place and time — at her grandmother’s grave in less than two weeks. Her mother had promised and there were certain kinds of promises she always kept. Cricket could count on that, even if she couldn’t count on much else. When Aunt Belinda left the store without Cricket, she took it as a sign that this was the time to leave to go find her mother. Cricket and her father had built an excellent treehouse in the woods where her father’s home town had been. The company that had owned the town at taken all the buildings down when the mill closed, but they had left the cemetery. Cricket was sure she could stay at the treehouse until her mother came. Her father had taught her how to live in the woods. And she had a mystery to solve. Her mother had often told the story of a beautiful room painted with scenes that seemed to have scarlet tanager birds that came to life. Cricket was sure once she found that room and could take her mother there, that her mother would be well and not go off doing crazy things. After Aunt Belinda left Cricket behind at the store, she finds herself alone after the store has closed for the day. She takes what she thinks she will need to survive until her mother comes, leaves all the money she has and an IOU for the rest, and walks and walks and walks miles into the woods until she find the treehouse. She also finds a cricket, sure to bring her luck, which she names Charlene. They settle into the treehouse for the night. During the day, Cricket will search for the painted room. But Cricket hasn’t counted on a terrible winter storm or raiding raccoons who steal her food or a little cottonmouth snake that bites her or finding the only person who lives nearby. Can the curious Miss V. help Cricket solve the mystery of the painted room? Author Jo Hackl has written a perfect novel for middle graders (and others lucky enough to find it). She takes her readers on a journey to a small town in the South filled with interesting, quirky, memorable characters each of whom has his or her own story. The writing is beautiful and the story compelling and unputdownable. Readers will fall in love with Cricket and cheer for her every difficult step of the way. This is a real winner. No giveaway this week. I donated my hardbound copy to the school library. But check back next week. I might well have a giveaway then. And don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at the Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.

| We're all homos here| |A Gradual Science| |Plain Monkey Business| Basilosaurus (a.k.a. Zeuglodon) is a genus of primitive whale from the Late Eocene. The typical species were around 18 meters/60 feet in length in life, and had serrated, triangular teeth with two roots, and had a second pair of small, possibly functional flippers. Together with other basilosaurid whales, Basilosaurus is frequently referred to as a transitional form between the four-legged, often semi-terrestrial primitive whales ("Archaeoceti") and "modern" whales, much to the dismay of creationists. As a result, Basilosaurus actually comes up fairly frequently in debates with creationists. Notably, in debates between PZ Myers and religious dogmatists - Basilosaurus is one of his favorite examples of a transitional form. The fossils are rather common, being found in Late Eocene strata of Egypt (in the Valley of the Whales), Pakistan, and Alabama and Mississippi. In 1845, one self-titled "Doctor" Albert Koch unveiled a 35 meter/114 foot long skeleton, titled "Hydrarchos," ("water ruler") built from the remains of 5 fossil whales, including some Basilosaurus. Hydrarchos "went extinct" by being one of the numerous casualties of the Great Chicago Fires of 1871. Reptile or whale? When Basilosaurus was first discovered, its discoverer Mr. Richard Harlan erroneously assumed Basilosaurus to be an extinct form of marine reptile, specifically a plesiosaur. Richard Owen corrected Harlan on this, and being the arrogant, unscrupulous bastard he was, proceeded to take credit for the discovery of Basilosaurus by renaming it Zeuglodon, meaning "yoke tooth" in reference to the fact that Basilosaurus still had the traditional set of mammalian teeth, molars, canines, incisors and all. Of course, that's not how taxonomic nomenclature works, and much to Owen's dismay the name of the genus remains to this day Basilosaurus, even though Owen's preferred name is arguably more correct as a descriptor than Basilosaurus. As a cryptid - The Palaeos page on Basilosaurus - Harlan, R. (1834). "Notice of fossil bones found in the Tertiary formation of the State of Louisiana". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 4: 397–403. JSTOR 1004838. OCLC 63356837. - Owen, R. (1839). "Observations on the Basilosaurus of Dr. Harlan (Zeuglodon cetoides, Owen)". Transactions of the Geological Society of London 6: 69–79. Error: Bad DOI specified. https://archive.org/stream/transactionsof261841geol#page/68/mode/2up. - The Cryptid Zoo: Zeuglodons

Things that go Bump in the Night Stretching throughout history it seems that all cultures have ghost stories. Many of these stories are parables, and were used to warn people of tragic outcomes to bad or immoral behaviour. Sometimes, stories of haunted areas were used to simply keep people away from those places. Hauntings usually involve more than the appearance of a shape. Hauntings usually occur in a fixed location, often involve heightened unexplained activities. Some people report haunting activities as random events, while others say happenings tend to occur around specific dates. One thing is clear. Whether or not you are a “believer” many people have experienced things that they cannot easily explain. Do you have a story of a ghostly encounter? Maybe you know of a haunted area, or other paranormal activity? Click here to Share Your Tale Who struck Marc's father? Submitted by: Marc Bois, Blind River, ON My father had leukaemia and just before he ended up in the hospital there was him, my mother and myself watching T.V downstairs, he decided he was going to bed and I never let my father go to bed upstairs alone. So he was in bed and I was in my room doing some online gaming with some friends. About: Fact or Faked - Paranormal Files Written by: The Overlord Have you seen Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files? If not, you should. This documentary/reality program has been on the air since 2010 and originates on the American channel Syfy. It has a simple premise. In each episode, the investigation team reviews several video clips claiming supernatural activity, decide which two cases are to be investigated that week. The team then breaks into two groups and we follow each as they investigate their stories. The team is led by Ben Hansen, a former FBI agent and consists of a noted paranormal researcher, a photographer, a journalist, a stuntman/special effects expert and a technology expert. Part of their criteria for an investigation are as follows: is the footage compelling, are the witnesses credible and is it something they can attempt to reproduce or test. A Haunting in South Porcupine Submitted by: Jess Germain, South Porcupine, ON Spirit - The English word spirit (from Latin spiritus "breath") has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body. The word spirit is often used metaphysically to refer to the consciousness or personality. The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap, as both contrast with body and both are understood as surviving the bodily death in religion and occultism, and "spirit" can also have the sense of "ghost", i.e. a manifestation of the spirit of a deceased person. - Wikipedia "For the last 5 years I have been visited frequently by a little girl about 7 years old!" - we received the following information from Jess Germain in South Porcupine. Shadow People - Is Someone There? Submitted by: Robin Allen, Timmins Ontario I was in the bathroom and I walked out into the living-room and almost walked into a figure standing in the doorway watching my husband who was on the couch watching tv. I thought it was real, so I said Woh, excuse me. Concept Photo, of a shadow person. Created by: ParaNorthern My husband looked at me with a funny face and said what? I said I saw someone standing in the doorway. He said "OK (sarcastically). There is no one there, never was". Is This Photo Proof That Bigfoot & Humans Share A Common Ancestor? Bigfoot researchers have long supposed that the legendary cryptid is a primate, and therefore related to modern humans. Recently discovered photo examinations which originate from Shawnee, Oklahoma may hold an important clue. William Bradley has long held an interest in Sasquatch. Himself a native of Shawnee, Bradley states that Oklahoma has long been a hot bed of Bigfoot activity. Bradley claims to have multiple talents which have helped him discover the truth.Read more ... When Hunting For Bigfoot, Look Up. Regular readers to ParaNorthern on Facebook or our website know that I am officially a Bigfoot skeptic. Even though I want to believe that a large primate inhabits the considerable wilderness of the North American continent, most of the so called evidence falls into the category of Bollocks. (Ask someone British.) So when I read recently that some Sasquatch hunters are suggesting that we look to the tree tops for sleeping Bigfoot I laughed out loud. I could not picture something of the supposed mass of of this bipedal cryptid climbing a tree to get a good night's rest. But then I saw this video.Read more ... We have a variety of options available for businesses looking to promote themselves to a targeted audience. Click This Link for more information and to contact us to discuss Niche Market Advertising Opportunities.

The cohosts of the Squaring the Strange podcast. In May 2018, Susan Gerbic published an article about her trip to New Mexico to speak about the Guerrilla Skeptics project for New Mexicans for Science and Reason, the local skeptics group. En route, she dropped by the Squaring the Strange podcast studios for a guest appearance. Susan’s article about her trip mentioned the podcast, but that was not the main topic; reading it left me with many questions. To learn more, I decided to interview one of the three people who make the podcast happen. Flipping my three-sided coin resulted in selecting cohost, content producer, and “SkeptiCrate sender-outer” Celestia Ward. Luckily—once I explained that I wasn’t just a random fan bugging her on Facebook but was a random CSI online columnist bugging her on Facebook—she happily consented to an interview. When Squaring launched as a weekly podcast in April 2017, it had just a pair of cohosts: Ben Radford and Pascual Romero. Celestia was primarily the behind-the-scenes content producer, who made only short, sporadic “appearances” with a fortune-cookie segment. Eventually she became a cohost, converting the arrangement to a triumvirate and transforming the character of the podcast. Rob Palmer: So Celestia, thanks for doing this interview! First, can you give readers a summary of your background? Celestia Ward: Well, I went to Johns Hopkins with the notion of going there for pre-med, but after a year and a half I went to the dark side—liberal arts—and ended up graduating with a writing degree and a minor in psychology. I went immediately to work for the University Press there and ended up going up the ladder in the manuscript editing department. Within five or six years I was one of the senior manuscript editors there, so I was an academic editor for the first ten years out of college. So, I was doing copyediting and I got to read all of this fascinating stuff. I got to correct PhDs, which I think a lot of skeptics end up doing for fun. Once I got to age thirty, I decided I didn’t want to end my life as a copy editor. Many of the people I was working with had done it for forty years. The only place I could move up to at that point was to my boss’s chair—a very stressful job that I didn’t want. I had been doing caricatures on the side because I couldn’t give that up. I did it in college to earn a living but while I was a copy editor, I kept doing it on weekends and at nighttime—doing parties, etc. So, I got to the point where I decided to give it a shot as a full-time thing. I moved back to Las Vegas, where you could do something like caricatures and not starve. So, then I ended up switching things up where I did art full-time, and in my off hours I would do some editing. I’m still doing both, in one way or another. Palmer: But how did all of this lead you to the skeptical movement? I don’t see the intersection. Ward: Probably the earliest skeptical influence I had was Penn and Teller. When I met Teller in Vegas, he said, “Ah, leaving academia to join the circus! I know how that feels. Good luck!” Palmer: But how did you get to talk to Teller? He doesn’t talk! Ward: Privately, he does. He’s the salt of the earth. I love him. So yes, Penn and Teller led me to the skeptical movement. I was a big fan of their show Bullshit! They turned me on to James Randi. I became a big fan, and then I started getting into skeptical podcasts. The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe was one of the first ones I listened to. I actually had a period in my life about nine or ten years ago when I got hit with a bacterial infection and had to be on all these antibiotics and have surgery. I ended up in the hospital for almost four weeks. And it was then that I started listening to every podcast under the sun. Daytime TV bores the crap out of me. I went through all the backlogs of The Skeptic Zone and the SGU and Skeptoid… I actually learned a lot about bacteria from listening to all these podcasts. Palmer: I started listening to Squaring the Strange right from the podcast’s beginning, and it’s one of the podcasts in my weekly rotation that I try not to fall behind on. To start with, for my readers unfamiliar with it, can you give a description? Ward: While we love doing skeptic outreach, we also have a love for the … well, the strange! So, cryptids, ghost stories, and folklore get rotated in. We like going cryptid or folklore at least once a month! Palmer: Please outline the format of the podcast. How is it unique in the crowded skeptical podcast arena? Ward: A lot of skeptical podcasts, including the ones I like, go right to current events. We have specifically tried to make a lot of our shows “evergreen” so that if you listen to it, say, next year, you’re still going to get a kick out of listening. We have recently gravitated toward an opening segment of what we call SWAYSO, which started with Ben and Pascual just asking each other “So, what are you skeptical of this week?” And a listener named Justin did the jingle for it as a one-year anniversary present. Palmer: What can you tell me about the origin of the podcast? Ward: Ending up on the podcast was quite accidental. I was in Albuquerque for some other reason, and I was working with Ben [Radford] on a different project. So, I was meeting up with him while I was in Albuquerque, and he said “Hey, I’ve got a friend who wants to start a skeptical podcast. Would you like to sit in on the meeting?” I told him. “No, I would just be intruding.”But Ben said, “You listen to more podcasts than anyone I know.” So, I sat in and met Pascual. And three hours later, we had filled up a legal pad of paper and had eaten an entire large green chile pizza. We had all these ideas, and we had a name, and we had a plan, and we had segments, and we had topics! Palmer: How did the three of you—from such diverse backgrounds—get together to do this? Ward: Ben and I actually met at a caricature convention because he has an interest in caricatures. I had heard of his name, and I am quite sure that I’m the only one at that convention who had, so he was a little weirded-out that I recognized his name badge. And it was strange to have someone show up to a caricaturist convention who is not a professional caricaturist. So of course, I cornered him and we talked about skeptical stuff. And it turns out, we had a lot of friends in common already because I knew people in the movement. I had been going to TAMs, and of course listening to all the podcasts and immersing myself in the community that way. It was a treat to meet him. And then shortly after, we partnered to do a series of greeting cards called Creature Cards. And that ended up rolling into us doing this little folding puzzle called Fold & Find. Also, Ben wrote some very nice folklore descriptions for some Creature Cards about classic folkloric monsters. I know that Ben had known Pascual for at least a couple of years prior. And I think they had worked on some video stuff together. In fact, they just finished working on an audiobook together: Ben’s latest on investigating ghosts. Pascual brings with him a background of being a traveling heavy-metal performance artist, as well as working as a producer and behind the scenes on TV stuff in Hollywood. He’s got a talent for knowing the markers when something has been staged, something the average person might not recognize. But Pascual knows all the nitty gritty behind it, like how you can get a man on the street to say a bunch of dumb stuff and make it look like it’s genuine. Pascual had never been on a skeptical podcast before, but he did have a podcast for a while. But I think this is his first foray into skeptical activism. Palmer: Where did the podcast’s name come from? Ward: Well, tooting my own horn … I sat there with the yellow pad of paper and I just wrote down all types of things. I came up with the name because I always liked the phrase “squaring the circle.” It calls to mind Greek philosophers searching for mysterious formulas. So, I figured we were going to be talking about strange things that we couldn’t always solve. So, I suggested “Squaring the Strange” and they both kind of liked it. We explored some other options, but wound up coming back to that one. Palmer: When you started with Squaring, you were “just” the content producer. How did your transition to cohost happen? Were bribes involved? In either direction? Ward: Initially, my job was to listen to the podcast and the final take and to assess what they could use more of … what to back away from or cut out … and to kind of shape the banter, reminding them of the things that would make the podcast more fun to listen to from the perspective of someone who listens to a ton of podcasts. I also kept the list of topics—and we have a long list of topics to last to the end of time. So, my job was primarily behind the scenes, and once or twice I showed up as a guest cohost, for instance talking about gambling superstitions because I live in Las Vegas and I see a lot of that. And so, I found myself participating more and more, and it became easier to do that with Skype. Then once we added the third voice, we heard a lot of good feedback from listeners. Some friends said that they were glad to have a female voice break up the male-to-male banter, which a lot of skeptical podcasts have. On some podcasts I listen to—not just skeptical ones—you have a bunch of guys and it’s hard to tell who’s who. There’s one I like with four guys on it, but it’s hard to listen to because I can’t tell who’s talking. Palmer: There seems to be lack of female hosts on skeptical podcasts. It seems like the entertainment industry has a lot—but not skeptical podcasts. I know about Cara Santa Maria of course who does her own podcast as well as being on the SGU. But who else is there? Ward: Well, there’s Sharon Hill’s 15 Credibility Street. I drew their logo, by the way. That’s one of the things I’ve done for people: I’ve drawn a lot of logos. Oh, Sharon doesn’t really want to be known as a “skeptic” anymore, so I don’t even know if I should list her as having a skeptical podcast, but it’s a critical thinking podcast! Various people have some bones to pick with the movement, and while I fully admit that they have some points, I’m not ready to just throw away the baby with the bathwater. [Note: Shortly after this interview, production of 15 Credibility Street ended. You can read Sharon’s blog post, “Please Don’t Call Me a Skeptic” here, as well as my CSI online opinion piece, “I’m Keeping My Skeptic’s Card!” here.] Ward: I have heard people complain about “sausage fests.” I’ve heard podcasts called that. I did not want to be just the token female. But some of the things that I was doing as content producer, I realized I can do a lot more easily in real time, with a lot less frustration. If I’m there in the room I can do in real time what I would like to have done in post-production, like purposely ask a “dumb question” to get something answered. Something that makes Ben come down from intellectual mode and explain something. A friend of mine who’s been in podcasts for a dozen years says one of the problems he has with skeptical podcasts is “there’s too much smart.” He says you need to break it up with a little bit of stupid. So, I can ask those questions. Otherwise, people are going to glaze over. And when I say “stupid,” I’m not talking about bringing the Food Babe on. I’m talking about little things like a dumb pun, or a joke, or some good-natured ribbing. If I wanted to listen to just one person going over facts and figures, I’d get a dry audio book or something. But if I’m listening to a podcast, I want a conversation. There are many flavors of podcasts. And there’s actually a Facebook page that helps people decide what to listen to based on what they already like. It’s called “Podcasts We Listen To.” Palmer: And besides taking on cohost responsibilities, you maintained all your other podcast tasks, right? Including personally packaging the SkeptiCrates? How is the work broken up now? Ward: I do still keep up the Google doc and get the guys to look at it to pick topics. I keep the meeting notes for what we’re going to talk about in the next episode. Ben brings a lot of the research muscle, as he’s got the investigation experience. Pascual has been the audio guy doing the editing work, and a lot of the music we use is directly from Pascual—although our opening is by a pretty popular band from the 80s called Shriekback. Ben had the opportunity to get a custom composed piece of music from them, and so we use a bit of that for the opening. Recently Pascual has had a bunch of things to attend to involving a job change and family issues. So, I’ve gone ahead and, thanks to tutorials and some help from Pascual, I’ve been getting up-to-snuff on audio editing. The past month or so I’ve kind of taken over some of Pascual’s work, just on a temporary basis. Palmer: So, then it seems since you took over cohost responsibilities, now you’re actually doing more, not less, of the other work! Ward: It’s kind of just circumstantial. Ben works a tremendous number of hours anyway and does the show nights and weekends, so he’s not really game to learn a whole new platform of software to edit audio. I have a little bit of video editing experience already, so it wasn’t really hard for me to adapt to the programs that Pascual is using. So, I was able to pick up on it quickly enough, and hopefully it will all work out because I’m hitting a “baby deadline” soon. I don’t see myself being able to put in this much time once that happens. Palmer: So, Pascual’s time because of family and job circumstances is more limited than it used to be, and yours is certainly going to be more limited really soon. So, what’s going to happen to the podcast? Ward: Pascual is working toward a point where hopefully he won’t have to put in as much time at his new job, and we’ll be able to go back to business as usual before all this happened. If not, we’ve talked about contingency plans such as going bi-weekly, but we’ll see what happens. This interview will be continued in part 2 of this article, to be published shortly. As we did the interview, Celestia was just weeks from the arrival of her baby, who has since arrived happy and healthy. In September 2018, Squaring the Strange did move to a biweekly format, but Celestia says they have not ruled out bringing back the weekly schedule, provided everyone’s work life allows it. Prior to the inception of Squaring the Strange, Ben Radford interviewed Celestia for Skeptical Inquirer and covered the intersection of her art with skepticism. For a deep dive into that topic, see Ben’s article here. Also, visit Celestia’s website here, her caricature blog here, and the Squaring the Strange homepage here. Acknowledgements: For suggesting several of the questions I put to Celestia, a special thank you goes to my Guerrilla Skeptics teammate Paula Serrano. And, when you interview a copy editor for an article, how can you not use her skills to improve the article itself? Thank you Celestia for your unexpected but appreciated input, including teaching me the proper use of an m-dash!

Now you can stay in a New Airstream! Come spend the night in an American icon at the Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA! Experience the nostalgia and romance that only an Airstream travel trailer can provide. These special units are fully outfitted and ready for you to enjoy while you experience all that our KOA has to offer. Our Airstream sleeps up to four people, and includes a queen bed. You will have all of the comforts of home while you stay in the world's most unique and recognizable RV - all just a short stroll to the Atlantic shoreline. While camping at Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA, watch the sky melt into sunset pastels from your waterfront site. Waterfront sites are perfect for Atlantic shoreline camping. Encompassed by 3,500 feet of Atlantic shoreline and not far from the entrance to Acadia National Park , you will also be able to enjoy natures beauty from the private, rocky beach. Regular shuttle service allows campers to enjoy all the amenities of the campground and the local area. Whale watching and fishing boats hire out, and restaurant specials include lobster and blueberry pie. Very very great staff!! Upon arrival we checked in, in the office/store. Then a staff member lead us to our site. We have a 19 ft travel trailer and are not very experienced with backing it up. The staff member was incredible with his directions and helped me back it into a small lot that went down hill and around a corner. I could have hugged him. He was so great and patient with me. The lot was small but was right on the ocean. It was such a beautiful spot. This was the second time we have stayed here and I know we will be back!! We are tent campers and it’s difficult to find a review on tent sites at many KOAs. We were at site 403 and had family in a camping cabin. We loved our site. Lots of room for our very large tent! We even put up a hammock and had room to have family over for campfires and meals. Bathrooms were close by and were always clean. It was close enough to the ocean to have a lovely view but not so close that we were swarmed with mosquitoes. Camp staff was fantastic and the stores were great. Loved exploring tide pools too! Very campground, right on water. Plenty of space on the nicer sites, could be a little more level. We were there in July, mosquitos were terrible! Ad to purchase a screen enclosure to be able to sit outside. - Typical private campground with very small sites and packed together. - Excellent location! - Very clean and up to date. - Store, cafe (with limited hours), hot showers, laundry, etc. Typically, a KOA wouldn’t have been my first choice. They tend to be campy and incredibly dense-if I wanted to feel like I was “camping in the ‘burbs” I’d go and tent out at my parents’ backyard. I was pleasantly surprised, however, with Bar Harbor/Woodlands KOA! Having only planned my Maine getaway only three weeks prior, I was without many choices. I caught a lucky break with this KOA. The grounds provided a comfortable, yet affordable option, while being within close proximity to Bar Harbor, Acadia, and all the amenities Mount Desert Island has to offer. My site, 735, was wooded and while denser than most state or federal parks I venture to, provided the shade and privacy I enjoy when camping. The facilities were clean and updated- which was actually a nice change for me! Much of the programming was of course geared toward kids and family. One such event included a family-friendly “hayride” that embarked at dusk in search of the infamous “bigfoot”. I got the biggest kick out of the 6 foot cryptid running at me while cleaning dishes. I also need to give a shout-out to the friendly and helpful staff, who assisted me in a pinch when my car battery died! Kindness is never forgotten! If you and your loved ones find yourself out in this neck of the woods or planning your own Maine getaway, this is not a bad stop! As a tent camper who enjoys that “woodsy” wilderness feel, I recommend sites 624, 701, 702, 707, 710, 715, and 735. 710 is arguably the best site on the grounds, and 624 provided a combination of solitude and convenience with its “camp kitchen” fixture. You also have your choice of cabins, classic and deluxe, campers, “glamper” tents and group sites. This campground is great. It has friendly and accommodating staff, clean ground and beautiful views and access to the water (great for sunsets). In addition, this campground is close to everything Acadia National Park has to offer. I highly recommend this campground. You should know that the view is not an ocean view. This campgrounds view is a bay view. The beach is a rocky small beach. Good for the kids to go exploring but you wouldn't want to swim in it. We stayed for 6 nights at this KOA as we used it as a basecamp to tour Bar Harbor and Acadia National park. Instead of bringing our camper we actually stayed in the cabins this time. They were air conditioned. You didn't need the air for how hot it was but it was humid and loud. Seemed like every few days this KOA had campers depart and another crew came in. Where we were was in the middle of it all. The employees were very nice and helpful to get information and maps. The store was great. Had lots of supplies in case you forgot and pretty good prices. It was great! Friendly staff, campers, amenities, activities and water views. We've now been bitten by the camping bug! This is a great location with great views on the protected site of the island. However, the spots are really small. I feel like we are right on top of each other. And not all the sites have sewer hookups. my daughter begs to camp here. As with any KOA they have lots of activities throughout the day for families, and a pool, but she loves the ice pop contest. if you find a painted rock and bring it to the office you get a free ice pop. it’s the simple things in life, right? we tent camp, without power, so we are way out back. no car noise, Private, a bit of a walk to the showers and bathrooms but the privacy is worth it. the staff are always super nice and they sell ice and fIrewood which I always seem to need!

Macmillan/Farrar, Straus and Giroux Something for You by Charlie Mylie (Nov. 26, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31235-0). When a field mouse discovers that his friend is sick with a cold, he’s determined to make her feel better. Ages 2–5. Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown, illus. by A.G. Ford (Jan. 14, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30752-3). In this story sprinkled with Spanish words, two brown-skinned parents lovingly care for their baby. Ages 2–6. Twins by Mike Ciccotello (Aug. 27, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31212-1) reveals that twins don’t have to be—or look—exactly alike to have fun together. Ages 2–6. Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins, illus. by Sara Palacios (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30373-0). Two siblings and their mother share a brief Christmas visit with their grandmother, who is on the opposite side of the California-Mexico border. Ages 3–6. Come Next Season by Kim Norman, illus. by Daniel Miyares (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30598-7), celebrates family and the changing seasons from a child’s point of view. Ages 3–6. This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart, illus. by David Small (Aug. 27, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30546-8), depicts the connections between diverse readers and their books. Ages 3–6. Anna & Samia: The True Story of Saving a Black Rhino by Paul Meisel (Oct. 15, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30577-2). Conservationist Anna Merz helps a baby rhino found alone in a Kenyan sanctuary to become independent. Ages 4–8. Pippa by Design: A Story of Ballet and Costumes by Claudia Logan, illus. by Chesley McLaren (Sept. 24, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-374-35956-0). Pippa learns about the world of dance and ballet fashion. Ages 7–10. Benchwarmers by John Feinstein (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31203-9). In this series starter, soccer newcomer Jeff warms the bench with Andrea, a skilled player whom the coach sidelines because of her gender. Ages 8–12. Give and Take by Elly Swartz (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30821-6). After her grandmother’s death, Maggie begins hoarding, a coping mechanism that spirals out of control. Ages 8–12. Mighty Moe: The Untold Story of a Thirteen-Year-Old Running Revolutionary by Rachel Swaby and Kit Fox (Oct. 15, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31160-5). In 1967, when teenager Maureen Wilton set the women’s world marathon record, her accomplishment was greeted with accusations of cheating. Ages 8–12. All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney (Nov. 12, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30952-7). A teen caught between two worlds grapples with the difficulties of being a modern Muslim teenager in the U.S. Ages 12–18. The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border by Juan Pablo Villalobos (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30573-4). This novel about the challenges of immigrating to the U.S. illegally is based on interviews with 10 Central American teens. Ages 12–18. Gut Check by Eric Kester (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30762-2). After Wyatt joins the football team to build a relationship with his brother, he faces a difficult decision when his sibling suffers a concussion. Ages 14–18. Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson (Oct. 22, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31062-2). In this retelling of the myth of the Minotaur, a teenage reality show star fights to choose her own fate. Ages 14–18. New Pout-Pout Fish books by Deborah Diesen, illus. by Dan Hanna, are Be Thankful, Pout-Pout Fish (Sept. 3, board book, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30913-8), ages up to 3; The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark (Sept. 10, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31222-0), ages 1–4; and Pout-Pout Fish: Christmas Spirit (Sept. 10, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31048-6) and Pout-Pout Fish: Special Valentine (Nov. 12, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31055-4), ages 2–5. A Unicorn Named Sparkle stars in A Unicorn Named Sparkle’s First Christmas by Amy Young (Aug. 20, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-374-31210-7), ages 2–6. Tractor Mac powers on in Autumn Is Here by Billy Steers (Aug. 20, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30920-6), ages 4–8. Cryptid Catcher adds The Cryptid Keeper by Lija Fisher (Aug. 20, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30556-7), ages 8–11. John Basilone: World War II: Bravery at Guadalcanal by Michael P. Spradlin (Jan. 14, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15717-1) joins Medal of Honor, ages 8–12. Wolfe and Lamb Mysteries picks up Kat Wolfe Takes the Case by Lauren St. John (Oct. 8, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30961-9), ages 8–12. And Alex London’s Skybound Saga continues with Red Skies Falling (Sept. 3, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-374-30684-7), ages 12–18. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends Chicken Break! A Counting Book by Cate Berry, illus. by Charlotte Alder (Oct. 29, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30679-1). Ten chickens have a wild day after breaking out of their coop.Ages 2–5. Old MacDonald Had a Baby by Emily Snape, illus. by K-Fai Steele (Nov. 19, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30281-6). Two dads with a new baby and a cast of animal helpers star in this spin on the familiar song. Ages 2–5. Snakes on the Job by Kathryn Dennis (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-21400-3). Snakes operate construction vehicles in this follow-up to Snakes on a Train. Ages 2–5. Explorers by Matthew Cordell (Sept. 24, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17496-3). During a trip to a museum, an act of forgiveness and kindness brings two families—and two new friends—together. Ages 2–6. Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure by Eva Chen, illus. by Derek Desierto (Nov. 5, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29730-3). The feminist fashionista returns in this sequel to Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes. Ages 4–6. I Knew You Could Do It! by Nancy Tillman (Oct. 15, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-11377-1). This book about resilience and reaching one’s goals celebrates everyday accomplishments and life’s milestones. Ages 4–8. Our World Is Relative by Julia Sooy, illus. by Molly Walsh (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29368-8), introduces Einstein’s theory of relativity. Ages 4–8. Blood Mountain by James Preller (Oct. 29, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17485-7). After siblings get lost on a hike, they discover that the mysterious man who rescues them is not actually there to help. Ages 9–12. The Tornado by Jake Burt (Oct. 1, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16864-1). A boy who devises a finely tuned system that keeps him out of a mean boy’s way faces a dilemma when the bully chooses a new target. Ages 10–14. Supernova by Marissa Meyer (Nov. 5, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-07838-4) concludes the Renegades trilogy about superheroes. Ages 12–18. Almost, Maine by John Cariani (Jan. 21, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-10291-1). In this novel based on a play of the same title, the residents of a Maine town begin falling in and out of love in strange ways. Ages 13–18. Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16274-8) pairs the forbidden magic of a medieval fairy tale with a modern story of passion and betrayal. Ages 13–18. The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig (Jan. 28, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15584-9). A boy vampire arrives in town with a cryptic warning in this LGBTQ-themed mystery. Ages 13–18. Girls Like Us by Randi Pink (Oct. 29, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15585-6) weaves together the stories of four teenage girls dealing with unplanned pregnancies. Ages 13–18. Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo (Oct. 8, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31837-4). In this series launch, a teenage girl enmeshed in dark magic embarks on a quest for redemption. Ages 13–18. My Box-Shaped Heart by Rachael Lucas (Aug. 20, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-13000-6). Two struggling teens forge an unlikely friendship to help each other. Ages 13–18. Remember Me by Chelsea Bobulski (Aug. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18944-8). A teen discovers what connects her to the hotel she calls home when horrifying visions lead her to the truth. Ages 13–18. Pearl returns in Pearl the Flying Unicorn by Sally Odgers, illus. by Adele K. Thomas (Jan. 7, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-23552-7), ages 6–8. Jigsaw Jones Mysteries adds The Case of the Hat Burglar by James Preller, illus. by R.W. Alley (Aug. 6, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20752-4), ages 6–10. Treehouse Books grows with The 117-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths, illus. by Terry Denton (Sept. 24, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31720-9), ages 6–10. Spy Penguins welcomes The Spy Who Loved Ice Cream by Sam Hay, illus. by Marek Jagucki (Sept. 17, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18858-8), ages 7–10. The Magical Unicorn Society issues A Brief History of Unicorns by Selwyn E. Phipps, illus. by Aitch et al. (Oct. 1, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-25187-9), ages 8–11. And A Train to Impossible Places by P.G. Bell adds The Great Brain Robbery (Oct. 1, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19005-5), ages 10–14. InvestiGators by John Patrick Green (Jan. 7, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-250-21995-4) launches a middle-grade graphic novel series following a spy alligator team that travels through the sewers to fight the forces of evil.Ages 7–10. Best Friends by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Aug. 27, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31745-2; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31746-9). This follow-up to the graphic memoir Real Friends relays a story about popularity, first boyfriends, and finding your own path. Ages 8–11. Stargazing by Jen Wang (Sept. 24, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18387-3; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18388-0) is a memoir-based graphic novel about two very different friends in the same Chinese immigrant community. Ages 8–12. Go with the Flow by Karen Schneemann and Lily Williams (Jan. 14, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30572-5; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14317-4) follows four young women through the trials and tribulations of friendship, fights, and periods. Ages 10–14. Lily the Thief by Janne Kukkonen (Nov. 5, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19355-1; paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19697-2). In this fantasy, Lily tries to make a name for herself in a secret society of thieves. Ages 10–14. Truckus Maximus by Scott Peterson, illus. by José García (Oct. 15, $23.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19696-5; paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-59643-814-9), is a dystopian graphic novel about modern-day gladiators who race monster trucks on reality TV. Ages 12–18. Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden (Sept. 10, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-626-72773-1; paper, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20756-2). After a chance encounter, two young women journey through Texas together in this graphic novel about friendship, grief, and healing. Ages 14–18. Pumpkinheads: A Graphic Novel by Rainbow Rowell, illus. by Faith Erin Hicks (Aug. 27, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31285-3; paper, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-162-3). Two teens find love on their last night of working in the local pumpkin patch. Ages 14–18. Kitten Construction Company adds A Bridge Too Fur by John Patrick Green (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-831-8), ages 6–10. Mighty Jack is back in Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke (Sept. 3, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19172-4; paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19173-1), ages 8–12. Star Scouts offers The Invasion of the Scuttlebots by Mike Lawrence (Nov. 5, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19109-0), ages 8–12. And Maker Comics picks up Create a Costume! by Sarah Myer (Aug. 6, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15207-7; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15208-4) and Draw a Comic! by J.P. Coovert (Oct. 22, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15211-4; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15212-1), ages 9–12. Joining Science Comics are Cats: Nature and Nurture by Andy Hirsch (Aug. 13, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14313-6; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14312-9) and Skyscrapers: The Heights of Engineering by John Kerschbaum (Nov. 19, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-626-72795-3; paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-794-6), ages 9–13. Cottons continues with The White Carrot by Jim Pascoe, illus. by Heidi Arnhold (Nov. 12, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-061-9), ages 10–14. And Last Pick gains Born to Run by Jason Walz (Oct. 8, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-626-72892-9; paper, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-893-6), ages 12–18. His Hideous Heart: Thirteen of Edgar Allan Poe’s Most Unsettling Tales Reimagined, edited by Dahlia Adler (Sept. 10, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30277-9). Thirteen authors retell Poe’s stories and poems. Ages 12–18. Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean (Dec. 3, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-22549-8). This story of eight boys abandoned on a rock in the middle of the sea is based on a real event. Ages 12–18. The Night Country by Melissa Albert (Jan. 7, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-24607-3) continues the Hazel Wood series about dark fairy tales that prove to be real. Ages 13–18. Baby Shark, illus. by Stevie Lewis (Jan. 7, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-250-26318-6), illustrates the lyrics of this traditional song. Ages 2–5. Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood, illus. by Irene Chan (Oct. 29, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-23789-7), is a tale of community, compassion, and generosity of spirit. Ages 4–8. I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown and Jason “Rachel” Brown, illus.by Anoosha Syed (Nov. 5, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-23221-2). A father and son take a walk in this celebration of loving yourself, exactly as you are. Ages 4–8. Sootypaws: A Cinderella Story by Maggie Rudy (Jan. 28, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18604-1). In this retelling, a mouse lives with her stepmother and stepsisters—who are rats in all senses of the word. Ages 4–8. This Book Just Stole My Cat! by Richard Byrne (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20667-1). Ben’s cat disappears into the gutter of a naughty book in this follow-up to This Book Just Ate My Dog! Ages 4–8. When the Snow Is Deeper Than My Boots Are Tall by Jean Reidy, illus. by Joey Chou (Nov. 5, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-12712-9), celebrates the fun of playing in the snow and the warmth of a cup of cocoa by the fire. Ages 4–8. It Rained Warm Bread: Moishe Moskowitz’s Story of Hope by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet and Hope Anita Smith, illus. by Lea Lyon (Aug. 13, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16572-5). This novel-in-verse introduces a Jewish teen living in Poland when the Nazis invade the country. Ages 8–11. Who Did It First? 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World by Julie Leung, edited by Alex Hart, illus. by Caitlin Kuhwald (Oct. 15, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-21171-2), profiles individuals who were trailblazers in their fields. Ages 8–12. Who Wants to Be a Pirate? What It Was Really Like in the Golden Age of Piracy by Bridget Heos, illus. by Daniel Duncan (Nov. 26, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-8050-9770-2). The fictional Captain Parrot describes the life of a real swashbuckler from the past. Ages 8–12. The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner, illus. by Matt Saunders (Aug. 6, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29689-4). A girl made of dust, bone, and imagination seeks the truth about the magic that brought her to life. Ages 10–14. Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier (Jan. 28, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30019-5). At the New Year’s Eve ball, a girl working at a grand old hotel in the Swiss Alps becomes immersed in a perilous adventure. Ages 12–18. Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian (Nov. 26, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19664-4). A girl leads magical outlaws on a deadly subterranean mission. Ages 14–18. Light It Up by Kekla Magoon (Oct. 22, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-12889-8). Told from multiple viewpoints, this sequel to How It Went Down relays a story about injustice and strength. Ages 14–18. Lucky Caller by Emma Mills (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17965-4). When four teens start a radio show, a mystery guest segment spirals out of control. Ages 14–18. There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool (Sept. 3, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-21175-0). In this fantasy debut, a secret prophecy foretells the birth of a new prophet who could save or destroy the world. Ages 14–18. Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30985-3). This debut novel is based on the author’s teenage struggle with racism, poverty, and depression. Ages 17–18. How to Hide a Lion adds How to Hide a Lion at Christmas by Helen Stephens (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-23079-9), ages 4–8. New Epic Athletes titles by Dan Wetzel are Lionel Messi, illus. by Jay Reed (Nov. 12, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29581-1); Serena Williams, illus. by Sloane Leong (Aug. 6, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29578-1); Tom Brady, illus. by Kazimir Lee Iskander (Aug. 6, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29579-8); and Lebron James, illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey (Nov. 12, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29580-4), ages 8–12. The Story Collector finds The Story Seeker by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, illus. by Iacopo Bruno (Jan. 28, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30109-3), ages 9–12. And Dance of Thieves adds Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson (Aug. 6, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16265-6), ages 14–18. Cats Are a Liquid by Rebecca Donnelly, illus. by Misa Saburi (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20659-6), examines the unusual physical properties of felines. Ages 4–8. Where Lily Isn’t by Julie Paschkis, illus. by Margaret Chodos-Irvine (Jan. 21, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18425-2), commemorates the loss of a beloved pet. Ages 4–8. Dreams from Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of the United States Told in Poems by Margarita Engle, illus. by Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez (Oct. 8, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-62779-531-9), pays tribute to the experiences and contributions of Latinos throughout U.S. history. Ages 10–14. Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of the SS City of Benares by Deborah Heiligman (Oct. 8, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-62779-554-8) chronicles the German submarine attack on this passenger ship, which was evacuating children from England. Ages 10–14. From a Small Seed: The Story of Eliza Hamilton by Camille Andros, illus. by Tessa Blackham (Oct. 22, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29742-6), profiles this co-founder and director of the first private orphanage in New York City, who was married to Alexander Hamilton. Ages 4–8. Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts by Ginger Wadsworth, illus. by Craig Orback (Sept. 17, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17373-7), is a comics-style picture book biography of Schulz. Ages 8–12. King of the Mole People by Paul Gilligan (Aug. 27, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17134-4). In this series debut, a reluctant young royal sets out to solve the mystery of who is destroying the underworld. Ages 8–12. Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978 by Michael J. Tougias (Oct. 22, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-62779-283-7) offers an account of the Coast Guard’s rescue of the tanker Global Hope, floundering off the Massachusetts coast during a winter storm. Ages 9–14. Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15921-2) is a novel-in-verse recounting a Japanese orphan’s experience in occupied rural Manchuria during WWII. Ages 10–14. The Winterhouse Mysteries by Ben Guterson, illus. by Chloe Bristol (Dec. 31, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-12392-3), concludes the Winterhouse trilogy, ages 9–12. The Awesome, Impossible, Unstoppable Gadget by Kevin Kelly and Rebecca Kelly (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19511-1). At Camp Create, can Trixie’s gadget save the day when a peer’s invention goes awry? Ages 3–6. Monkeys Love to Eat by Trevor Lai (Dec. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-08544-3). Making a meal together, monkey siblings run into trouble when their different tastes collide. Ages 3–8. Rise of the Dragon Moon by Gabrielle K. Byrne (Aug. 6, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19555-5). The princess of a frozen queendom fights to free her mother from the clutches of dragons in this fantasy debut. Ages 8–12. Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland (Oct. 29, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19874-7). A teen faces her terrifying destiny in this dark fantasy featuring mystery, romance, and an asexual protagonist. Ages 14–18. Hostile Territory by Paul Greci (Jan. 28, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18462-7). An earthquake strands four teens in the Alaskan wilderness—and leaves them without a civilization to return to. Ages 14–18. Oasis by Katya de Becerra (Oct. 15, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-12426-5). Reality and mirage blur after teens working at an archeological dig site in the desert become lost in a sandstorm. Ages 14–18. Life Is Short and Then You Die: Mystery Writers of America Presents First Encounters with Murder, edited by Kelley Armstrong (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19639-2), compiles short murder mysteries by various authors. Ages 15–18. The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring (Sept. 24, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30450-6). In this psychological thriller, a young teacher at a remote Argentinian school solves a cosmic mystery and fights for her life. Ages 15–18. Your Brain Needs a Hug: Life, Love, Mental Health, and Sand- wiches by Rae Earl (Aug. 13, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30785-9), offers advice on mental health, social media, family, and friendship. Ages 15–18. Mind Body Baby introduces Meditation (Dec. 31, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-250-24425-3), ages up to 4. New Rainbow Rangers tie-ins by Summer Greene are Rockin’ Rainbow Colors (Sept. 3, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19034-5), ages 1–3; and Meet the Team (Sept. 3, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19031-4); The Quest for the Confetti Crystal, illus. by Joshua Heinsz and Maxime Lebrun (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19033-8); and To the Rescue by Summer Greene (Sept. 3, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19025-3), ages 3–6. And The Fast and the Furriest by Deanna Kent, illus. by Neil Hooson (Sept. 17, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14347-1), joins Snazzy Cat Capers, ages 7–10. My So-Called Superpowers releases All the Feels by Heather Nuhfer, illus. by Simini Blocker (Jan. 21, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-13864-4), ages 8–12. The Real McCoys return in Wonder Undercover by Matthew Swanson (Nov. 5, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30782-8), ages 8–12. Babysitting Nightmares issues The Twilight Curse by Kat Shepherd, illus. by Rayanne Vieira (Aug. 20, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15701-0); and Shepherd’s The Vampire Doll (Jan. 28, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15703-4), ages 9–12. The Sweet Black Waves Trilogy continues with Wild Savage Stars by Kristina Pérez (Aug. 27, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-13283-3), ages 14–17. And A Blade So Black adds A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney (Sept. 24, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15392-0), ages 14–18. Before I Go to Sleep: Bible Stories, Poems, and Prayers for Children by Ann Pilling, illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton (Nov. 5, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7583-6), includes 21 stories from the Old and New Testaments. Ages 4–7. What’s in the Picture? (Nov. 19, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7530-0) and Who’s in the Picture? Take a Closer Look at Over 20 Famous Paintings (Aug. 27, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7503-4) by Susie Brooks. These introductions to art feature reproductions of works by a variety of painters. Ages 5–8. Wheels by Tracey Turner, illus. by Fatti Burke (Sept. 17, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7531-7), showcases many kinds of wheels, including those on bicycles, wheeled toys, Ferris wheels, and potter’s wheels. Ages 6–9. The Curious Book of Lists: 286 Fun, Fascinating, and Fact-Filled Lists by Tracey Turner, illus. by Caroline Selmes (Oct. 22, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7514-0), compiles lists on a broad spectrum of subjects. Ages 6–10. A City Across Time by Peter Kent (Sept. 24, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7520-1) spotlights the archaeology of an imaginary city, from ancient to modern times. Ages 7–11. Kingfisher First Reference adds The Kingfisher First Animal Picture Atlas by Deborah Chancellor and Anthony Lewis (Oct. 29, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7527-0), ages 4–7. New Wow! books by Camilla de la Bedoyere, illus. by Ste Johnson, are Wow! Look What Bugs Can Do! (Oct. 1, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7515-7; paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7516-4) and Wow! Look What’s in the Oceans (Oct. 1, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7517-1; paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7518-8), ages 4–8. In Training welcomes Athlete in Training (Nov. 19, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7523-2), Coder in Training (Nov. 19, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7524-9), Firefighter in Training (Aug. 27, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7497-6), and Vet in Training (Aug. 27, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7496-9) by Cath Ard, illus. by Sarah Lawrence, ages 5–8. My Best Book of... releases My Best Book of Whales and Dolphins by Christiane Gunzi (Oct. 22, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7525-6), ages 5–9. Imagine You Were There... launches Imagine You Were There... Sailing on the Mayflower by Caryn Jenner (Nov. 26, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7529-4), ages 7–11. And The Kingfisher Nature Encyclopedia by David Burnie (Oct. 8, $29.99, ISBN 978-0-7534-7502-7) joins Kingfisher Encyclopedias, ages 8-12. One More Wheel! A Things-That-Go Counting Book by Colleen AF Venable, illus. by Blythe Russo (Aug. 20, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30759-0). Animals compete to find the vehicle with the most wheels. Ages 2–4. The Joke Machine: Create Your Own Jokes and Become Instantly Funny! by Theresa Julian, illus. by Pat N. Lewis (Oct. 8, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31864-0), is a how-to for aspiring jokesters. Ages 8–12. Code This Game! Make Your Game Using Python, Then Break Your Game to Create a New One! by Meg Ray, illus. by Keith Zoo (Aug. 20, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30669-2), offers a game coding guide. Ages 10–14. New Tinkeractive Workbooks by Megan Hewes Butler are Kindergarten English, illus. by Bronwyn Gruet (Dec. 31, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31865-7), ages 5–6; 1st Grade English, illus. by Taryn Johnson (Dec. 31, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31866-4), ages 6–7; and 2nd Grade English, illus. by Chad Thomas (Dec. 31, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31867-1), ages 7–8. And Tiny World issues Embroidery! by Jackie Haug (Sept. 24, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20383-0), Felting! by Linda Li-Chee-Ming (Sept. 24, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20385-4), Pins! by Keith Zoo (Sept. 24, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20384-7), and Sculpting! by Lynnie Popsicle (Sept. 24, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20386-1), ages 10–14. All the following titles are created by Roger Priddy: Touch and Feel picks up Baby Can Do: Bedtime Baby (Oct. 1, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52952-9), ages up to 2. New Alphaprints titles are Alphababies (Sept. 3, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52932-1), Easter 123: Mini Version (Jan. 14, board book, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-68449-044-8), Merry Christmas (Sept. 10, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52937-6), and Puppy Love (Dec. 31, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52938-3), ages up to 3; and Magical Creatures (Aug. 27, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52927-7), ages 1–4. And joining See, Touch, Feel are Create (Sept. 24, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52931-4), ages up to 2; and Spring (Jan. 14, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52972-7), ages up to 3. Funny Friends: Barnyard Bottoms joins Silly Seek-and-Find Books (Oct. 1, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52933-8), ages up to 3. Search and Find releases Santa’s Gifts (Sept. 10, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52969-7), ages up to 3. ABC Books presents ABC Touch & Feel (Sept. 10, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52926-0), ages up to 3. Chirp, Chirp (Jan. 14, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52973-4) is a new Changing Picture Book, ages up to 3. Mini Tab gains Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Sept. 10, board book, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52992-5), ages up to 3. Turn the Wheel spins on with Odd Jobs (Jan. 14, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52974-1), ages up to 4. And Pop-Up Friends welcomes Croc in Love: Full of Pop-Up Fun! (Dec. 31, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-312-52934-5). Ages 1–4. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Tradition by Kevin Noble Maillard, illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal (Oct. 22, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-746-5), is a tale of family, tradition, and food. Ages 3–6. Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy, illus. by Ekua Holmes (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-631-4), offers an anthem exploring interpretations of the color black through an African-American child’s eyes. Ages 3–7. Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars by Richard Ho, illus. by Katherine Roy (Oct. 29, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19833-4), explores the landscape of Mars and the adventures of NASA’s robot rover that roamed the planet. Ages 3–8. Listen by Holly McGhee, illus. by Pascal Lemaître (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-31812-1), encourages readers to engage their senses in order to connect with the world around them. Ages 4–7. Finding Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother Warnie by Caroline McAlister, illus. by Jessica Lanan (Nov. 19, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-658-1), draws on Lewis’s relationship with his brother to tell the story of the author’s life and the creation of Narnia. Ages 4–8. If Elephants Disappeared by Lily Williams (Sept. 17, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14320-4) traces the repercussions of a world without elephants. Ages 4–8. Stella Diaz Never Gives Up by Angela Dominguez (Jan. 14, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-22911-3). A shy Mexican-American girl becomes an environmental activist and makes a difference in her community. Ages 6–9. All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey (Sept. 3, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20286-4). When her mother appears, a girl who has lived in a string of foster homes is swept up in the vortex of her chaos. Ages 8–12. Beetle Battles: One Scientist’s Journey of Adventure and Discovery by Douglas J. Emlen (Dec. 24, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14711-0) adapts Animal Weapons for young readers. Ages 8–12. Born to Fly: The First Women’s Air Race Across America by Steve Sheinkin, illus. by Bijou Karman (Sept. 24, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-130-2), spotlights aviatrixes who took part in the 1929 Air Derby. Ages 10–14. Bringing Down a President: The Watergate Scandal by Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy, illus. by Tim Foley (Aug. 6, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17679-0). This story of Nixon’s downfall features primary-source quotes. Ages 10–14. Rebel by Marie Lu (Oct. 1, 17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-22170-4). In the conclusion to the Legend series, hero Day fights to save his brother from the dark side of Ross City. Ages 12–17. The Liars of Mariposa Island by Jennifer Mathieu (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-633-8). This novel about the lies families tell to survive centers on two siblings whose mother fled revolutionary Cuba as a teen. Ages 12–18. Nick Bruel’s Bad Kitty returns in Searching for Santa (Aug. 20, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19843-3), ages 2–5; and Bad Kitty Joins the Team (Dec. 31, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20807-1), ages 7–10. The Truth About Your Favorite Animals gains The Truth About Hawks by Maxwell Eaton (Nov. 12, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19845-7), ages 4–8. FBI Files spies Catching a Russian Spy: Agent Les Weiser Jr. and the Case of Aldrich Ames by Bryan Denson (Jan. 21, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19916-4), ages 8–12. And Thundercluck continues with Midnight Snack of Shadows by Paul Tillery, illus. by Tillery and Meg Wittwer (Sept. 17, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-250-15530-6), ages 8–12. Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff (Jan. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29432-6). After being dumped by her boyfriend, Cam discovers that some things are more important than boys. Ages 13–18. Gone by Nightfall by Dee Garretson (Jan. 21, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-24522-9). In 1916, Charlotte is torn between her home and her dreams on the eve of the Russian Revolution. Ages 13–18. How the Light Gets In by Katy Upperman (Aug. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30567-1). As a teen copes with her sister’s tragic death, chilling dreams and eerie phenomena convince her that she’s being haunted. Ages 13–18. How to Speak Boy by Tiana Smith (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-24221-1). Two fierce debate rivals connect through anonymous letters and find themselves unknowingly falling for each other. Ages 13–18. The King’s Questioner by Nikki Katz (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19544-9). A boy able to access a person’s memory uncovers a deadly secret inside a prince’s mind. Ages 13–18. Mind Games by Shana Silver (Aug. 27, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19292-9). A teen programmer at a school for geniuses realizes that her memories have been hacked—and removed. Ages 13–18. Rogue Princess by B.R. Myers (Jan. 21, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30343-1). A princess teams up with a snarky commoner to foil a rebel plot in this gender-swapped SF retelling of “Cinderella.” Ages 13–18. We Are the Ghosts by Vicky Skinner (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19535-7). After her estranged brother dies in a car accident, Ellie embarks on a road trip to discover who he really was. Ages 13–18. Soul Keepers gains The Ghost Seekers by Devon Taylor (Aug. 27, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16833-7), ages 13–18. Catfishing on Catnet by Naomi Kritzer (Nov. 19, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16508-4). This novel set in the near future explores issues of online privacy, artificial intelligence, and the perils of social networks. Ages 13–17. Bright Star by Erin Swan (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7653-9299-2). Swan’s fantasy debut presents a tale of rebellion, romance, and finding one’s voice in the heart of a storm. Ages 13–18. The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29970-3). Sold to a “welcome house,”or brothel, as kids and branded with cursed markings, these heroines will need more than luck to survive. Ages 13–18. The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda (Jan. 7, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19238-7). During WWII, unlikely pen pals—a Japanese-American boy and a French Jewish girl—fight to maintain hope in dark times. Ages 13–18. Only a Day Away by Katie McGarry (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19604-0) centers on a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her. Ages 13–18. Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson (Nov. 5, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-20840-8) relays a fantastical story of sisterly love and powerful magic. Ages 13–18. Stormrise by Jillian Boehme (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29888-1). A teen warrior will risk everything to awaken the dragons and save her kingdom in this fantasy inspired by Twelfth Night. Ages 13–18. Strange Exit by Parker Peevyhouse (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7653-9942-7) is a stand-alone thriller set in the near future. Ages 13–18. A Thousand Fires by Shannon Price (Nov. 5, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30199-4). Valerie tries to avenge the death of her brother by joining an elite gang. Ages 13–18. The Infinite Noise joins Bright Sessions by Lauren Shippen (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29751-8), ages 13–18. Dark Intercept issues Dark Star Calling by Julia Keller (Nov. 12, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7653-8769-1), ages 13–18. Hometown Antihero releases Don’t Say a Word by Amber Lynn Natusch (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7653-9771-3), ages 13–18. Origin continues with The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17574-8), ages 13–18. And the Wells of Sorcery Trilogy releases City of Stone and Silence by Django Wexler (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7653-9727-0), ages 13–18. Freeing Finch by Ginny Rorby (Oct. 1, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-29372-5). A transgender girl and a stray dog overcome adversity to find love, home, and a place to belong. Ages 10–14. David Lubar’s Teeny Weenies continues with My Favorite President: And Other Stories (Sept. 3, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17358-4) and The Boy Who Cried Wool: And Other Stories (Sept. 3, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17349-2), ages 7–10. And A Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tales welcomes Lily’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron (Oct. 1, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-21351-8), ages 8–12. Diamond City by Francesca Flores (Jan. 28, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-22044-8). This debut fantasy introduces a heroine who perseveres through poverty, violence, and loss to achieve a future for herself. Ages 12–18. The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young (Sept. 3, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-16848-1). In this follow-up to Sky in the Deep, Tova precipitates events that change the landscape—and might give her a home. Ages 12–18. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (Jan. 21, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-23732-3). In this reimagining of You’ve Got Mail, Pepper and Jack fall for each other while locked in an epic social-media battle. Ages 12–18. Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-250-30370-7). Told in dual timelines, this novel tells of a teen’s months in captivity and her struggle to readjust to her old life after she escapes. Ages 13–18. Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell (Sept. 24, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14607-6). Best friends Simon and Baz set out on a road trip in the sequel to Carry On. Ages 13–18. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (Oct. 8, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-14544-4) is set in a world where teenage girls are banished to the outskirts of town for a yearlong ritual that pits woman against woman. Ages 14–18. Six Goodbyes We Never Said by Candace Ganger (Sept. 24, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-11624-6). Two teens who meet after a tragedy learn about love, loss, and letting go. Ages 14–18. Marshall Cavendish (Asia) The Blue Sock by Gillian Spiller and John Lim (Jan. 7, $10, ISBN 978-981-4868-00-6). When a blue sock goes missing, the other socks in the drawer learn that they are individuals rather than just one of a pair. Ages 3–5. Counting Sheep by Pippa Chorley and Danny Deeptown (Jan. 7, $10, ISBN 978-981-4841-19-1). As a girl counts sheep to fall asleep, the other sheep try to help a tiny one who can’t jump over the fence. Ages 3–5. Adorabull by Alison Donald, illus. by Alex Willmore (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-84886-412-2). When his human best friend wants to bring home an adorable new pet, Alfred the bull needs to up his adorableness game. Ages 4–9. Froggy Day by Heather Pindar, illus. by Barbara Bakos (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-84886-411-5). A weather forecaster’s prediction that it’s going to be “very froggy” proves true. Ages 4–9. Not Yet a Yeti by Lou Treleaven, illus. by Tony Neal (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-84886-414-6). George questions whether or not he really is a yeti like the rest of his family. Ages 4–9. My Totem Came Calling by Blessing Musariri and Thorsten Nesch (Oct. 30, paper, $15, ISBN 978-1-988449-75-3). In Zimbabwe, a rich city girl’s totem animal, the zebra, calls her back to her ancestral village. Ages 14–18. Turnabout Shapes by Agnese Baruzzi (Sept. 1, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-82-5). Die-cut shapes connect to turn one shape into another. Ages up to 3. Peek-a-Who Too? by Elsa Mroziewicz (Sept. 1, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-81-8). In this companion to Peek-a-Who?, kids lift triangular flaps to discover which animal is making each sound. Ages 1–5. Let’s Play Soccer! by Giuliano Ferri (Sept. 1, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-85-6). Die-cut art and animal players offer an introduction to soccer. Ages 2–5. Manny Loses His Fangs by Giuliano Ferri (Sept. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-83-2). A vampire bat worries that he won’t be scary anymore when his baby fangs fall out. Ages 3–5. Little Red Thread by Anne-Gaëlle Balpe and Eve Tharlet (Oct. 1, $17, ISBN 978-988-8341-90-0). When Oli’s red thread gets carried away by the wind, he discovers that a bird is able to use it for her nest. Ages 4–7. Mephisto by Bernard Villiot, illus. by Antoine Guilloppé (Sept. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-86-3). Shunned by the city folk, a black cat leaves for the country, but then finds that the urban dwellers need him after all. Ages 4–7. Bear’s Christmas Surprise by Anastasia Arkhipova, illus. by Bruno Hächler (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-63-4). On Christmas Eve, teddy bears embark on a mission to remind everyone of the true spirit of the holiday. Ages 5–7. Sepia and the Big Ocean by Susanne Timbers (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-84-9). A cuttlefish who loves to play hide-and-seek has to find her way home when a current drags her into the open ocean. Ages 5–7. Sharing Christmas by Eve Tharlet and Kate Westerlund (Oct. 1, $16, ISBN 978-988-8341-91-7). At Christmas, when food is scarce in the forest, a young deer wishes on a star for help. Ages 5–7. A Sky Without Borders by Krystia Basil and Laura Borràs (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-988-8341-89-4). A boy whose family is separated by a border dreams of a world free of barriers. Ages 5–7. Demon in the Whitelands by Nikki Richard (Sept. 24, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-948671-41-5). A cleric’s son who is accused of being a non-believer befriends a demon girl. Ages 14–18. Merged by Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl (Sept. 17, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-948671-34-7). In this series launch, seven gifted teens are implanted with brilliant minds in an effort to accelerate human progress. Ages 14–18. Dark Tomorrow continues with Cult of the Crow by Jeremiah Franklin (Nov. 12, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-948671-95-8), ages 12–18. Bertie’s Book of Spooky Wonders by Ocelot Emerson (Oct. 15, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-948671-89-7). A ghost sends Bertie on a dangerous mission to find an object that will save her stepbrother’s life. Ages 9–12. The Wicked Tree by Kristin F. Thorsness (Oct. 8, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-948671-39-2). To save himself and his friends, Tav must find a fabled tree and confront an evil magic before it consumes him. Ages 9–12. The Magnificent Glass Globe issues The Legacy of the Stewardship by N.R. Bergeson (Aug. 20, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-946700-71-1), ages 9–12. Sharks vs. Sloths by Julie Beer (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3523-5) compares sharks and sloths in 20 categories, such as “Coolest Hangout,” “Weirdest Relatives,” and more. Ages 6–9. Nerd A to Z: Your Reference to Literally Figuratively Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know by T.J. Resler (Aug. 20, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3474-0) compiles info from the realms of science, pop culture, technology, and history. Ages 7–10. The Big Book of Bling: Ritzy Rocks, Extravagant Animals, Sparkling Science, and More! by Rose Davidson (Sept. 3, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3531-0). Photos illustrate this look at things that glow. Ages 8–11. Cat Breed Guide: A Complete Reference to Your Purr-Fect Best Friend by Stephanie Warren Drimmer and Gary Weitzman (Sept. 3, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3439-9) and Dog Breed Guide: A Complete Reference to Your Best Friend Fur-Ever by T.J. Resler and Weitzman (Sept. 3, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3445-0) provide overviews of feline and canine breeds. Ages 8–11. Code This! Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You by Jennifer Szymanski (Aug. 27, paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3443-6) uses puzzles and games to introduce the basics of computer science and coding. Ages 8–11. Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Sept. 10, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3529-7) provides the backstories to things people use or do every day, including foods, clothing items, and beauty regimens. Ages 8–11. The Book of Kings: Magnificent Monarchs, Notorious Nobles, and More Distinguished Dudes Who Ruled the World by Caleb Magyar and Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Nov. 12, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3533-4) and The Book of Queens: Legendary Leaders, Fierce Females, and More Wonder Women Who Ruled the World by Drimmer (Nov. 12, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3535-8). Each volume compiles more than 100 profiles of historical and contemporary luminaries. Ages 8–12. National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture: Stories, Timelines, Maps, and More by Cynthia O’Brien (Nov. 12, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3453-5) spotlights 160-plus tribes. Ages 8–12. Turn It Up! A Pitch-Perfect History of Music That Rocked the World (Dec. 17, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3541-9). This compendium covers key musical genres, instruments, sounds, places, and events. Ages 8–12. First Board Books greets Ocean (Oct. 29, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3468-9) and Wild Animal Sounds (Oct. 29, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3466-5), ages up to 3. National Geographic Readers adds All About Bears: Pre-Reader (Dec. 10, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3484-9), ages 2–5; and Glowing Animals: L1 by Rose Davidson (Sept. 3, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3498-6), Here to There: L1 by Jennifer Szymanski (Sept. 3, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3495-5), and Susan B. Anthony: L1 by Kitson Jazynka (Dec. 17, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3508-2), ages 4–6. New Cool/Cute titles by Crispin Boyer are So Cute! Koalas (Oct. 29, $16.9, ISBN 978-1-4263-3528-0) and So Cool! Leopards (Oct. 29, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3525-9), ages 3–7. And Doggy Defenders welcomes Dolley the Fire Dog (Aug. 13, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3299-9) and Tiger the Police Dog (Aug. 13, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3297-5), ages 4–8; and Stella the Search Dog (Aug. 13, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3449-8) and Willow the Therapy Dog (Aug. 13, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3447-4), ages 5–8. National Geographic Fact Readers gains Ink! 100 Fun Facts About Octopuses, Squids, and More by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Oct. 8, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3501-3) and Squeak! 100 Fun Facts About Hamsters, Mice, Guinea Pigs, and More by Rose Davidson (Oct. 8, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3488-7), ages 6–9. Just Joking features Just Joking: 1,000 Giant Jokes & 1,000 Funny Photos Add Up to Big Laughs (Jan. 2, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3464-1), ages 7–10. Ultimate “Pedias” adds National Geographic Kids Ultimate Weatherpedia: The Most Complete Weather Reference Ever by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Oct. 29, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3543-3), ages 7–10. Absolute Expert issues Pandas: All the Latest Facts from the Field with National Geographic Explorer Mark Brody by Ruth Strother (Aug. 20, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3431-3), ages 8–11. And Weird but True Know-It-All: Ancient Egypt by Sarah Wassner Flynn (Aug. 27, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3545-7) joins Weird but True, ages 8–11. Animal Showdown continues with Round Two by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Aug. 6, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3433-7), ages 8–12. Brain Candy serves up 500 Sweet Facts to Satisfy Your Curiosity by Julie Beer and Chelsea Lin (Oct. 8, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3437-5), ages 8–12. Joining History’s Mysteries is Legends and Lore by Anna Claybourne (Oct. 15, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3462-7), ages 8–12. Treasury of Bible Stories by Donna Jo Napoli, illus. by Christina Balit (Oct. 22, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3538-9), joins the Treasury series, ages 8–12. And Bet You Didn’t Know! adds Bet You Didn’t Know! 2: Outrageous, Awesome, Out-of-This-World Facts (Aug. 6, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3435-1), ages 9–12. Series in Spanish National Geographic Readers offers Rocas y Minerales: L2 (Rocks and Minerals) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (Sept. 3, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3520-4) and Sonia Sotomayor: L3 by Barbara Kramer (Sept. 3, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3517-4), ages 6–9. National Geographic/Under the Stars Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas by Crispin Boyer (Oct. 22, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3547-1) launches a series starring a hamster and his fellow critters at the Mount Olympus Pet Rescue Center. Ages 8–12. Explorer Academy picks up The Double Helix by Trudi Trueit (Sept. 3, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4263-3458-0), ages 9–12. New World Library Big Breath: A Guided Meditation for Kids by William Meyer, illus. by Brittany Jacobs (Sept. 10, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-60868-633-9), presents a meditation aiming to calm, soothe, and empower children. Ages 4–10. Stig and Tilde launches with Vanisher’s Island by Max de Radiguès (Sept. 10, paper, $13.95, ISBN 978-1-910620-64-9), ages 10–14. DeadEndia releases The Broken Halo by Hamish Steele (Nov. 5, paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-910620-62-5), ages 10–18. And Alexander Utkin’s Gamayun Tales offers Tyna of the Lake (Aug. 27, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-910620-51-9), ages 10–18. The Immortal Jellyfish by Sang Miao (Aug. 20, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-911171-79-9). A boy feels overwhelmed and confused when his grandfather dies—until they meet again in a dream. Ages 5–7. Orchestra by Avalon Nuovo, illus. by David Doran (Nov. 5, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-912497-86-7), provides an introduction to instruments and legendary composers. Ages 7–10. Professor Astro Cat returns in Professor Astro Cat’s Stargazing by Dominic Walliman, illus. by Ben Newman (Aug. 6, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-912497-83-6), ages 5–7. Kai and the Monkey King by Joe Todd Stanton (Oct. 22, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-912497-11-9) joins Brownstone’s Mythical Collection, ages 5–9. And Hilda returns in Hilda and the Mountain King by Luke Pearson (Sept. 3, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-911171-17-1), ages 7–18. New Picture Book Biographies by Andi Diehn, illus. by Katie Mazeika, are Computer Decoder: Dorothy Vaughan, Computer Scientist (Sept. 10, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-765-0), Fossil Huntress: Mary Leakey, Paleontologist (Sept. 10, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-773-5), Human Computer: Mary Jackson, Engineer (Sept. 10, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-777-3), and Space Adventurer: Bonnie Dunbar, Astronaut (Sept. 10, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-769-8), ages 5–8. And Gutsy Girls Go for Science: With STEM Projects for Kids introduces Astronauts by Alicia Klepeis (Sept. 24, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-781-0), Engineers by Diane Taylor (Sept. 24, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-785-8), and Paleontologists (Sept. 24, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-793-3) and Programmers (Sept. 24, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-61930-789-6) by Karen Bush Gibson, all illus. by Hui Li, ages 8–10. Bad Day by Ruby Roth (Sept. 10, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-62317-351-7). A boy whose day goes wrong discovers how to figure things out and move on. Ages 3–7. May All People and Pigs Be Happy by Micki Fine Pavlicek, illus. by John Pavlicek (Oct. 29, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-62317-389-0). A stuffed pig helps a frustrated girl find compassion, friendship, and love. Ages 4–8. Across a Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood (Nov. 5, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-63583-042-2). In 1936 San Francisco, a teen defies her family to help a doctor care for those building the Golden Gate Bridge. Ages 14–18. Ricochet by Kathryn Berla (Oct. 8, paper, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-63583-040-8) introduces a girl whose unique DNA allows her to connect to her three other selves across the multiverse. Ages 14–18. The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi (Dec. 3, paper, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-63583-044-6). In this Viking fantasy, a teen strikes a deal with Norse gods to bring her warrior sister back from the dead. Ages 14–18. Keeper Duology by Kim Chance wraps up with Seeker (Sept. 10, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-63583-038-5), ages 14–18. North Star/Jolly Fish The Missing Barbegazi by H.S. Norup (Nov. 12, paper, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-377-5). Tessa sets out to prove her grandfather right: that mythical, gnome-like creatures in the Alps do exist. Ages 8–12. Doggie Daycare opens for business in Most Valuable Puppy by Carol Kim, illus. by Felia Hanakata (Sept. 1, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-340-9), ages 6–8. Histronauts presents A Viking Adventure by Frances Durkin, illus. by Grace Cooke (Sept. 1, paper, $10.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-364-5), ages 7–10. Cogheart Adventures continue with Moonlocket by Peter Bunzl (Aug. 13, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-375-1), ages 8–12. Joining Haunted States of America is Curse of the Dead-Eyed Doll by Thomas Kingsley Troupe, illus. by Maggie Ivy (Sept. 1, paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-348-5), ages 8–12. I Am America Set 2 offers If the Fire Comes: A Story of Segregation During the Great Depression by Tracy Daley, illus. by Eric Freeberg (Sept. 1, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-372-0), ages 8–12. Nocturnal Symphony: A Bat Detector’s Journal by J.A. Watson, illus. by Arpad Olbey (Sept. 1, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-300-3), joins Science Squad, ages 8–12. And Sandwich Shenanigans by Verity Weaver, illus. by Courtney Huddleston (Sept. 1, paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-63163-316-4), is new to What Happened?, ages 8–12. The Bad Mood by Moritz Petz, illus. by Amélie Jackowski (Nov. 5, board book, $8.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4387-5). In this cautionary tale, a grumpy badger spreads his bad mood far and wide. Ages up to 3. Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child, illus. by Christopher Manson (Sept. 3, board book, $8.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4393-6). Woodcuts illustrate this Thanksgiving poem. Ages up to 3. Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine by Zoë Tucker, illus. by Rachel Katstaller (Sept. 3, $18.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4317-2), profiles this woman whose insight on algorithms helped create early computers. Ages 4–8. The Dark and the Light by Kerstin Hau, illus. by Julie Völk (Sept. 3, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4385-1). With the help of a new friend, a creature who has been living in darkness returns to the world of color. Ages 4–8. Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale Collection by Hans Christian Andersen, illus. by Josef Palecek (Sept. 3, $25, ISBN 978-0-7358-4380-6), collects five classics. Ages 4–8. I Am a Thief! by Abigail Rayner, illus. by Molly Ruttan (Sept. 3, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4289-2). After stealing a stone from a classroom display, Eliza overcomes her shame to make things right. Ages 4–8. The Revenge of the Black Cat: Swiss Myths by Katja Alves (Oct. 1, $19.95, ISBN 978-3-314-10488-6) retells 23 traditional Swiss myths from each of the country’s four regions. Ages 4–8. Snow for Everyone! by Antonie Schneider, illus. by Pei-Yu Chang (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4320-2). In this tale about sharing, three friends in Jerusalem playfully debate who the falling snow belongs to. Ages 4–8. The Star Child by Bernadette Watts (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4349-3). A girl discovers the rewards of generosity when she gives the scarce food and few possessions she has to others. Ages 4–8. Tell by Warja Lavater (Nov. 5, $17.95, ISBN 978-3-314-10492-3). Told in pictograms inspired by Manhattan street signs, this wordless story spotlights the Swiss folk hero, archer Wilhelm Tell. Ages 4–8. Who Stole the Hazelnuts? by Marcus Pfister (Sept. 3, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4382-0). A squirrel who impulsively accuses his forest friends of stealing his missing hazelnuts learns a lesson. Ages 4–8. Wilhelm’s Journey by Anke Bär (Sept. 3, $21.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4352-3). A girl reads her great-great-grandfather’s journal chronicling his immigration from Germany to America in 1872. Ages 4–8. Willy’s World of Wonders by Willy Puchner (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7358-4383-7). Photos, illustrations, and text uncover an array of “Wonders.” Ages 4–8. Rising Stars Set 2 releases Football’s New Wave: The Young Superstars Taking Over the Game by Will Graves (Sept. 1, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-63494-090-0), ages 8–14. Norton Young Readers Mr. Nogginbody Gets a Hammer by David Shannon (Sept. 3, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-324-00344-1). Mr. Nogginbody gets carried away with his new hammer, thinking that everything is a nail. Ages 3–8. The Old Truck by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey (Jan. 7, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-324-00519-3). An old truck falls into disrepair and lies nearly forgotten on a family farm—except by an imaginative girl. Ages 4–7. Free Lunch by Rex Ogle (Sept. 10, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-324-00360-1). The author reflects on starting sixth grade on his school’s free lunch program and on growing up poor and hungry. Ages 9–12. Ollie and Harry’s Marvelous Adventures by Ollie Ferguson and Harry Ferguson (Oct. 8, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-324-00395-3) outlines 500 adventures, including setting up a wildlife reserve and building an igloo. Ages 9–12. What Linnaeus Saw: A Scientist’s Quest to Name Every Living Thing by Karen Magnuson Beil (Oct. 1, $21.95, ISBN 978-1-324-00468-4) is a biography of Carl Linnaeus, whose system for classifying plants and animals is the foundation of modern scientific taxonomy. Ages 9–12. Snowflake, AZ by Marcus Sedgwick (Sept. 17, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-324-00441-7). This novel about the illness and health of humans and our planet explores resilience, trust, family, and love. Ages 13–18. Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton (Oct. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-40638-551-9). When Little Crab is afraid of ocean waves, Big Crab encourages her to face her fears. Ages 2–6. Somos8 gains It Wasn’t Me! by Daniel Fehr, illus. by Pauline Reeves (Sept. 24, $15.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-94-9); and My Big Bear, My Little Bear and Me by Margarita del Mazo, illus. by Rocio Bonilla (Oct. 22, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-50-5), ages 3–7; The Finger and the Nose by Paula Merlán, illus. by Gómez (Oct. 22, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-78-9), ages 4–9; and Wonder Mole’s Scent Costume Party by Pato Mena (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-98-7), ages 5–9. Egalité welcomes The Day of Your Arrival by Dolores Brown, illus. by Reza Dalvand (Oct. 8, $15.95, ISBN 978-84-17673-02-4), ages 4–9. And Little Captain Jack returns in The Big Booger Battle by Alicia Acosta, illus. by Monica Carretero (Nov. 12, $15.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-91-8), ages 4–9. Titles in Spanish ¡Shhh! Tenemos un plan (Shhh! We Have a Plan) (Nov. 5, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17673-21-5), No tengas miedo, Cangrejita (Don’t Worry, Little Crab) (Oct. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17673-19-2), and Un poco perdido (Little Owl Lost) (Oct. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17673-13-0), by Chris Haughton, ages 2–6. Series in Spanish Somos8 releases ¡Yo no fui! (It Wasn’t Me!) by Daniel Fehr, illus. by Pauline Reeves (Sept. 24, $15.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-93-2); and Mi oso grande, mi oso pequeño y yo (My Big Bear, My Little Bear and Me) by Margarita del Mazo, illus. by Rocio Bonilla (Oct. 22, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-49-9), ages 3–7; El dedo en la nariz (The Finger and the Nose) by Paula Merlán, illus. by Gómez (Oct. 22, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-77-2), ages 4–9; and La gran fiesta de los olores (Wonder Mole’s Scent Costume Party) by Pato Mena (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-97-0), ages 5–9. Egalité adds El día en que llegaste (The Day of Your Arrival) by Dolores Brown, illus. by Reza Dalvand (Oct. 8, $15.95, ISBN 978-84-17673-01-7), ages 4–9. And El pequeño pirata serafín (Little Captain Jack) picks up La isla de los mocos (The Big Booger Battle) by Alicia Acosta, illus. by Monica Carretero (Nov. 12, $15.95, ISBN 978-84-17123-90-1), ages 4–9. Vivaldi by Helge Torvund and Mari Kanstad Johnsen, trans. by Jeanie Shaterian (Nov. 5, paper, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-68137-374-4). After spending summer days with her new cat, Vivaldi, Tyra feels anxious and alone when school starts again—and only music and her cat can comfort her. Ages 8–12. The Moon Is a Silver Pond by Sara Cassidy, illus. by Josée Bisaillon (Sept. 10, board book, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1864-4), encourages readers to use their imaginations to look at objects from new perspectives. Ages up to 2. A Potato on a Bike by Elise Gravel (Oct. 8, board book, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2320-4) shares such absurd images as those of a fly on the phone and a carrot in the tub. Ages up to 2. Summer Days Fall Days (Sept. 24, board book, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2106-4) and Winter Days Spring Days (Sept. 24, board book, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2109-5) by Kate Colley, illus. by Dale Nigel Goble, are flip books introducing the seasons. Ages up to 2. Yoga Baby by Amy Hovey (Oct. 1, board book, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1828-6) reveals shapes that young yoga practitioners can make with their bodies. Ages up to 2. May We Have Enough to Share by Richard Van Camp (Oct. 1, board book, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1624-4). Photos illustrate this book expressing gratitude. Ages up to 3. My Bright Friend by Simon Boulerice, illus. by Marilyn Faucher (Sept. 24, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2189-7). After Ludo’s parents separate, an imaginative new friend helps him adjust to life at his father’s city digs. Ages up to 5. My Head in the Clouds by Danielle Chaperon, illus. by Josée Bisaillon (Oct. 8, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2178-1), follows an intrepid young explorer who’s adventurous, brave—and a wee bit forgetful. Ages up to 5. Treasure by Mireille Messier, illus. by Irene Luxbacher (Sept. 10, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1734-0). Two siblings on a treasure hunt aren’t sure what kind of treasure they’re looking for. Ages up to 5. Light a Candle/Tumaini Pasipo Na Tumaini by Godfrey Nkongolo and Eric Walters, illus. by Eva Campbell (Oct. 1, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1700-5). In this story told in English and Swahili, a boy lights a candle atop Mount Kilimanjaro to unite two lands as the United Republic of Tanzania. Ages 6–8. The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden by Heather Smith, illus. by Rachel Wada (Sept. 17, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2103-3). When a tsunami destroys his village, Makio loses his father and his voice, until a mysterious phone helps him heal. Ages 6–8. Nevers by Sara Cassidy (Sept. 3, paper, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2163-7). In 1799 France, a midwife’s assistant and her new friend uncover a mystery that may lead to riches and a sense of belonging. Ages 9–12. Tales from Beyond the Brain by Jeff Szpirglas, illus. by Steven P. Hughes (Sept. 3, paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2079-1), compiles 13 terrifying tales. Ages 9–12. The Taste of Rain by Monique Polak (Sept. 3, paper, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2026-5). Set in 1945, this story centers on a girl who is a prisoner at the Weihsien Internment Camp in northern China. Ages 9–12. The Justice Project by Michael Betcherman (Oct. 1, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2250-4). A teen left disabled by an accident lands a summer job at an organization that defends the wrongly convicted. Ages 13–17. The World on Either Side by Diane Terrana (Sept. 10, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2217-7). After the death of her boyfriend, a devastated girl and her mother go on a jungle trek in Thailand. Ages 13–17. Title in French Trésor (Treasure) by Mireille Messier, illus. by Irene Luxbacher (Sept. 10, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2327-3), ages up to 5. Billy Stuart stars in Billy Stuart and the Sea of a Thousand Dangers by Alain M. Bergeron, trans. by Sophie B. Watson, illus. by Sampar (Oct. 1, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2343-3), ages 6–8. Lucy Tries Sports scores Lucy Tries Basketball by Lisa Bowes, illus. by James Hearne (Sept. 3, paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1697-8), ages 6–8. Sueño Bay Adventures issues Shadow Island by Mike and Nancy Deas (Oct. 1, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1961-0), ages 6–8. Joining World Around Us is Under Our Clothes: Our First Talk About Our Bodies by Jillian Roberts, illus. by Jane Heinrichs (Sept. 17, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2097-5), ages 6–8. Orca Echoes adds Cougar Frenzy by Pamela McDowell, illus. by Kasia Charko (Oct. 8, paper, $7.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2064-7); The Ghost of Mill House by Margriet Ruurs, illus. by Claudia Davila (Sept. 24, paper, $7.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2035-7); and Ruckus by Laurie Elmquist, illus. by David Parkins (Sept. 3, paper, $7.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1795-1), ages 7–9. The Monster Sisters save the day in The Monster Sisters and the Mystery of the Unlocked Cave by Gareth Gaudin (Sept. 17, paper, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2226-9), ages 9–12. Ours to Share: Co-Existing in a Crowded World by Kari Jones (Oct. 8, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1634-3) joins Orca Footprints, ages 9–12. New Orca Wild titles are Gone Is Gone: Wildlife Under Threat by Isabelle Groc (Sept. 24, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1685-5), and Orcas Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales by Mark Leiren-Young (Sept. 3, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1998-6), ages 9–12. Orca Sports gains Boil Line by M.J. McIsaac (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1843-9) and Kick Start by Michele Martin Bossley (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1813-2), ages 10–13. Orca Currents flows on with Double Trouble by Joanne Levy (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2133-0), Iggy’s World by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2139-2), Just Three by Lorna Schultz Nicholson (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2169-9), Kung Fu Master by Marty Chan (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2246-7), and Who Is Tanksy? by Bev Katz Rosenbaum (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2085-2), ages 10–14. Amber Fang returns in Betrayal (Sept. 3, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2272-6) and Revenge (Sept. 3, paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2275-7) by Arthur Slade, ages 13–17. Choosing to Live, Choosing to Die: The Complexities of Assisted Dying by Nikki Tate, illus. by Belle Wuthrich (Sept. 17, paper, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-1889-7), joins Orca Issues, ages 13–17. And Orca Soundings continues with Crime Club by Melodie Campbell (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2238-2), Girls Like Me by Kristin Butcher (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2055-5), and Watch Out by Alison Hughes (Aug. 27, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2235-1), ages 14–17. Series in French Lucy Tries Sports offers Lucy Joue au Basketball (Lucy Tries Basketball) by Lisa Bowes, illus. by James Hearne (Sept. 3, paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-4598-2338-9), ages 6–8. Gerald the Lion by Jessica Souhami (Oct. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-910959-81-7). Collage art reveals that Gerald, a bold lion seeking adventure in the jungle, is actually an imaginative cat in the city. Ages 2–6. My Friends by Max Low (Sept. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-910959-82-4) is a story about the value of having friends and the joy of being alone. Ages 3–5. Binky’s Time to Fly by Sharmila Collins, illus. by Carolina Rabei (Nov. 1, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-910959-68-8). A butterfly’s friends help him mend his weak wings in this tale of empathy and inclusion. Ages 3–8. Fiddle Dee Dee! by Dianne Hofmeyr, illus. by Piet Grobler (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-910959-75-6). In this South African trickster tale, jungle animals quarrel over a musical bow until a monkey steps in. Ages 4–8. Me and Mrs Moon by Helen Bate (Sept. 6, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-910959-94-7). Two children help an elderly friend with dementia in this graphic novel. Ages 7–12. Five Flamingos come to the rescue in The Yum Yum Tree by Jonnie Wild, illus. by Brita Granstrom (Oct. 3, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-910959-83-1), ages 3–9. Grimworld: Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock by Avery Moray (Nov. 1, paper, $11.95, ISBN 978-1-78904-157-6). In this mystery, the pocket watch counting down to Henry’s death won’t stop ticking. Ages 12–17. May’s Moon releases Fortis Mission by S.Y. Palmer (Oct. 1, paper, $11.95, ISBN 978-1-78904-091-3), ages 8–12. And The Princess Gardener returns in Jake’s Book by Michael Strelow (Dec. 1, paper, $11.95, ISBN 978-1-78904-232-0), ages 8–12. Panda Opposites by Suzi Eszterhas (Aug. 13, board book, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-330-9). Playful pandas illustrate the concept of opposites. Ages up to 3. Upsy Daisy, Baby! by Susan Hughes, illus. by Ashley Barron (Sept. 17, board book, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-387-3), shows how people throughout the world carry their little ones. Ages up to 3. The Trouble with Time Travel by Stephen W. Martin, illus. by Cornelia Li (Oct. 15, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-332-3). When a girl and her dog break an heirloom vase, they build a time machine to fix things. Ages 3–7. The House at the End of the Road by Kari Rust (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-335-4). Kids learn that appearances can be deceiving after they befriend an elderly man who lives in a creepy old house. Ages 4–8. A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice by Nadia Hohn, illus. by Eugenie Fernandes (Aug. 13, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-350-7), profiles this Jamaican writer. Ages 4–8. When Molly Drew Dogs by Deborah Kerbel, illus. by Lis Xu (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-338-5). On the eve of her first day of school, a girl copes with her anxiety by drawing dogs. Ages 4–8. Where Are You Now? by Tyler Clark Burke (Oct. 15, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-367-5). This book prompting dialogue about loss and death encourages children to find comfort in transformation. Ages 4–12. The Clothesline by Orbie, trans. by Karen Li (Oct. 15, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-390-3). A boy is stuck hanging from a clothesline in this tale about dealing with the consequences of our choices. Ages 5–8. Dear Mr. President by Sophie Siers, illus. by Anne Villeneuve (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-391-0). A boy who dislikes sharing a bedroom with his brother explores the possibility of building a dividing wall. Ages 5–8. Livi and Nate by Kalle Hakkola, illus. by Mari Ahokoivu, trans. by Owen Witesman (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-372-9). This series launch offers a junior graphic novel following two siblings’ fantastical nighttime dreams. Ages 6–9. Acting Wild: How We Behave Like Birds, Bugs, and Beasts by Maria Birmingham, illus. by Dave Whamond (Aug. 13, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-326-2), surveys similarities between human and animal behavior. Ages 7–10. Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Lisa Cinar (Aug. 13, paper, $10.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-386-6). Clara thinks she might have superpowers in this series debut. Ages 8–12. Canadian Concepts offers Canadian Animals in Colour by Valerio Geraldo (Sept. 17, board book, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-388-0), ages up to 3. Poppy and Sam sleuth on in Poppy and Sam and the Mole Mystery by Cathon (Aug. 13, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-379-8), ages 5–8. And West Meadows Detectives return in The Case of Maker Mischief by Liam O’Donnell, illus. by Aurélie Grand (Aug. 13, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-77147-385-9), ages 7–10. Easy Paper Projects: 60 Crafts You Can Wear, Gift, Use and Admire by Maggy Woodley (Sept. 10, paper, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-850-7) rounds up everyday and holiday craft projects made of paper. Ages 6–11. Amazing Lego Creations from Space with Bricks You Already Have: 25 New Spaceships, Rovers, Aliens, Robots and Other Fun Projects to Expand Your Lego Universe by Sarah Dees (Nov. 26, paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-910-8) launches a series of space-themed Lego project books. Ages 6–12. The Ultimate Kids’ Baking Book: 60 Easy and Fun Dessert Recipes for Every Holiday, Birthday, Milestone and More by Tiffany Dahle (Nov. 12, paper, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-878-1) compiles recipes for young bakers. Ages 8–14. Page Street Kids Gus and the Greatest Catch of All by Victoria Cossack (Oct. 22, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-819-4). A fisherman learns that it’s more fulfilling to have friends than fame. Ages 4–8. Jumping Mouse: A Native American Legend of Friendship and Sacrifice by Misty Schroe (Nov. 5, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-817-0) is a retelling of a Native legend illustrated with photos of sculptures. Ages 4–8. My Shape Is Sam by Amanda Jackson, illus. by Lydia Nichols (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-770-8). This story about identity is told from the perspective of a square struggling to find his place in the world. Ages 4–8. Nothing Wee About Me! A Magical Adventure by Kim Chaffee, illus. by Laura Bobbiesi (Nov. 12, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-692-3). Liesel proves that, with gumption and imagination, anyone can be a hero. Ages 4–8. The Traveler’s Gift by Danielle Davison, illus. by Anne Lambelet (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-765-4). A magical traveling storyteller befriends a lonely boy in this story of loss, discovery, and friendship. Ages 4–8. Ruby’s Hope: A Story of How the Famous “Migrant Mother” Photograph Became the Face of the Great Depression by Monica Kulling, illus. by Sarah Dvojack (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-818-7), offers a fictionalized account of the story behind Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era Migrant Mother photo. Ages 6–10. Fun and Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials: 60 Cool Projects That Reimagine Toilet Paper Rolls, Egg Cartons, Jars and More! by Kimberly McLeod (Dec. 3, paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-908-5) compiles eco-friendly craft activities. Ages 6–11. By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-799-9). As the farm he inherited heads to foreclosure, Torrey faces a choice between his family and his future. Ages 14–18. Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-797-5). When CeCe’s born-again boyfriend dumps her after they have sex, she follows him to Jesus camp in order to win him back. Ages 14–18. Refraction by Naomi Hughes (Nov. 5, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62414-890-3). Ever since an alien ship was destroyed over Earth, cities have been plagued by a deadly fog and monsters. Ages 14–18. The Haircut by Theo Heras, illus. by Renne Benoit (Aug. 20, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-095-6). A toddler bravely takes his turn in the barbershop chair for his first haircut. Ages 1–3. Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round by Rosanna Battigelli, illus. by Tara Anderson (Sept. 3, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-092-5). A cat family carves a pumpkin after picking it out at the pumpkin patch. Ages 3–6. Nutcracker Night by Mireille Messier, illus. by Gabrielle Grimard (Nov. 1, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-091-8). In this onomatopoeic tale, a girl attends her first ballet with her father. Ages 3–7. Finding Lucy by Eugenie Fernandes (Oct. 28, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-088-8). A girl attempts to paint the color of laughter in her garden, in this story about self-expression. Ages 4–7. Lili Macaroni by Nicole Testa, illus. by Annie Boulanger (Aug. 15, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-093-2). A girl relies on her ingenuity and the support of her family when classmates tease her about her physical traits. Ages 4–7. Bon Voyage, Mister Rodriguez by Christiane Duchesne, illus. by Francois Thisdale (Nov. 14, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-089-5). An elderly man’s enigmatic behavior is part of his preparation for the afterlife. Ages 5–8. A Bear in War by Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat, illus. by Brian Deines (Nov. 1, paper, $11.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-086-4), relays the true story of the teddy bear that a girl shipped to her father, a medic in France during WWI, which was returned after his death and now sits in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Ages 6–10. What Cats Think by John Spray, illus. by Mies Van Hout (Sept. 26, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-087-1). Portrayals of felines in various situations capture cats’ personalities. Ages 6–10. The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women by Ailsa Ross, illus. by Amy Blackwell (Sept. 27, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-098-7), showcases intrepid females throughout history. Ages 8–12. Harvey Comes Home by Colleen Nelson, illus. by Tara Anderson (Sept. 19, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-097-0). A terrier that wanders away from home is taken in by a boy volunteering at a retirement home. Ages 8–12. The Flooded Earth trilogy concludes with The Skeleton Coast by Mardi McConnochie (Nov. 28, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-77278-099-4), ages 9–12. Brina the Cat launches with The Gang of the Feline Sun by Giorgio Salati, illus. by Christian Cornia (Jan. 14, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0425-4; paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0426-1), ages 7–12. Geeky Fab Five adds Volume 3: DOGgone CATastrophe by Liz and Lucy Lareau, illus. by Ryan Jampole and Jen Hernandez (Sept. 24, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0323-3; paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0361-5), ages 7–12. Geronimo Stilton Reporter adds Volume 3: Stop Acting Around, created by Geronimo Stilton (Sept. 3, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0332-5), ages 7–12. Gillbert adds Volume 2: The Curious Mysterious by Art Baltazar (Oct. 22, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0348-6; paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0349-3), ages 7–12. And Loud House adds Volume 8: Livin’ La Casa Loud! by Loud House Creative (Nov. 26, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0342-4; paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5458-0343-1), ages 7–12. Drawing God by Karen Kiefer, illus. by Kathy Dewit (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-64060-187-1). After a field trip to an art museum, Emma wants to draw something spectacular and decides to draw God. Ages 5–10. Yes, I Can Listen! by Steve Metzger, illus. by Susan Szecsi (Aug. 6, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-64160-174-0), uses rhymes, illustrations, and various characters to encourage children to develop attentive listening skills. Ages 5–7. Moose & Mr. Brown by Paul Smith, illus. by Sam Usher (Oct. 8, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-84365-428-5). In this series launch, a fashion designer meets Moose on a plane and agrees to help him find his lost twin brother. Ages 4–8. Adventures on Earth by Simon Tyler (Sept. 3, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-84365-427-8) examines celebrated explorers and the extreme environments they’ve visited. Ages 7–13. One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read (Oct. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-131-7) is a counting tale set in a moonlit farmyard. Ages 2–6. Little Tigers by Jo Weaver (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-110-2). As hunters approach a tiger’s home in the jungle, she and her cubs must find a new home away from danger. Ages 3–7. Aalfred and Aalbert by Morag Hood (Sept. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-121-8) portrays the blossoming friendship between two aardvarks. Ages 4–8. Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond, illus. by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-56145-954-4). Ava serves as a “citizen scientist” identifying and counting the birds in her New England town. Ages 4–8. Duck and Penguin Are Not Friends by Julia Woolf (Sept. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-132-4). Duck and Penguin have some fun in this tale about building friendship on your own. Ages 4–8. Lana Lynn Howls at the Moon by Rebecca Van Slyke, illus. by Anca Sandu (Sept. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-050-1). An adventurous sheep tries to take a walk on the wild side and discovers more than she expected. Ages 4–8. Lula and the Sea Monster by Alex Latimer (Aug. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-122-5). A girl who must leave her home by the beach to make way for a new highway befriends a sea monster. Ages 4–8. King of the Tightrope: When the Great Blondin Ruled Niagara by Donna Janell Bowman, illus. by Adam Gustavson (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-56145-937-7), spotlights Jean-François Gravelet, known as the Great Blondin, who crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope in 1859. Ages 6–10. Save the Crash-Test Dummies by Jennifer Swanson (Oct. 1, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-022-8) This history of car production includes the failures and successes that led to inventions we take for granted. Ages 8–12. Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson (Aug. 1, $22.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-105-8) is an updated edition of this book revealing that many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in the Constitution. Ages 11–15. About Habitats navigates Rivers and Streams by Cathryn Sill, illus. by John Sill (Aug. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-091-4), ages 3–7. Stanley reappears in Stanley’s Train by William Bee (Aug. 1, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-108-9), ages 3–7. Nina Soni stars in Nina Soni, Former Best Friend by Kashmira Sheth, illus. by Jenn Kocsmiersky (Oct. 1, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-057-0), ages 7–10. Fred Bowen’s Speed Demon (Sept. 1, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-076-1) is a new Fred Bowen Sports Story, ages 7–12. And Mr. Penguin is back in Mr. Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets by Alex T. Smith (Oct. 1, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-68263-130-0), ages 8–12. Noah and the Eight Trucks of Hanukkah by Nancy Rips, illus. by Marina Saumell (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2203-0). A truck-loving boy celebrates a Festival of Trucks along with the Festival of Lights. Ages up to 5. Spooky Second Line by Johnette Downing (Aug. 15, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4556-2505-5) follows a Halloween parade in New Orleans. Ages up to 5. The Flying Horses of City Park by Kat Pigott (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2471-3). A girl and her nana take the streetcar to City Park in New Orleans to ride the carousel. Ages 3–8. Katie Comma by B. Swann, illus. by Maja Andersen (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2461-4). In this introduction to punctuation, other punctuation marks tell Katie Comma she’s in the wrong place. Ages 3–8. Swashbarklers of the Sea by Cynthia Kremsner (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2414-0). A crew of pirate dogs encounters fearsome Barkbeard on the high seas. Ages 3–8. Thibodeaux Turtle and Boudreaux Bunny: The Tortoise and the Hare with a Louisiana Twist by Todd-Michael St. Pierre, illus. by Lee Randall (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2450-8), puts a Louisiana spin on this Aesop tale. Ages 3–8. When the Morning Comes: A Mardi Gras Indian Story by Juan Pardo, illus. by Vernon Smith (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2439-3), depicts the tradition of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Indians. Ages 3–8. The Case of the Left-Hand Trombone by Kathleen Schrenk, illus. by Vernon Smith (Dec. 15, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4556-2531-4). A detective and her nephew search for an instrument thief in New Orleans. Ages 6–10. Jack and the Devil Boats: A Higgins PT Boat Story by Karen Kersting (Aug. 15, paper, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2486-7) traces the history of Andrew Higgins’s WWII patrol torpedo boats. Ages 8–12. Journey Through the Unified Field by Cassie Barlow and Sue Norrod, illus. by Amy Gantt (Aug. 15, paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4556-2478-2). Emma uses virtual reality to locate her pilot father, a prisoner in Somalia. Ages 8–12. The Maid: The Story of Joan of Arc by L. Hitchcock (Oct. 15, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2507-9) is an illustrated retelling of the story of Joan of Arc, written in iambic pentameter. Ages 8–12. A Mighty Stream by Rhonda Rucker (Sept. 15, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-4556-2492-8). In this story set against the backdrop of the Birmingham Children’s March, Earl wants revenge after the Klan bombs his house, killing his mother. Ages 8–12. Twelve Days of Christmas adds The New Orleans Twelve Days of Christmas by Lisa Brown, illus. by Sarah Cotton (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4556-2453-9), ages 3–8. Penguin Bedtime Classics welcomes Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Oct. 15, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-593-11325-7); and The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann (Oct. 15, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-593-11324-0), both illus. by Carley Gledhill, ages up to 2. Mr. Men and Little Miss return in Pirate Adventure by Adam Hargreaves (Aug. 13, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9239-8), ages 6–7. Peter Rabbit stars in Peter Rabbit Movie 2: Reader by Frederick Warne (Jan. 14, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-0-241-41086-8), ages 6–7. And new Penguin Minis are A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Oct. 22, paper, $12, ISBN 978-0-593-11445-2) and Heidi by Johanna Spyri (Oct. 22, paper, $12, ISBN 978-0-593-11446-9), ages 8–12; Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Oct. 22, paper, $12, ISBN 978-0-593-11444-5), ages 10–18; and If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Oct. 22, paper, $12, ISBN 978-0-593-11442-1) and Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson (Oct. 22, paper, $12, ISBN 978-0-593-11443-8), ages 12–18. All the Bad Apples by Moira Fowley-Doyle (Aug. 27, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55274-1). Letters Deena receives from her wild older sister, who has gone missing and is presumed dead, reveal a family curse. Ages 13–17. Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer (Dec. 24, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-984816-39-9). Children display gestures of kindness in various situations. Ages up to 3. One Snowy Morning by Kevin Tseng, illus. by Dana Wulfekotte (Nov. 5, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-3041-5). Two woodland friends find a pile of snow decked out with funny objects that they put to creative use. Ages 2–5. Bear Is Awake! An Alphabet Story by Hannah E. Harrison (Nov. 12, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-399-18666-0). A “big bear” and a girl living in a “cozy cabin” forge an unlikely friendship in this alphabet-centric tale. Ages 3–5. Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin, illus. by Blanca Gomez (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55381-6). A mouse travels the world in this search-and-find rhyming story. Ages 3–5. Stretchy McHandsome by Judy Schachner (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-8037-4121-8). An attractive cat with a penchant for trouble finds the warm human lap he’s been longing for. Ages 3–5. The Space Walk by Brian Biggs (Oct. 29, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55337-3) puts an interstellar spin on the parent-child relationship theme. Ages 3–7. The Gift Inside the Box by Adam Gran and Allison Sweet Grant, illus. by Diana Schoenbrun (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984815-46-0). A mysterious gift box searches for the perfect someone to open him. Ages 5–8. Goodnight Bubbala by Sheryl Haft, illus. by Jill Weber (Oct. 15, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55477-6). In this Hanukkah parody of Goodnight Moon, a quiet room becomes the setting for a family dance party. Ages 5–8. I Want a Dog by Jon Agee (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55546-9). Will a girl find her ideal pet at an unusual animal shelter? Ages 5–8. If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55291-8). In this companion to If I Built a Car, a boy fantasizes about his dream school. Ages 5–8. It’s the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis (Sept. 24, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-2801-6). Derrick is certain that the apocalypse is coming—and when it does, it looks like nothing he expected. Ages 8–12. As Many Nows as I Can Get by Shana Youngdahl (Aug. 20, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55385-4). The summer before college, two teens plunge into romance, particle physics, and questionable decisions. Ages 14–18. Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-593-10817-8). Leaving home for a summer internship, Juliet hopes to come to terms with her Puerto Rican and lesbian identities. Ages 14–18. Kevin the Unicorn has a bad day in It’s Not All Rainbows by Jessika Von Innerebner (Oct. 22, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984814-30-2), ages 3–7. Snowmen are back in Snowmen at Halloween by Caralyn M. Buehner, illus. by Mark E. Buehner (Aug. 20, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55468-4), ages 3–7. Dory Fantasmagory has a new adventure in Tiny Tough by Abby Hanlon (Oct. 8, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55397-7), ages 4–8. New Ordinary People Change the World titles by Brad Meltzer, illus. by Christopher Eliopoulos, are I Am Marie Curie (Sept. 10, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55585-8), ages 5–8; and I Am Walt Disney (Sept. 10, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-2875-7), ages 8–12. And Circus Mirandus gains The Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55263-5), ages 9–12. Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club by Sara Nickerson (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-101-99442-9). After a classroom experiment, two boys learn that a unique way of seeing the world can lead to making a friend. Ages 10–18. My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-399-18735-3). Visiting her father in Harlem during the summer of 1984, a girl searches to find her place in a fast-changing world. Ages 10–18. Flowers in the Gutter by K.R. Gaddy (Jan. 7, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55541-4) recounts the story of the Edelweiss Pirates, German teens who not only survived but resisted the Nazis. Ages 12–18. The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-55548-3). In this story told in two voices, two black girls from different backgrounds find love and happiness. Ages 14–18. Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap Snowball by Sue Hendra, illus. by Paul Linnet (Oct. 15, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09593-5). A curious little snowball makes a clumsy move on his downhill walk to town. Ages 3–5. Matilda: Be Outrageous: Big Ideas from a Small Girl by Roald Dahl, illus. by Stephen Baxter (Sept. 10, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9361-6). This hand-lettered gift book compiles quotes and passages from Mathilda. Ages 8–12. Llama Llama is back in Llama Llama Hide & Seek by Anna Dewdney (Jan. 14, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09356-6), ages 3–5. Little Miss Valentine joins Mr. Men and Little Miss by Adam Hargreaves (Dec. 24, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9360-9), ages 3–5. The Night Before gains The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing, illus. by Amy Wummer (Dec. 24, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9325-8), ages 4–8. And The Little Engine That Could chugs along in Love from the Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper; Illustrated by Jill Howarth (Dec. 24, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09433-4), ages 5–8. At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorell, illus. by Weshoyot Alvitre (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-3060-6). A Cherokee family separated by duty and distance waits for a loved one to return home from WWII. Ages 4–8. Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez (Sept. 3, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-425-29043-9). In this summer adventure, three very different girls receive a mysterious invitation to a lavish mansion. Ages 9–12. Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya (Aug. 6, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-451-47972-3). When Emilia’s father returns from deployment, they repair their relationship in the face of their changing family and community. Ages 10–18. Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer, illus. by Marcos Almada Rivero (Aug. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-4070-2). This bilingual story follows the annual migration of monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico. Ages 3–5. Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-399-16290-9). Eight siblings and their mother must start life all over again when their father dies. Ages 4–8. My Tiny Pet by Jessie Hartland (Aug. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-3753-5). After her family moves and she has to find new homes for her pets, a girl creates a new, tiny pet. Ages 4–8. The President of the Jungle by André Rodrigues et al. (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984814-74-6). In this introduction to elections, animals who are fed up with their selfish lion king decide to vote for a president. Ages 5–8. Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons, illus. by Keith Mallett (Aug. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51609), reveals how two Florida brothers in 1900 wrote what has become known as the Black National Anthem. Ages 5–8. Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51724-5) tells of two unlikely friends whose anti-racism posts go viral, sparking change in the wake of a hate crime against one of their grandfathers. Ages 8–12. Pixie Pushes On by Tamara Bundy (Jan. 14, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51516-6). In the 1940s, a girl learns bittersweet life lessons on her family farm after her sister contracts polio. Ages 10–18. Moneybunnies issues Save It! by Cinders McLeod (Sept. 3, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-984812-40-7), ages 3–5. The Grey Sisters by Jo Treggiari (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-6298-0). Two years after their siblings die in a plane accident, two sisters head to the scene of the crash to try to uncover the truth. Ages 12–up. Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8662-5). A boy who crosses the bay to search for his father in Old San Juan discovers the true meaning of home. A Book of Love by Emma Randall (Dec. 24, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9331-9). Love and the many ways one can show it are at the heart of this picture book. Ages 3–7. No One Likes a Fart by Zoe Foster Blake, illus. by Adam Nickel (Nov. 19, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9189-6). Can lonely Fart find a friend who likes him just the way he is? Ages 3–7. Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind by Jessica Hische (Jan. 14, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8704-2). This follow-up to Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave emphasizes the importance of even the smallest acts of kindness. Ages 3–7. The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa by Jamie L.B. Deenihan, illus. by Erin Hunting (Oct. 1, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9080-6). Saint Nick is not willing to share Christmas Eve with the Tooth Fairy. Ages 3–7. Humpty Dumpty Lived Near a Wall by Derek Hughes, illus. by Nathan Christopher (Jan. 7, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9302-9). Humpty Dumpty is on a mission to question the point of the wall. Ages 10–18. Ashley Evanson’s Hello, World visits Tokyo: A Book of Senses (Sept. 24, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9233-6) and Rio de Janeiro: A Book of Sounds (Sept. 24, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9235-0), ages 3–5. The Crayons by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers, reappear in The Crayons’ Christmas (Oct. 15, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51574-6), ages 3–7; and Love from the Crayons (Dec. 24, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9268-8), ages 5–8. Mr. Boddington’s Studio presents Chicago ABCs (Jan. 14, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9349-4) and San Francisco ABCs (Jan. 14, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9347-0), ages 3–5. Maud the Koala rolls out with Meet Maud the Koala by J.E. Morris (Jan. 21, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09436-5), ages 4–8. Rollo the bulldog stars in Uh-Oh, Rollo! (Sept. 10, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9243-5) and Where’s Rollo? (Sept. 10, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9246-6) by Reed Duncan, illus. by Keith Frawley, ages 6–7. And Arnold and Louise return in All the Fun Winter Things by Erica S. Perl, illus. by Chris Chatterton (Oct. 15, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9048-6), ages 6–8. Princess Pulverizer is back in Gotta Warn the Unicorns (Oct. 1, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9157-5) and Yo-Ho, Yo... NO! (Jan. 14, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9160-5) by Nancy Krulik, illus. by Ian McGinty, ages 6–8. Fantastic Frame adds Warning! Journey to Forever by Lin Oliver, illus. by Emily Kimbell and Samantha Kallis (Sept. 24, paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8699-1), ages 7–9. And joining What Is the Story Of? are What Is the Story of Frankenstein? by Sheila Keenan and Who HQ, illus. by David Malan (Aug. 13, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8842-1); and What Is the Story of Wonder Woman? by Steven Korte and Who HQ, illus. by Jake Murray (Aug. 13, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8827-8), ages 8–11; and What Is the Story of Doctor Who? by Gabriel P. Cooper and Who HQ, illus. by Gregory Copeland (Oct. 15, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9106-3); and What Is the Story of the Wizard of Oz? by Kirsten Anderson and Who HQ, illus. by Robert Squier (Oct. 15, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8830-8), ages 8–12. Who Was? greets Who Is R.L. Stine? by M.D. Payne and Who HQ (Aug. 6, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-399-53959-6) and Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg? by Patricia Brennan Demuth and Who HQ (Dec. 3, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9353-1), both illus. by Jake Murray; Who Was Sam Walton? by James Buckley and Who HQ, illus. by Ted Hammond (Nov. 26, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9270-1); and The Who Was? History of the World by Paula K. Manzanero and Who HQ, illus. by Robert Squier (Oct. 8, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8800-1), ages 8–11; and Who Was Mister Rogers? by Diane Bailey and Who HQ, illus. by Dede Putra (Oct. 15, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9219-0), ages 8–12. And new What Was? titles are What Was the Berlin Wall? by Nico Medina and Who HQ (Sept. 24, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8967-1) and What Were the Negro Leagues? by Varian Johnson and Who HQ (Dec. 24, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8998-5), both illus. by Stephen Marchesi, ages 8–12. Where Is? offers Where Is the Serengeti? by Nico Medina and Who HQ, illus. by Manuel Gutierrez (Sept. 24, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9256-5); and Where Is the Vatican? by Megan Stine and Who HQ, illus. by Laurie A. Conley (Dec. 24, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9259-6), ages 8–12. Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat releases The Spacedog Cometh by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth, illus. by Robb Mommaerts (Oct. 8, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8724-0), ages 8–12. The Very Short, Entirely True History issues The Very Short, Entirely True History of Unicorns by Sarah Laskow, illus. by Sam Beck (Aug. 13, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9273-2), ages 8–12. Gudetama stars in The Twelve Mehs of Christmas by Gudetama the Lazy Egg by Francesco Sedita and Max Bisantz (Oct. 15, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9358-6), ages 10–18. And Midnight Arcade concludes with Magician’s Gambit/Wild Goose Chase! A Play-Your-Way Adventure by Gabe Soria, illus. by Kendall Hale (Sept. 3, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-8435-5), ages 10–18. Penguin/Penguin Young Reader Licenses Sonic the Hedgehog stars in Meet Sonic! by Brandon T. Snider (Oct. 8, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09393-1), ages 3–7; and Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Movie Novelization by Kiel Phegley (Nov. 8, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09301-6), ages 8–12. Llama Llama returns in Llama Llama Secret Santa Surprise by Anna Dewdney (Oct. 15, paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9362-3), ages 4–6. Fingerlings offers Gigi’s Comedy Hour: A Fingerlings Joke Book by Brian Elling, illus. by Shane L. Johnson (Oct. 8, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-9363-0), ages 4–8. And new Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal titles are Heroes of the Resistance: A Guide to the the Characters of the Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance by J.M. Lee (Nov. 12, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09539-3) and Aughra’s Words of Wisdom, illus. by Cory Godbey (Nov. 12, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09432-7), ages 12–18. The Heart of a Whale by Anna Pignataro (Jan. 28, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-27-4). Whale’s song of hope doesn’t bring him joy—until the ocean carries his mournful sigh to just the right place. Ages 3–7. Snack Attack! by Terry Border (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-4011-5). Cookie, Pretzel, and Cheese Doodle learn that no snack is safe from the monster that is the Kid. Ages 3–7. The Fate of Fausto: A Painted Fable by Oliver Jeffers (Sept. 3, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-593-11501-5). A greedy man claims everything he sees as his own, but then he encounters the sea. Ages 4–8. Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor, illus. by Rafael López (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51412-1), celebrates the different abilities kids have that make each child unique. Ages 4–8. Squeak! by Laura McGee Kvasnosky, illus. by Kate Harvey McGee (Aug. 27, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51815-0). In this chain-reaction tale, one little noise precipitates cacophony in the animal world. Ages 4–8. There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984837-26-4). As it turns out, there’s a whole lot more than just a log on the bottom of this lake. Ages 4–8. The Ultimate Bet by Ed Young (Jan. 7, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51382-7). When the Wind, Rain, and Sun debate who is the strongest, a girl passing by helps solve the argument. Ages 4–8. We Really Do Care by Tami Lewis Brown, illus. by Tania de Regil (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-30-4). A boy refuses to share until he realizes that he and a girl who has nothing of her own are quite similar. Ages 4–8. The Other Side of the Wall by Amy Ephron (Oct. 15, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-984813-27-5). Tess and Max from The Castle in the Mist and Carnival Magic have an enchanted Christmas adventure in London. Ages 8–12. Strike Zone by Mike Lupica (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51488-6) continues the story, begun in Heat, of a Little Leaguer with big dreams who lives in New York City with his immigrant family. Ages 10–18. The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (Oct. 22, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-399-16031-8). Set in 1957 Madrid, this novel of identity and love was inspired by Spain’s post-WWII struggles under Franco’s fascist regime. Ages 12–18. Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s Germany by Andrew Maraniss (Nov. 5, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51463-3) examines the birth of Olympic basketball at the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin. Ages 12–18. Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao (Nov. 5, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-3835-8). After cruelly rejecting Bao, Lan finds her ex’s prized flute, unaware that a witch has trapped his soul inside it. Ages 12–18. We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund (Sept. 3, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51800-6). On the 50th anniversary of a tornado that killed dozens of teens, an Indiana town is shaken when a second tornado touches down. Ages 12–18. Max and Marla return in Max and Marla Are Flying Together by Alexandra Boiger (Oct. 8, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51566-1), ages 3–5. And Mike Lupica’s Zach and Zoe Mysteriescontinues with The Hall of Fame Heist (Jan. 28, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-89-2) and The Lacrosse Mix-Up (Nov. 5, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-86-1), ages 6–9. Billy and the Minpins by Roald Dahl, illus. by Quentin Blake (Sept. 3, paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-593-11342-4). This interpretation of Dahl’s final story features new art by Blake. Ages 7–9. Thrifty Guides releases The Thrifty Guide to Medieval Times: A Handbook for Time Travelers by Jonathan W. Stokes (Aug. 20, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48028-6), ages 8–12. Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi (Jan. 7, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-6691-9). When someone leaks embarrassing footage from the school’s security cameras, friends launch an art-based protest. Ages 10–up. Broken Strings by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer (Sept. 10, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7352-6624-7). An old violin and a middle-school musical unleash a dark family secret in this story about the power of music. Ages 10–14. In a Jar by Deborah Marcero (Jan. 21, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51459-6). How can two friends continue their magical collection—and their special friendship—when one moves away? Ages 3–7. Billie Jean! How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports by Mara Rockliff, illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley (Aug. 20, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51779-5), profiles this tennis star who championed gender fairness and equality on and off the court.Ages 4–8. Five Minutes: (That’s a Lot of Time) (No, It’s Not) (Yes, It Is) by Audrey Vernick and Liz Garton Scanlon, illus. by Olivier Tallec (Sept. 17, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51631-6). During a busy day, a boy discovers that sometimes five minutes can feels like forever—or like no time at all. Ages 4–8. Some Snow Is... by Ellen Yeomans, illus. by Andrea Offermann (Nov. 5, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-399-54754-6). Three young neighbors enjoy all types of snow through the season. Ages 4–8. The Tale of the Tiger Slippers by Jan Brett (Sept. 17, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-399-17074-4). Set in India, this reimagining of a Middle Eastern folktale features a poor tiger whose hard work pays off. Ages 4–8. Eats More, Shoots & Leaves: Why, All Punctuation Marks Matter! by Lynne Truss, illus. by Bonnie Timmons (Oct. 22, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-984815-74-3), is a pocket-sized compendium of these collaborators’ trio of books about punctuation. Ages 6–9. The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows, illus. by Sam Ricks (Jan. 21, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-984813-30-5). This series opener introduces a boy who’s not sorry that he makes trouble—he’s only sorry to get caught. Ages 8–12. Confessions of a Dork Lord by Mike Johnston. illus. by Marta Altés (Jan. 28, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-4081-8). An evil warlock-in-training has trouble fulfilling his great and terrible destiny. Ages 8–12. True Tales of Triumph and Disaster: A Flicker of Courage by Deb Caletti (Jan. 7, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-984813-05-3) launches a series about a tongue-in-cheek hero in a town full of magic, mayhem, and evil. Ages 8–12. Dead Voices by Katherine Arden (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51505-0). The trio of friends from Small Spaces are on vacation when a ghost hunter arrives to investigate hauntings at their ski lodge. Ages 10–18. Aurelian Cycle: Fireborne by Rosaria Munda (Oct. 15, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51821-1). Annie and Lee are rising stars in a new regime, in this debut volume of a fantasy series of rivalry, romance, and dragons.Ages 12–18. The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh (Oct. 8, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-3817-4) launches a romantic series set in 19th-century New Orleans, where vampires hide in plain sight. Ages 12–18. The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5247-4095-5). When she challenges issues of race and gender in her anonymous advice column, Jo Kuan is not prepared for the backlash. Ages 12–18. A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy (Oct. 29, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51858-7). A princess born with the magick of blood and marrow faces her older sister in a battle for the Ivory Throne. Ages 12–18. Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon (Aug. 6, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-525-51764-1). In homophobic 1973, Jonathan must decide if he can be true to himself when he falls for an openly gay boy. Ages 12–18. Frankly in Love by David Yoon (Sept. 10, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-984812-20-9). To placate their traditional parents and gain their freedom, two Korean-American teens pretend to date each other. Ages 14–18. Chapter Two Is Missing by Josh Lieb, illus. by Kevin Cornell (Oct. 29, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984835-48-2). The narrator needs some help sorting things out when a chapter of the book walks off. Ages 4–6. Bid My Soul Farewell by Beth Revis (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-59514-719-6). In this follow-up to Give the Dark My Love, Emperor Auguste plans to rid the island of necromancy. Ages 12–18. Layoverland by Gabby Noone (Jan. 21, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-12-0). Bea awakens from a fatal car accident in purgatory and must help souls cross into heaven—including the boy who caused the accident. Ages 12–18. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi (Oct. 15, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48167-2). In 2172 Nigeria, two sisters struggle to survive during an ongoing civil war and fight for a peaceful future. Ages 12–18. I Know You Remember by Jennifer Donaldson (Oct. 8, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-59514-854-4). This follow-up to Lies You Never Told Me is a thriller set in a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Ages 14–18. Obviously: Stories from My Timeline by Akilah Hughes (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-101-99890-8). This comedian and activist traces her journey from her Kentucky childhood to her career in New York City.Ages 14–18. Seafire adds Steel Tide by Natalie C. Parker (Sept. 17, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-451-47883-2), ages 12–18. Baby Feminists Too by Libby Babbott-Klein (Sept. 10, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48013-2). This companion to Baby Feminists introduces 10 more pioneering leaders. Ages up to 3. Hi, Jack! (Sept. 3, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-593-11379-0) and Jack Blasts Off (Sept. 3, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-593-11385-1) by Mac Barnett, illus. by Greg Pizzoli, open a series about a mischievous rabbit, a cranky old lady, and a lovable dog. Ages 4–8. Voyage of the Frostheart by Jamie Littler (Nov. 5, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48134-4). A song weaver and his yeti caretaker seek passage on a ship-like sleigh bound for faraway lands. Ages 8–12. We Are Makers: Women and Girls Shaping Our World by Amy Richards (Nov. 19, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-451-46892-5) compiles stories of trailblazing women who are profiled in the Makers video collection. Ages 8–12. Werepenguin: The Curse of the Werepenguin by Allan Woodrow (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48044-6). In this series debut, an orphan turns half-penguin when a young Bulgarian baron bites him.Ages 8–12. All the Days Past, All the Days to Come by Mildred D. Taylor (Jan. 7, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-399-25730-8) concludes the Logan Family saga, which includes the Newbery-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Ages 10–18. Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne (Jan. 14, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48154-2) spotlights the overlooked story of the key role that black women played in the suffrage movement. Ages 10–18. Brave the Page (Aug. 27, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-451-48029-3). This writing guide includes chapters on character, plot, and setting, as well as motivating essays from authors.Ages 12–17. Devil Darling Spy by Matt Killeen (Jan. 21, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-451-47925-9). In this follow-up to Orphan Monster Spy, Sarah hunts down a rogue German doctor in West Africa who might be a serial murderer. Ages 12–18. The Prom: A Novel Based on the Hit Broadway Musical by Saundra Mitchell et al. (Sept. 10, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-984837-52-3). Emma longs to dance with her girlfriend at the senior prom, in this story of an unlikely group of friends who learn that love is always worth fighting for. Ages 12–18. Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall (Sept. 24, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-984837-01-1) is a novel featuring a vengeful ghost, a missing girl, and the sister who is determined to find her—at all costs. Ages 12–18. The Storm of Life by Amy Rose Capetta (Jan. 28, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-451-47847-4). This sequel to The Brilliant Death completes a gender-fluid fantasy duology set in a fictional country. Ages 14–18. New Froggy stories by Jonathan London, illus. by Frank Remkiewicz, are Froggy Builds a Snowman (Jan. 7, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-36-6), ages 2–5; and Froggy Picks a Pumpkin (Aug. 27, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-984836-33-5), ages 3–5. Llama Llama cleans up in Llama Llama Mess Mess Mess by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan (Aug. 20, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-670-01644-0), ages 2–5. Joining Lost is The Lost Cousins by Brian Cronin (Oct. 8, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-451-47908-2), ages 3–7. Girls Who Code presents How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk, illus. by Sara Palacios (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-425-29203-7), ages 4–8. Edison Beaker, Creature Seeker returns in The Lost City by Frank Cammuso (Nov. 19, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-425-29195-5), ages 8–12. The Last Kids on Earth reappear in The Last Kids on Earth and the Midnight Blade by Max Brallier and Douglas Holgate (Sept. 17, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-425-29211-2), ages 8–12. And Sally Green’s The Smoke Thieves enter The Demon World (Aug. 6, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-425-29024-8), ages 14–18. Red Riding Hood by Beatrix Potter, illus. by Helen Oxenbury (Sept. 24, $20, ISBN 978-0-241-37534-1). Written more than a century ago but never-before-illustrated, this book offers a slightly darker take on the classic tale. Ages 3–7. Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stars in A Pumpkin for Peter (Aug. 13, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-241-35874-0) and The Tale of Peter Rabbit: Holiday Edition (Oct. 15, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-14-137749-0), ages 3–5; and Peter Rabbit 2: 8 x 8 Movie Tie-in (Jan. 14, paper, $4.99, ISBN 978-0-241-41566-5), ages 3–7. And Spot returns in Find Spot at the Library (Sept. 3, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-241-38796-2) by Eric Hill, ages 3–5. Trini’s Big Leap by Beth Kephart and Alexander de Wit, illus. by William Sulit (Aug. 13, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-9996584-5-1), encourages children to try new activities, even if they seem difficult at first. Ages 5–8. The Cloud Lasso by Stephanie Schlaifer, illus. by Melodie Stacey (Nov. 12, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-9996584-4-4). Delilah uses a trick her grandfather taught her to overcome her sadness after his death. Ages 6–11. The Pear Tree by Luli Gray, illus. by Madelyn Goodnight (Oct. 8, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-9996584-6-8). This folktale retelling, Gray’s final work, aims to help children understand concepts of mortality and immortality. Ages 8–12. Sam! by Dani Gabriel, illus. by Robert Liu-Trujillo (Sept. 10, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-9996584-3-7). In this story about embracing one’s true self, Sam is a nine-year-old boy whose family knows him as a girl named Isabel. Ages 8–12. Tales of Ramion adds The Body Collector by Frank Hinks (Oct. 1, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-909938-20-5), ages 8–12. Lost and Found by JiWon Beck (Sept. 1, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4413-3186-1). In this wordless tale, an indigenous girl befriends a weak and hungry polar bear who returns her kindness during a storm. Ages 3–8. This Cowgirl Ain’t Kiddin’ about the Potty by Sarah Glenn Fortson and Russ Cox (Oct. 1, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4413-3165-6). A cowgirl in a 10-gallon hat and a two-quart diaper says she has no time to use the potty. Ages 3–8. 100 Questions About... issues 100 Questions About Sharks by Simon Abbott (Aug. 1, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4413-3107-6), ages 7–12. Art This Way by Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford (Oct. 16, board book, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-7148-7721-1) offers an interactive introduction to art from the Whitney Museum’s collection. Ages 2–4. Wrinkles by J.R. (Sept. 11, board book, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-83866-016-1). This photographer and artist presents an ode to wrinkles and the stories they tell. Ages 2–6. The Ball Book: From Footballs to Eyeballs and Everything In-Between by Joshua David Stein, illus. by Marcus Oakley (Sept. 18, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-83866-012-3), compares and contrasts a range of sports balls. Ages 3–5. Yves Klein Covered People in Paint and Wasn’t Sorry by Fausto Gilberti (Sept. 11, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-83866-014-7) introduces this contemporary artist and forerunner of minimalism and Pop art. Ages 4–7. Extinct by Lucas Riera and Jack Tite (Oct. 21, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-83866-037-6) showcases animals that no longer live on the planet and provides information on how to save existing species. Ages 5–8. The Silver Spoon for Children, New Edition: Favorite Italian Recipes by Amanda Grant and Harriet Russell (Sept. 18, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-83866-019-2) celebrates the 10th anniversary of this cookbook. Ages 7–10. Phoenix International/PI KIds Baby Santa: A Mirror Book by Emily Skwish, illus. by Anita Schmidt (Aug. 15, board book, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4641-1), is a holiday search-and-find book. Ages up to 2. Precious Moments: Whooo Loves You, Baby? A Mirror Book by Emily Skwish (Nov. 15, board book, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4928-3), views parent-and-child animal pairs. Ages up to 2. Fox Gives Thanks by Erin Rose Wage, illus. by John John Bajet (Oct, 1, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4672-5). A simple act of kindness ripples outward in a community. Ages 3–6. Naughty or Nice? by Erin Rose Wage, illus. by Alex Willmore (Aug. 15, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4671-8), is a Yuletide tale of opposites. Ages 3–6. Rocket and Rover/All About Rockets by Emily Skwish, illus. by Henry W. Ng (Nov. 15, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4820-0). A rocket befriends a rover in this flip book containing rocket facts. Ages 3–6. Sloth Sees the World/All About Sloths by Susan Rich Brooke, illus. by Julilustrador (Nov. 15, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4821-7). In this flip book with sloth info, a sloth embarks on a journey. Ages 3–6. Treat or Trick? by Emily Skwish, illus. by Kim Barnes (Aug. 1, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4670-1). When Halloween and Opposite Day fall on the same day, monsters have an innovative celebration. Ages 3–6. Jurassic World: Dinosaurs in Your World by Riley Beck (Aug. 1, board book, $27.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4597-1). This sound book provides tips for surviving in a dinosaur-human world. Ages 4–8. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Around the World: Sights and Sounds for Adventure Seekers by Claire Winslow, illus. by Shutterstock Artists (Oct.1, hardcover, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4576-6), explores various regions’ history, culture, natural wonders, and languages. Ages 7–10. What Do You See? adds Around the World by Kathy Broderick, illus. by Shutterstock Artists (Aug. 1, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4628-2), ages up to 2. A Book in Four Languages presents My Colors by Broderick (Aug. 1, board book, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4702-9) and My Numbers by Claire Winslow (Aug. 1, board book, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4701-2), both illus. by Kris Dresen, ages 1–3. Listen and Learn adds Baby Einstein: Here We Go! by Emily Skwish (Oct. 15, board book, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4794-4); ages 1–3. New Little Sound Book titles are Disney Junior Fancy Nancy: Ooh La! La! I Love Being Fancy by Kathy Broderick (Aug. 1, board book, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4594-0), ages 3–6; Potty Time with Thomas: A Potty Training Sound Book by Susan Rich Brooke (Oct. 15, board book, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4795-1), ages 3–6; and Sesame Street: It’s Cool to Be Kind by Erin Rose Wage, illus. by Tom Brannon (Dec. 1, board book, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4912-2), ages 3–6. And I’m Ready to Read offers DreamWorks Trolls: Poppy’s Pals! by Kathy Broderick (Aug. 1, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4572-4, ages 3–6. Frozen 2 tie-ins are Glow Flashlight Adventure Book by Emily Skwish (Oct. 4, board book, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4765-4) and Little Sound Book by Erin Rose Wage (Oct. 4, board book, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4727-2), ages 3–6; Look and Find by Skwish (Oct. 4, hardcover, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4358-8) ages 4-8; and Skwish’s I’m Ready to Read (Oct. 4, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4602-2), ages 5–7. My First Look and Find picks up Disney Junior Fancy Nancy by Kathy Broderick (Sept. 15, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4594-0); and Thomas and Friends by Claire Winslow, illus. by Nigel Chilvers (Dec. 1, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4796-8), ages 3–6. Look and Find adds Best of Marvel by Derek Harmening, Jennifer H. Keast, and Rachel Halpern, illus. by Art Mawhinney (Aug. 15, hardcover, $10.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4789-0); and Ugly Dolls by Emily Skwish (October 15, hardcover, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-5054-8), ages 5–7. And Shaped Look and Find issues JoJo Siwa: Out of This World by Claire Winslow (Oct. 15, board book, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5037-4927-6), ages 6–9. BTS: K-Pop Kings by Helen Brown (Oct. 8, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-64517-137-9) is a fan guide to this Korean boy band. Ages 8–12. Bodega Cat by Louie Chin (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-57687-932-0). A savvy city cat takes readers through his day “running” the family bodega in New York City. Ages 3–5. The Climbing Tree by John Stith (Nov. 22, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-57687-934-4). Two brothers’ imaginations can create a world within a tree’s branches, but can the siblings find a way to share the same space? Ages 3–7. Ignore the Trolls by Jordan Gershowitz, illus. by Sandhya Prabhat (Oct. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-57687-933-7). A timid boy learns to ignore the vicious trolls besieging the kingdom. Ages 4–8. Yum Yummy Yuck by Amanda Jane Jones and Cree Lane Jones (Sept. 3, board book, $9.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7405-5) aims to teach babies and toddlers what they should and shouldn’t put in their mouths. Ages 1–3. The Big Book of Everything You Need to Get the Job Done by Mia Cassany, illus. by Maria Suarez Inclan (Oct. 22, $14.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7404-8), showcases tools of the trade needed for various careers. Ages 3–6. A Dragon on the Roof: A Children’s Book Inspired by Antoni Gaudí by Cecile Alix, illus. by Fred Sochard (Sept. 10, $14.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7391-1). A dragon lands on the roof of Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, in this story introducing the Spanish architect’s work. Ages 4–8. Taxi Ride with Victor by Sara Trofa, illus. by Elsa Klever (Sept. 17, $14.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7406-2). An extraterrestrial taxi driver with a bad memory stars in this tale about friendship and opportunities. Ages 4–8. Great Streets of the World: From London to San Francisco by Mia Cassany, illus. by Agusti Sousa (Oct. 8, $14.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7403-1), tours 16 vibrant streets worldwide. Ages 5–9. Totem: Spirit Animals of Ancient Civilizations by Mia Cassany, illus. by Nacho Eterno (Oct. 22, $14.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7401-7), reveals the importance of animals in various ancient civilizations. Ages 5–9. What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street? Recipes for Kids from Around the World by Felicita Sala (Sept. 10, $14.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7397-3) is a storybook with recipes from a variety of culinary traditions. Ages 6–9. Into the Deep Sea by Wolfgang Dreyer, illus. by Annika Siems (Oct. 8, $25, ISBN 978-3-7913-7390-4). A submarine explores the marine world. Ages 7–18. My Big Book of the World’s Greatest Art by Louise Lockhart (Oct. 8, $19.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7395-9) offers an interactive tour of 10,000 years of art history. Ages 8–12. All Around Bustletown by Rotraut Susanne Berner welcomes Spring (Nov. 12, board book, $12.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7409-3) and Winter (Sept. 3, board book, $12.95, ISBN 978-3-7913-7415-4), ages 2–5. Princeton Architectural Press Look, It’s Raining by Mathieu Pierloot, illus. by Maria Dek (Sept. 17, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-828-1). On a rainy day, Camille explores the natural world. Ages 3–6. A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa by Andrea D’Aquino (Sept. 3, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-836-6) profiles the life of the sculptor and activist. Ages 5–8. Patience, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez, illus. by Seng Soun Ratanavanh (Oct. 1, $17.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-843-4). A boy anxiously waits for a spring flower to bloom in this intergenerational story about patience. Ages 5–8. The Atlas of Amazing Birds by Matt Sewell (Oct. 1, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-857-1). This ornithologist examines the habits and habitats of birds around the world. Ages 5–10. Animal Habitats: Search & Find by Sam Hutchinson, illus. by Sarah Dennis (Aug. 27, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-849-6). Cut-paper illustrations and scientific facts introduce readers to ecology, animals, and food chains. Ages 6–9. Meet the Architect! welcomes Patricia Geis’s Frank Lloyd Wright (Nov. 5, $29.95, ISBN 978-1-61689-593-8), ages 8–12. Disney Stories for 3-Year-Olds (Sept. 10, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4435-8) retells 14 classic Disney tales. Ages 3–5. Disney Babies releases Disney Baby: 1, 2, 3 What Do You See? by Maggie Fischer (Aug. 20, board book, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4354-2), ages up to 2. The Itsy Bitsy Spider: La araña chiquitita (Sept. 10, board book, $5.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4466-2), joins Canticos, ages up to 2. Lift & Slide issues Disney Baby: Peek and Play by Fischer (Sept. 17, board book, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4353-5), ages up to 2. Disney Mickey Clubhouse celebrates Christmas (Sept. 24, board book, $6.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4501-0), ages 3–5. Marvel Flying Super Heroes by Sally Little, illus. by Dario Brizuela (Oct. 1, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4407-5), is a new Marvel title, ages 3–5. Paw Patrol adds 1 Pup, 2 Pups, 3 Pups, More! by Fischer (Sept. 17, board book, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4441-9), ages 3–5. Sesame Street presents The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone (Aug. 6, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4023-7), ages 3–5. And Thomas & Friends return in Five Useful Engines by Fischer (Sept. 10, board book, $11.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4416-7), ages 3–5. 39-Button Sound Books offers Star Wars: Battles by Benjamin Harper (Oct. 1, board book, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4446-4), ages 3–5. Paw Patrol Pups on the Go by Steve Behling (Aug. 13, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4310-8) joins Carryalong Projectors, ages 3–5. New Fisher Price Lift-the-Flaps by Matt Mitter are Fisher-Price Little People: Christmastime Is Here! (Sept. 17, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4359-7) and Fisher-Price Little People: Valentine’s Day Is Here! (Dec. 3, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4360-3), ages 3–5. Googly Eyes greets Disney Muppet Babies: Fly South by Maggie Fischer, illus. by Mike Jackson (Oct. 15, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4297-2), ages 3–5. Joining Movie Theater Storybooks are Disney Princess Movie Theater Storybook & Movie Projector by Brandi Dougherty and Amelia Hansen, illus. by Violet Caamano et al. (Aug. 20, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4239-2); and Marvel Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse Movie Theater Storybook by Eleni Roussos (Oct. 15, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4326-9), ages 3–5. And Music Player Storybooks picks up Disney Fancy Nancy Music Player (Aug. 13, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4278-1) and Disney Princess Music Speaker (Oct. 29, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4433-4) by Courtney Acampora, ages 3–5. Disney Mickey & Friends Let’s Look for Colors by Susan Amerikaner (Sept. 10, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4330-6) joins Open Door Books, ages 3–5. Sliding Tab gains Top Wing: Let’s Fly! by Maggie Fischer, illus. by Mike Jackson (Sept. 10, board book, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4249-1), ages 3–5. Disney Ducktales continues with Duck, Duck, Golf! by Fischer, illus. by Luca Usai et al. (Sept. 3, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4234-7), ages 6–8. Disney Vampirina stars in Ghoul of Rock by Courtney Acampora (Sept. 24, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4406-8), ages 6–8. Marvel Spider-Man is back in Spider-Man Steals the Show by Joann Padgett, illus. by Glass House Graphics (Aug. 13, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4280-4), ages 6–8. New 10-Button Sound Books by Benjamin Harper are Star Wars: Droids (Oct. 1, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4380-1) and Star Wars: Villains (Oct. 1, board book, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4447-1), ages 6–8. Disney Die-Cut Classics celebrates Disney Mickey’s Christmas Carol (Sept. 17, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4426-6), ages 6–8. And My Little Pony Cutie Mark Crew is a new Collector’s Guide by Rachael Upton (Sept. 24, paper, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7944-4312-2), ages 8–12. Arnica, the Duck Princess by Ervin Lazar, trans. by Anna Bentley, illus. by Jacqueline Molnar (Aug. 13, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-78269-220-1). After a witch casts a spell on a princess and the pauper whom she loves, the two search for a cure. Ages 7–10. Through the Water Curtain, edited by Cornelia Funke (Oct. 8, $20, ISBN 978-1-78269-200-3), provides new introductions to 13 fairy tales from across the globe. Ages 9–12. The Power Book: What Is It, Who Has It and Why? by Claire Saunders, Georgia Amson-Bradshaw, et al., illus. by Joelle Avelino (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-78240-830-7), discusses power, equality, and civil rights. Ages 7–11. An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing, illus. by Paulina Morgan (Sept. 3, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-742-8), is an alphabet book focused on equality and the importance of intersectionality. Ages up to 5. Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey, illus. by Genevieve Godbout (Sept. 3, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-215-7). A child gives thanks for all the gifts nature provides.Ages 3–5. The Little Fir Tree by Christopher Corr (Oct. 1, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-662-9) presents a modern retelling of this Hans Christian Andersen tale. Ages 4–7. A World Full of Spooky Stories by Angela McAllister, illus. by Andronic Madalina (Sept. 3, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4148-0), collects tales from across the globe. Ages 6–9. High-Five to the Hero: 15 Classic Tales Retold for Boys Who Dare to Be Different by Vita Murrow (Oct. 1, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-782-4). These retellings provide a contemporary take on what it is to be a hero and heroine. Ages 7–10. This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell, illus. by Aurélia Durand (Jan. 7, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4521-1), addresses identities, histories, and anti-racism initiatives. Ages 11–15. New Little People, Big Dreams titles by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara are Music Stars (Oct. 1, $39.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4323-1), ages up to 7; Josephine Baker, written with Agathe Sorlet (Aug. 6, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4315-6); and Lucy Maud Montgomery, illus. by Anuska Allepuz (Aug. 6, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4319-4), ages 1–3; Jane Goodall, illus. by Beatrice Cerocchi (Aug. 6, board book, $8.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4317-0), ages 4–8; and Mary Shelley, illus. by Yelena Bryksenkova (Oct. 1, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-748-0); and Zaha Hadid, illus. by Asun Amar (Oct. 1, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-745-9), ages 5–8. And The Story Orchestra plays on with Swan Lake by Katy Flint, illus. by Jessica Courtney Tickle (Oct. 1, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-7112-4150-3), ages 5–9. The Vlogger’s Handbook: Love It! Live It! Vlog It! by Shane Birley, illus. by Audrey Malo (Sept. 17, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4287-6), is a guide to setting up, editing, and building an audience for a vlog. Ages 11–13. Wonder Art Workshop: Creative Child-Led Experiences for Nurturing Imagination, Curiosity, and a Love of Learning by Sally Haughey (Nov. 19, paper, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-63159-773-2) presents 25 activities encouraging kids to imagine, experiment, and discover. Ages 5–up. Ultimate Slime Extreme Edition: 100 New Recipes and Projects for Oddly Satisfying, Borax-Free Slime-DIY Cloud Slime, Kawaii Slime, Hybrid Slimes, and More! by Alyssa Jagan (Nov. 19, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-63159-827-2). This teenage YouTuber and Instagrammer serves up slime recipes. Ages 6–up. Math Art and Drawing Games for Kids: Fun Art Projects to Build Amazing Math Skills by Karyn Tripp (Dec. 3, paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-63159-769-5) outlines art projects to bring creativity to mathematics. Ages 8–12. Study with Me: Effective Bullet Journaling Techniques, Habits, and Hacks to Be Successful, Productive, and Organized by Jasmine Shao and Alyssa Jagan (Oct. 8, paper, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-63159-778-7) is a guide to studying, time management, and productivity. Ages 13–up. Quarto/Walter Foster Jr. Little Concepts presents A Is for Apricat: Learn Your ABCs with These Deliciously Adorable Food & Critter Mash-Ups! by Mauro Gatti (Sept. 3, board book, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-63322-722-4), ages up to 6. And ABC for Me gains ABC What Can He Be? Boys Can Be Anything They Want to Be, from A to Z by Jessie Ford (Oct. 1, board book, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-63322-724-8), ages 3–6. Catch Cat: Discover the World in This Search and Find Adventure by Claire Grace, illus. by Andy Council (Sept. 3, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-766-4), challenges kids to spot a world-traveling cat. Ages 4–7. Encyclopedia of Animals by Jules Howard, illus. by Jarom Vogel (Oct. 1, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-462-5), is a guide to residents of the animal kingdom. Ages 6–9. Mythologica: An Encyclopedia of Gods, Monsters and Mortals from Ancient Greece by Stephen P. Kershaw, illus. by Victoria Topping (Sept. 3, $30, ISBN 978-1-78603-193-8), showcases 50 gods, goddesses, mortals, and monsters from Greek mythology. Ages 7–10. The Rocking Book of Rocks by Florence Bullough and Amy Ball, illus. by Anna Alanko (Aug. 6, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-873-9), is a guide to rocks, minerals, and gems. Ages 8–11. Portrait of an Artist welcomes Frida Kahlo by Lucy Brownridge, illus. by Sandra Dieckmann (Sept. 3, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-642-1); and Vincent van Gogh by Brownridge, illus. by Edith Carron (Sept. 3, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-646-9), ages 5–7. Joining 50 States is 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States by Howard Megdal, illus. by Abbey Lossing (Nov. 5, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-78603-967-5), ages 6–10. And Illuminightmare by Lucy Brownridge, illus. by Carnovsky (Oct. 1, $30, ISBN 978-1-78603-547-9), is a new See 3 Images in 1 title, ages 7–up. Quarto/Words & Pictures Hope by Corrine Averiss and Sébastien Pelon (Aug. 20, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4174-9). A boy learns about the power of hope when his dog stays overnight at the vet for an operation. Ages 3–5. Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor et al. (Sept. 17, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4284-5). A child and his grandmother observe how the earth sleeps in winter. Ages 5–7. Bright Start releases My Turn, Your Turn: A Story About Sharing (Sept. 17, $12.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4444-3) and One More Time: A Story About Perseverance (Sept. 17, $12.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4441-2) by Nancy Loewen, illus. by Hazel Michelle Quintanilla, ages 1–3. My World in 100 Words celebrates Christmas in 100 Words, illus. by Sophie Beer (Oct. 15, $9.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4263-0), ages 1–3. Surya Sajnani’s Wee Gallery Cloth Books adds Roly Poly Panda (Oct. 15, board book, $14.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4487-0) and Swing Slow, Sloth (Oct. 15, board book, $14.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4489-4), ages 1–3. And In a Nutshell offers The Ancient World in 100 Words by Clive Gifford, illus. by Gosia Herba (Oct. 15, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4466-5); and The United States in 100 Words by Nancy Dickmann and Natalia Zaratiegui, illus. by Paul Boston (Sept. 17, $19.95, ISBN 978-0-7112-4243-2), ages 7–11. The GayBCs by M.L. Webb (Oct. 22, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-68369-162-4). This inclusive ABC book demonstrates that every identity deserves to be celebrated. Ages 4–8. Pop Classics adds Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: The Classic Illustrated Story-book, illus. by Kim Smith (Oct. 1, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-68369-136-5), ages 4–8. Comic Quests picks up Knights Club: The Buried City: The Comic Book You Can Play by Shuky, illus. by Waltch (Jan. 14, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-68369-147-1), ages 8–12. And Kid Legends introduces Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change by Robin Stevenson (Sept. 24, $13.95, ISBN 978-1-68369-141-9), ages 9–12.

The snallygaster is a mythical dragon-like beast said to inhabit the Blue Ridge Mountainsnear Braddock Heights, Maryland. The area was settled by German immigrants beginning in the 1730s. Early accounts describe the community being terrorized by a monster called a Schneller Geist, meaning "quick spirit" in German. The earliest incarnations mixed the half- birdfeatures of a sirenwith the nightmarish features of demonsand ghouls. The Snallygaster was described as half- reptile, half-bird with a metallic beaklined with razor-sharp teeth, occasionally with octopus-like tentacles. It swoops silently from the sky to pick up and carry off its victims. The earliest stories claim that this monster sucked the bloodof its victims. Seven-pointed stars, which reputedly kept the snallygaster at bay, can still be seen painted on local barns. It has been suggested the legend was resurrected in the 19th century to frighten freed slaves. In February and March of 1909, newspaper accounts describe encounters between local residents and a beast with "enormous wings, a long pointed bill, claws like steel hooks, and an eye in the center of its forehead." It was described as making screeches "like a locomotive whistle."ref|ValleyRegister A great deal of publicity surrounded this string of appearances, with the Smithsonian Institutionoffering a reward for the hide. U.S. President Theodore Rooseveltreportedly considered postponing an African safarito personally hunt the beast.ref|BraddockHeightsBook In 2008, author Patrick Boyton published a book about the history of the Snallygaster entitled "Snallygaster: the Lost Legend of Frederick County". A "snallygaster" is also a beverage composed of Mountain Dewand vanilla ice cream, created to promote Mountain Dew in the 1960s. #"The Valley Register", February 12—March 5, 1909. #Hooper, Anne B. (1974). "Braddock Heights: A Glance Backward". Great Southern Printing Co. p. 71-72. ASIN: B0006CEDUA. * [http://www.baltimoremd.com/remember/snallygast.html Beware the Snallygaster] * [http://www.hollowhill.com/misc/blair1.htm The Real 'Blair Witch' Ghosts] * [http://wesclark.com/jw/snallygaster.html The Snallygaster] , from "Ghosts and Legends of Frederick County" by Timothy L. Cannon and Nancy F. Whitmore * [http://www.marylandmonster.com Snallygaster: the Lost Legend of Frederick County] Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Look at other dictionaries: snallygaster — snal·ly·gas·ter … English syllables snallygaster — ˈsnälēˌgästə(r) noun ( s) Etymology: perhaps modification of Pennsylvania German schnelle geeschter, literally, quick spirits : a mythical nocturnal creature that is reported chiefly from rural Maryland, is reputed to be part reptile and part… … Useful english dictionary Dwayyo — The Dwayyo, Dewayo, which is officially known as Dwayosapientherapsida Australopitecus Rexus, is a cryptid sighted primarily in West Middletown, MD, but sightings have also been reported in Wolfsville, MD. Source Weird (Travel Guides)… … Wikipedia Daniel Boone — This article is about the American pioneer. For other uses, see Daniel Boone (disambiguation). Daniel Boone This 1820 painting by Chester Harding is the only portrait of Daniel Boone made from life … Wikipedia Davy Crockett — For other uses, see Davy Crockett (disambiguation). David Davy Crockett Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee s 12th district In office March 4, 18 … Wikipedia Braddock Heights, Maryland — Infobox Settlement official name = Braddock Heights, Maryland settlement type = CDP nickname = motto = imagesize = image caption = image imagesize = image caption = image mapsize = 250x200px map caption = Location of Braddock Heights, Maryland… … Wikipedia Jedediah Smith — For the United States Representative from New Hampshire, see Jedediah K. Smith. Jedediah Smith Jedediah Smith Born January 6, 1799 (1799 01 0 … Wikipedia Brother Jonathan — For the paddle steamer, see Brother Jonathan (steamer). Brother Jonathan as drawn by Thomas Nast Brother Jonathan was a fictional character created to personify the entire United States, in the early days of the country s existence. In editorial… … Wikipedia Calamity Jane — For other uses, see Calamity Jane (disambiguation). Calamity Jane Calamity Jane in 1895 by H.R. Locke Born Martha Jane Cannary May 1, 1852(1852 05 01) Princeton … Wikipedia Mike Fink — An early drawing of Fink on a keelboat. Mike Fink (also spelled Miche Phinck) … Wikipedia

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), the operator of Scandinavia’s leading streaming service Viaplay, has ordered “Cryptid,” the Swedish-language horror series produced by Dramacorp, and Per-Olav Sørensen’s series “Commando” which is based on actual events and set in Norway, Libya and the UK. “Commando” is an eight-episode series based on the special operation carried on in 2011 which saw Norwegian F-16 fighter jets drop nearly 600 bombs over Libya. The series follows the stories of four women, an F-16 pilot, a journalist, a possible terrorist and a prime minister, exploring the genesis and consequences of the operation. Sørensen is a popular Norwegian filmmaker whose credits include “Quicksand” and “Nobel.” Written by Jenny Lund Madsen (“Follow the Money”) and Christian Spurrier (“Spooks”),”Commando” is being produced by Trond Håndlykken Kvernstrøm for The Oslo Company and Anders Tangen for Viafilm. “The immediacy, urgency and powerful visual language of ‘Commando’, including extensive first-person footage from inside an F-16 jet, showcases his abilities to the full,” said Jakob Mejlhede Andersen, NENT Group EVP and head of content. Meanwhile, “Cryptid” takes place in the idyllic lakeside town of Mörkstad, whose peaceful existence is suddenly shattered by a series of terrifying and unexplainable events. Daniel di Grado (“Hidden”) and David Berron (“Hidden”) will direct “Cryptid.” The series is being produced by Dramacorp, the Stockholm-based production company founded by Patrick Nebout in a joint venture with Jan Mojto’s Beta Film. It will start shooting in August in Finland. The series is executive produced by Dramacorp’s Patrick Nebout (“Midnight Sun,” “Hamilton”), Mia Sohlman (“Hamilton”), and NENT Group’s Fredrik Ljungberg, with Hadis Jabbari (“The Lawyer”) producing. ““Cryptid is our first foray into short-form production and the horror genre, so we thought we’d aim for another first in the process and create a new genre — Nordic Comic Noir, with a unique tone and look inspired by pop graphic novels,” said Nebout, who described the series as “an elevated, sexy, scary coming-of-age thriller with a supernatural twist.” Both series will premiere across the Nordic region exclusively on Viaplay.

Video of Bigfoot from British Columbia, Canada Published on Jul 24, 2013 A couple were out hiking on a wooded logging road above one of the many lakes in Mission, BC, when they were taking photogrpaphs of the surrounding scenic views they spotted something big moving. Even though they were quite a fair distance off, they were still able to use the camera to zoom in enough to see something very large standing upright. Is it a Bear? Maybe a Man? Possibly something else? Be sure to watch the second video. It has a great blow-by-blow breakdown of the video. It has many zoomed shots and anatomical analysis. The reviewer (Thinker Thunker on youtube) shows through bio-mechanics that the creature on the video cannot be human. A Video breakdown of the Mission, BC Bigfoot sighting Published on Apr 19, 2014 After a closer look, we see here what appears to be movement beyond a normal human’s range. So does that mean we’re seeing a non-human? And if so … then what is it? Take the test, like I did in this clip, to see if you are “non-human” and prove me wrong. Thinker Thunker He really takes a close look at the way the suspected Bigfoot is walking and also stumbles upon the fact that there is another figure in the video. The second creature seems to be an infant Sasquatch with it’s mother or father. The Bigfoot appears to grab something hanging in the trees and throwing it to the smaller creature. It is an amazing video and, if you suspend your disbelief, definitely shows two Sasquatch going about their daily rituals. Thank you for dropping by Squatchism.com! If you suffer from Squatchism, you can use your Facebook credentials to login to our site! The Facebook login box is on the upper left of every window! No facebook account? No problem! We have a complete online Bigfoot community just waiting to hear your stories, see your videos or answer your questions. Just join us now and register! It’s free and you will have a lot of fun learning with us! Bigfoot on Wikipedia Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is the name given to a cryptid ape- or hominid-like creature that some people believe inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America but sighted everywhere. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid. The term sasquatch is an anglicized derivative of the Halkomelem word sásq’ets.

Reports of cryptid or mystery kangaroos in the Midwest, especially during the classic flap of the 1970s, are chronicled, in depth, in my Mysterious America. There’s been a new report, and the local law enforcement authorities are trying to bury it quickly. “On Tuesday [April 10, 2012], Palmyra [Missouri] police received a call from someone claiming to have spotted what appeared to be kangaroos hopping around a street a few blocks from U.S. 61. Two city officers and two Marion County deputies searched the area, but found no trace of any exotic animals – especially those native to Australia. Police Chief Eddie Bogue has a working theory regarding what might have been mistaken as kangaroos. “‘There were four deer that were seen by a city employee close to the same area. They were apparently pretty scared from being out of their element with all the traffic and commotion of town, and they were trying to find a way out of town,’ he said. ‘I think what probably happened is some young person saw that and, I don’t know, maybe it looked like a kangaroo for a moment. If you see a picture of a deer’s head from the bust up, you could maybe liken it to a kangaroo.’” Source.

Scary tales of the unexplained told around campfires is an essential pastime that cuts across all ages and global cultures. Filmmaker and documentarian, Seth Breedlove has capitalized on this age-old entertainment by forming a production company, Small Town Monsters, that presents American cryptid folklore in the cinematic medium. Having released three films in a considerably short period of time and with two more in production, Breedlove and his crew are quickly making a name for themselves in the cryptid and paranormal scene. I learned of their work from a recent episode of Grimerica. I was fascinated by the conversation and immediately binged all three flicks over the course of a weekend. All of the stories told were new legends to me and resparked my interest in cryptozoology. My young interest in the paranormal started with aliens and ghost hauntings primarily. As time has gone on I've come to appreciate the weirdness and great folklore, not just about Bigfoot but about all sorts of unidentified creatures. Breedlove's DIY attitude and dedication to research is inspiring and it's great that he's choosing to spotlight some lesser known events in weird American history. Rural backwoods, swamps and dusty roads make fertile ground for our collective imaginations, stimulated by old stories past down about strange sightings and contact made with the unknown. Breedlove captures that mood of wonderment and tension with reverence and commitment to the story told by those who lived it. I highly recommend his work for anyone with an interest in mysteries, folk tales and mythic creatures. In our interview we cover aspects of Bigfoot culture as well as insights into the life and work of an independent filmmaker. Personally, I've come away with a burning desire to dig up cryptid stories in my own neck of the woods and to get back out into the woods of small town America. When did you first become interested in mythical creatures, cryptozoology and the paranormal? I think it started in 2002 with the release of the Mothman Prophecies movie but I know for a fact that the first time I really sat down and gained a fascination/borderline obsession with this stuff was in 2005. A buddy of mine DVR’d a bunch of crypto docs for me and I ended up watching them all, which led to me deciding to look into whether or not there were reports near the small town where I lived. There were, of course, and that was where I first started going out and doing any sort of “investigating”. Did you grow up in an area that has any legends or folk tales about mythical creatures or paranormal events? I grew up about 30 minutes from Salt Fork State Park (Bigfoot Mecca of the Midwest) and less than 20 minutes from Minerva, Ohio. Home of the Minerva Monster. But, in my own hometown there were reports of Bigfoot type creatures in one particular location not even a mile from my parents home. The reports came from one family who’d told a friend of mine that they had a family of Bigfoot living on their property, which led me to talk to other locals and discover that there was a history of weird activity in this one tiny, pocket of forest that was formerly strip mined, privately owned land. Really fascinating stuff. Are you a comic nerd? What are your favorite series? Yeah, total comic geek. I did a comics podcast for a few years with some friends called Ancillary Characters, and despite ending the show about a year ago, I still try to keep up with them. I follow writers mostly, so anything by Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Brian Michael Bendis and others. I’m a huge fan of this Oni series called The Sixth Gun. Probably my favorite series of the last decade. I adore The Goon, Hellboy, BPRD, Justice Society, Johns’ Green Lantern run, Morrison’s All Star Superman, Scott Snyder’s The Wake and his American Vampire books. Locke and Key… I could go on. Have you always had an interest in film? Does the horror genre inform your filmmaking decisions today? I’ve loved movies since I was a kid. My mom raised me on a steady diet of Hitchcock, Harryhausen, and Hammer Horror. Also, the Marx Brothers and Abbot and Costello but those play into it a little less maybe. I wanted to be a movie director when I was a teen until I was about 21-22, then I sort of let go of that idea and went and took numerous, dead-end day jobs to pay bills until I made Minerva Monster and all of a sudden something clicked and I realized I was doing something I actually loved to do. I don’t consciously believe that anything I do is very informed by the horror genre stuff I’ve watched. Truthfully, I was never a huge horror guy. I loved stuff like the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street flicks when I was little, as well as the aforementioned Hitchcock and Hammer stuff, but I avoid most horror films. I like a good psychological scare but feel like so much of the genre is dominated by gore and gross-out moments which don’t really scare me. I do have to say I have a great affinity for John Carpenter, Charles B. Pierce and Ridley Scott who all have major horror movies under their belts that I happen to adore, so who knows? What was the decisive moment when you said to yourself, “I’m going to make movies!”? Well, when I was a kid we made all sorts of short films and I even created scripts for movies I wanted to make, so probably that was the definitive point. But, like I said, I gave that up. It wasn’t until AFTER Minerva Monster was released that I even connected what we were doing with actual filmmaking. I had this moment where a light bulb went on and I was like “oh hey, that thing you always wanted to do? You’re doing it.” Shortly after Minerva was released I went down to part time at my day job and I’ve been focused on filmmaking ever since. How much of a background in filmmaking and production did you have prior to launching Small Town Monsters? Other than the short films I’d made in my late teens and early 20s with my pals, none. I think I drew more off of my newspaper reporting background during the making of Minerva Monster than I did any knowledge of film that I possessed. I think that might be why I’m always saying anyone can do what I do. With the internet and the proliferation of easily digestible filmmaking education on free platforms like YouTube I think anyone can at the very least get started. I have a job that I’m able to work whenever I like. That’s typically about 15-18 hours a week. They thankfully let me work whenever I want to show up and have for the last year. However, this summer I’ll be letting that little parachute go, as well, and focusing entirely on filmmaking and running STM. When you set out to make these creature films, were you already personally convinced of the reality of a Bigfoot or other cryptids or were you still uncertain? I was uncertain then and still am now. As much as I don’t believe all these people are lying or misidentifying natural animals or occurrences, I think I have so many questions about how they’ve managed to exist for so long without capture that I need to see something for myself to finally override all my questions. What is it about small towns and rural areas that intrigue you or that make for interesting stories? Well, I grew up in a small town so there’s that. I think it’s the community aspect of the stories and how, in a small town, something like a single sighting of a creature can end up impacting the culture of the area in such a huge way. It’s able to do that because the towns are usually so small that word spreads almost overnight and before you know it, everyone in town is a player in the story. I’m also fascinated by what happens when the sightings stop. Like how in the case of Minerva, the town sort of forgot about the creature sightings entirely, until we showed up and started filming. There’s a huge part of all of this that is about history preservation for me. Do you have the feeling that there are enough legends and stories out there that qualify as small town monsters for you to keep cranking out new movies every year indefinitely? There’s no end of awesome, small town monster stories. We’ve talked about how the series doesn’t even solely have to be about cryptids or the paranormal at all, as I believe some of the more fascinating local legends are birthed out of serial killings. I could definitely see this go on indefinitely, but I’d want to always make sure it was driven by my love for the subjects and stories we’re telling. At some point I’d love to see some other filmmakers come work on Small Town Monsters projects in a collaborative way even. I have ideas beyond simply creating a couple indie films a year and I really do love getting to see other filmmakers with a passion for these subjects making movies about them. Have all of your films been funded mainly by crowdsourcing? Would you be able to make these films without the backing from the fans? We made Minerva and Whitehall free of any sort of funding. We ran a Kickstarter on the backend of production to get the movie on DVD. Whitehall we didn’t even do that, so I’m confident we’d find some way to scrape along without crowdfunding. What crowdfunding has done is allow us to use better equipment and travel to further locations and manage to make more than one film a year. After the Boggy Creek Monster campaign I’d actually made bold proclamations that I was done with crowdfunding entirely. Not because we don’t need it or because it isn’t incredibly encouraging to do successfully but because I basically invest all my filmmaking time into operating the Kickstarter. We ended up running the Mothman Kickstarter because I wanted to raise enough to be able to pay our crew and our (growing) team of artists and illustrators and because, this time around, I have to shell out literally thousands of dollars for use of archival footage. After the success of the Mothman campaign though, I think we’ll keep doing them. Our supporters seriously made my year with this campaign. That was a huge shot in the arm for me. Really, for all of us. Is there anything you would do differently as a filmmaker if you had an unlimited budget to work with? I’d shoot with the same equipment but I think we’d probably use the money for things like a broader distribution, more marketing and more archival footage. I like working with my friends so larger crews don’t interest me. I’ve been asked if the reason we don’t do recreations is because of money and, at this point, it’s entirely my own stylistic decision. I just hate recreations in documentaries, personally. I’d put us up in better hotels! While making Mothman we spent the night in a hotel where the rooms never got above 50 degrees and there’d just been a shooting the weekend before. I’d definitely put us up in some place where people weren’t being shot if only I had the funding! Haha Boggy’s sightings are all over the place, from the early 50’s up to today but there’s definitely a 70’s vibe to it so I see what you mean. I actually do sort of love that time period when it comes to these stories. I’ve even pondered what it would be like to make a Minerva Monster movie that would be like all the great Spielberg movies I grew up loving. Bell bottoms and teenagers running through the woods for their lives while being stalked by this hairy abomination. I grew up in the 80’s but I connect the 70’s with Bigfoot. Our Mothman movie breaks the mold by being set in the late 60’s though. What was your process of research like for each film? Did a lot of the names, dates and places come from books or news articles written about the cases you selected? Every movie is different. I spent years researching Minerva and had even conducted interviews with some of the people prior to the filming. Since no one else had looked into the case in a long time it was sort of up to me to uncover things like the police report and additional eyewitnesses. Whitehall consisted of a lot of convincing and learning about the original sightings from investigators like Bill Brann and Paul Bartholomew and Boggy was like being a hired gun at times. In the best way possible, as it allowed me to focus entirely on story. Mothman is actually kind of a return to Minerva form for me. I’ve been turning over every rock I can find for new stories and witnesses and information. Some of it won’t be in the final film but one interesting aspect of the Mothman research has been learning what happened to many of the original witnesses mentioned by Keel or in the early newspaper articles. I’m keeping a list so I can turn it over to future Mothman historians and maybe we can help put a little bow on those 66/67 sightings. Which is actually pretty sad now that I typed it out. I spend hours reading newspaper archives and tracking down phone numbers and addresses like an old dime-store gumshoe, too. Never underestimate that sort of work. You spend days doing it with no results and then all of a sudden you unearth some gold. The extra work is always worth it. All of your films are heavily structured around firsthand testimonies of the residences in the areas where these events took place. How easy or difficult was it to track down the witnesses and subjects for each of your films? Were they excited to participate? It’s different from project to project. Boggy was easiest because Lyle had already done all of that preliminary work. With the other three it was varying degrees of difficulty. I’ve had to convince people to come on camera with every film but the hardest was still Minerva and working to get Howe Cayton on camera. It’s never easy to track down witnesses, and very rarely do they approach us. If they do I’m usually a bit skeptical. Did you have the idea for all three of your movies from the on-set or did they fall into place one after the other? Minerva was our first because of it’s proximity to where we live and because I’d already done so much work on it. Boggy was actually brought to me by Lyle before we’d even gotten around to releasing Minerva, though originally I’d told him we wouldn’t be able to get to it until 2017. Whitehall, I fell in love with because of the underlying theme of loss and the potential loss of a great story. The term “monster” is used as a way of identifying whatever these creatures are in your films. Some stories present their behavior as possibly aggressive but in other cases they appear to be avoiding human contact. Do you consider them to be threatening to humans or merely defensive? I don’t buy into the Bigfoot-as-serial-killer thing. The accounts we hear most often seem to be of a curious creature who will defend itself if needed but is much more likely to flee into the deepest recesses of our forested areas. I used the “monsters” moniker because, well, for one it’s a cool name, but also, because the old 70’s newspapers articles detailing these accounts so often referred to the creature in that way. Of all your witness testimony gathered from all your films, is there a particular incident that stands above the rest in terms of convincing evidence or straight-up creepiness? I love Brian Gosselin’s story from Beast of Whitehall. I think that particular story was really intense to hear told and I can remember getting goosebumps as he told it to us. Which isn’t easy when you’re standing in 90 degree heat. We just shot an interview for Mothman that I got an equally creepy vibe off of but I can’t say anything about that one just yet. Before watching your films, I like many, only thought of the American Northwest and parts of Canada as the geography of Bigfoot land. How prevalent are sightings throughout the rest of the country? Why do they seem underrepresented? The PNW is definitely a hub of activity but Florida and Ohio are both in the top five states for Bigfoot reports, and Kentucky is right up there as well. I think the pop cultural Bigfoot was always the Pacific Northwest giant, sort of strolling amongst the redwoods. At least until recent years. It’s more of a cultural shift now that we’re seeing more of the swamp apes and backwoods hillbilly apes of Ohio. A lot of it is just marketing, in my opinion. But yes, there is an abundance of reports out of the east coast and down into the south and southwest states, and they do seem to go back at least a century or more. Skeptics of Bigfoot point to a lot of things to refute witness testimony. One criticism in particular deals with the lack of skeletons being left behind for discovery. What are your thoughts about that? I believe the typical Bigfooter response is to say that the acidic soil, insects and scavenging animals destroy all trace of a skeleton within a couple weeks so unless you’re incredibly lucky to stumble upon a dead one, chances are you never find it. My issue with that is, we do find other large animal carcasses such as bear, elk and deer so why not Bigfoot? Unless they bury their dead or when they are dying they crawl into the brush or something. You’re asking me a question that I often ask myself! Is there a possibility that Bigfoot is an extra-dimensional entity? I love the idea of a portal-hopping Bigfoot and it would certainly help to explain why we have such a hard time finding them. My problem with this idea is similar to my problem with connecting Bigfoots to UFOs. It’s trying to solve one mystery with another mystery. We aren’t even sure the portal exists let along the Bigfoot so how can I connect the two? Assuming Bigfoot is a living, thinking mammal of some sort, is there enough antidotal evidence that points to the cognitive level or overall intelligence they posses? The majority of reports, in my opinion, point to a very shy, curious animal that behaves much like an ape. I don’t think they’d have to be some sort of super-intelligence to avoid us all this time. The behavior patterns exhibited in many reports are definitely in line with that of a primate that knows to avoid mankind at all costs… but occasionally it’s curiosity gets the better of it and someone lucks out and gets to see it. What is the most impressive testimony of Bigfoot’s display of strength? I’ve always thought the story about the Cayton’s dog being ripped from it’s collar and having its neck snapped was a good way to gauge the strength of these creatures. The Ape Canyon story involved large boulders being tossed onto a shack which, again, is a good example of how strong they might be. What does paranormal phenomena in all its many forms teach us about the nature of reality? I think the answer to this question probably changes dramatically based upon who’s answering it. For someone like me, I’ve never witnesses any paranormal phenomena that I wasn’t able to explain through natural occurrences. I think the quest to explain the paranormal, whether by debunking or investigating from an open-minded place, is in itself a very incredible thing. With the world operating at peak craziness lately, isn’t it refreshing to go out in the woods or into an abandoned house and try to search for something that others think doesn’t exist at all? I think there’s something very innocent and captivating about being curious and questioning in a world full of a people that think they know it all. Did you experience any weird moments out in the field filming for the movies? Not really. We caught some unusual audio during the filming of Boggy Creek but for the most part, we haven’t yet experienced anything all that intense. I’m crossing my fingers though. It’ll happen eventually. What was it like to collaborate with author, Lyle Blackburn on Boggy Creek Monster? How did it enhance the storytelling and depth of research in a way that differed from your first two films? Lyle is one of the most honest and open and friendly guys you’ll meet in Bigfoot. I wouldn’t have worked with him again (on Mothman which he is executive producing and narrating) if that weren’t the case. He basically handled all the heavy lifting on Boggy, research-wise and simply gave over his abundance of work and let us make the movie we wanted to make. Collaboratively, I don’t ever recall a point where he straight up told me he wanted the story to be told some other way. He pretty much placed all of his work in our hands and said “get it done”. Which we did. There’s quite a bit of illustrative artwork employed throughout your films to give the audience a picture that complements the witness retellings. Can you talk about the artists you’ve worked with and the development of the art styles that came about as a result? Definitely. We are always trying to add new names and styles to the films but Matt Harris is the only illustrator who’s been with us since Minerva. We’ve been able to watch his style grow and evolve to the point where when Boggy came out many people referenced his artwork during the Crabtree sequence as being their favorite part of the film. We also have worked with Maz Adams on Beast of Whitehall and Boggy Creek, and he is also a huge talent and someone who is just getting started. Our most recent additions are the father and son team of Chris and Brandon Scalf. Brandon did a number of black and white sketches used in Boggy that were fantastic, and he’s coming back for more on Mothman. Chris licensed a couple of pieces for Boggy but we’re extremely excited to be bringing him onboard for Mothman where he’ll be creating a few animated sequences. I’ve always wanted to see animation added to our films and having him be the guy creating these scenes is really exciting as he’s immensely talented. I also have to point out our poster artist, Sam Shearon who has helped establish a very specific look and tone for the series as a whole. I can’t say enough about how vital he has been to our success. The guy is a stud. Between ghosts, aliens and cryptids, which category of paranormal phenomena is hardest for the public to accept? What do you think accounts for it? Weirdly enough, I think it’s cyptids. Which I think boils down to the one phenomena which should be easiest to prove, is the one that so many find it possible to accept because, well, if we don’t know everything about our own world then we’ll all just fall to pieces. What distinguishes Bigfoot culture, from UFO or paranormal cultures? Are the people that you meet at Bigfoot conferences just as likely to be at ghost or alien events? Not at all. I think there’s definitely some cross pollination that goes on but the Bigfoot community boasts just as many ardent hunters and outdoorsmen as it does lovers of the paranormal. Probably far more really. I do think that every community has it’s detractions but the Bigfoot one is extremely fractured, cliquey and unwelcoming at times. Obviously, I’m not speaking of every corner of the community, but there’s definitely some serious issues that need worked through. Did you have a connection to paranormal media, radio shows, books etc., prior to making your films? Not really, no. I’d had a little contact with a show host or two prior to Minerva due to my podcast, SasWhat (now Mark and Andy Matzke’s podcast, SasWhat) but I definitely was not out there. Your next documentary dealing with the famous Mothman legend is a story that has been analyzed and dramatized a lot over the years. It’s right at the top of the list as far as famous urban legends and paranormal phenomena. Do you feel any extra sense of pressure to adding something unique and also to meet people’s expectations? Oh there’s definitely a lot of pressure but it’s due more to my love of the story and wanting to do it right than any sort of external expectations. I’m extremely aware that people want to see something with our film they haven’t seen before, and they definitely will, but I’m much more concerned with our means of delivery and making sure we’re able to tell this in the way that I want to see it told. I feel like if I get too lost in this idea of “brand new evidence” I’ll lose the threads to the story that brought me to it in the first place. I promise it’ll be something wholly unique, and also intensely sad, dramatic and exciting. How much of John Keel’s research (if any) will be a part of the narrative for your version of the Mothman happenings? I’m making it my mission to tell as much of the whole story as possible in a feature length film. So Mr. Keel, Gray Barker, and Mary Hyre will all be represented. Keel especially, then Hyre. Barker probably to a lesser extent. I don’t agree with leaving Keel and Hyre out of any sort of narrative about these events as they were so tied to them and many aspects of the story wouldn’t even exist without them. Are there new pieces of Mothman evidence or witness testimony that will be introduced for the first time in this film? Yes. And even pieces that have been explored previously will be done so in a way that I don’t think people have seen before. We do have at least a handful of brand new eyewitness interviews, and one witness in particular who’s never been interviewed on film. My primary goal here is to retell the events of the Mothman sightings leading up to the collapse of the Silver Bridge in a very linear, understandable fashion so that people can see just how off-the-rails everything was leaning during that time. Is there an aspect of the Mothman timeline that has gone under appreciated or misunderstood? The thing that springs to mind most readily is just how varied descriptions of the creature were. The physical characteristics of Mothman could differ wildly from one witness to the next. I also want people to understand just what kind of impact the Silver Bridge collapse had on the town and still has today. That’s something that is very important to all of us working on this. The other film you are developing is called The Invasion of Chestnut Ridge. Can you give me an overview of that story, it’s not one I’m familiar with? This will be a unique STM experience in that it isn’t focused solely on one town but rather an entire 100 mile expansive mountain range called the Chestnut Ridge in Pennsylvania. Our film will use the town of Kecksburg as our bookends, and we’ll delve into the famous UFO crash said to have happened there but we’ll also dig into the ongoing history of bizarre, otherworldly events in the area. From UFO activity to thunderbird sightings and, yes, Bigfoots. Do you have any new tricks up your sleeve as far as production techniques that will be brand new for your team with the new films? Well, adding animation to the mix is certainly new for us. We’ll be adding some new equipment this year as we upgrade our drone, yet again and finally get a Gimbal purchased. Mostly, what we’re trying to do is continue to tell personal, dramatic stories in an honest way that never feels stale or boring. It’s this weird mixture of classic horror cinema and documentary that we’re attempting to create now. It’s something you’ll notice with Mothman. It’s also about finding the holes in what we’re doing from a storytelling perspective and attempting to fill them and learn from our mistakes. And by “our” I mean “my”. My crew has been top notch. I should say, we’ll continue to see Brandon’s film score work evolve. His Mothman music is by far the best thing he’s done and people are going to lose their minds when they hear just how different it is from anything else he’s done. Of all your locations that your movies have taken place in, what was the most interesting one or creepiest one to spend time in? I’m in love with Abair Road. I still picture myself there occasionally. Obviously, I love every locale we’ve been to but Abair and Whitehall in general have become almost like a second home to me. I hope to go back very soon. What can we expect from Small Town Monsters in the near future? We’ve got two movies coming out this year, and another planned for 2018, along with a book I’m co-writing with Mark Matzke. I think you can expect to see us continue to grow and improve and hopefully you’ll find our work more readily available in 2017.

A Bigfoot researcher in North Carolina believes that he stumbled upon the famed cryptid while walking in the woods earlier this month. According to a local media report, Doug Teague was retrieving some trail cameras in a forested area of McDowell County on August 16th when he suddenly heard a mysterious tapping sound coming from somewhere nearby. Although he initially assumed the noise was a woodpecker, his assessment soon changed when something began throwing rocks at him. Realizing that he may be in the presence of a Sasquatch, Teague looked around and saw a dark form, for lack of a better term, a short distance away from him in the woods. Despite being overcome with excitement over the experience, the researcher smartly took out his cell phone to record the scene and captured a few photos as well as a video of what he contends is a Bigfoot seemingly sitting with its back to him. He also found a number of intriguing prints in the nearby mud. More on this intriguing story at the Coast to Coast AM website.

Kerinci Seblat is the second largest Indonesian national parks (after Wasur NP in Papua) with a protected area covering near 14’000 km2. The national park spans over four provinces : West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu and South Sumatra. As any national park in Indonesia, the daily entrance fee for foreign visitors is 150’000Rp but you won’t spend that money everyday. Kersik Tuo and mount Kerinci The landmark of the park is the Kerinci volcano, the highest peak of Sumatra and the tallest Indonesian volcano (but Papua has some higher mountains). Most visitors base themselves in the village of Kersik Tuo, located a few kilometers from the volcano. Hiking Mount Kerinci This is a great hike that is usually done in 2 days and 1 night but it also doable as a (long) daytrip. I posted a detailed report on this here. A national park daily ticket is necessary for this hike. Kersik Tuo tea plantations One thing you cannot miss when you arrive in Kersik Tuo is the huge and beautiful tea plantation. The so called Perkebunan Teh Kayu Aro covers about 2’500 ha at the foot of Mount Kerinci. You can stroll the area freely using the farmers’ trails. If you know a bit of Indonesian, they will be delighted to have a small talk while they’re resting. A hike to Belibis lake For those keen on hiking, a good idea is to walk from Kersik Tuo to Belibis lake which is an old secondary vent of Mount Kerinci. You will pass through the beautiful tea plantation, a couple of villages and potato fields edged by cinnamon trees. View on the valley from the trail to lake Belibis The lake is home to some wild ducks but they seem rather elusive. Surrounding forest offers birding opportunities but it’s often overlooked to the profit of the Kerinci trail and Tapan road. Still, I saw an eagle (I think a crested serpent eagle) and a couple of other smaller birds. No wild duck though. I reached the lake in about 3h30 from Kersik Tuo at a relaxed pace, looking for the best views in the tea gardens. Litteraly ‘the seven moutains’, gunung tujuh is another easy hike offering great opportunities to spot wildlife before reaching a very peaceful volcanic lake. Camping by the lake is very popular among young locals and I’ve seen more than 200 people registering at the park office on a Saturday. It’s much calmer during weekdays, but unfortunately some garbages are left behind… Otherwise, the lake can be done as a day trip. It’s 2h30 walking both ways. I’ve seen lots of wildlife on this trail, it was great. I didn’t explore much the forest around the lake but I guess it’s also pretty rewarding. I loved this place, I really wished I had brought a tent and some food to spend more time there. How to get there ? From Kersik Tuo, take a bemo heading North and stop at Pelompek village (5’000Rp). You’ll then have to walk or take an ojek for 10’000Rp to the trailhead. There you have a couple of houses. On your right you have Pak Edes’ Losmen, whose very nice family also seems to manage the sale of national park tickets to visitors. National park ticket is required here. It costs 150’000Rp for foreigners and 5’000Rp for locals. About 1h walk away from Pak Edes’ Losmen, you can reach a nice waterfall called Air terjun Telun Berasap. The entry is 4’000Rp. Otherwise, there is a potential trekking itinerary to visit 3 different waterfalls south of Pelompek. The highest of it is called Pauh Tinggi and is 80m high according to Wild Sumatra. I attempted to visit it during my stay in Pelompek. From the nearest village, I struggled a bit to find the right way but with the help of the villagers I eventually reached what I thought was the right trail along a river. I went up the river for about 1 hour before I gave up (maybe close from the waterfall I have no idea) because the sky started to look like it was going to rain and there is a horrible urticating plant all over this trail. I have never seen anything like that, it stings so much that it becomes painful and the effect lasted for days even after 2 or 3 showers. Better get there with someone who knows the way I guess. Near Pelompek, from the village of Jernih Jaya, you can hire a boat to take you to Bento swamps (rawa Bento), allegedly a good spot for birding. I understand that boats can be chartered from 400’000Rp (some information in Indonesian here). Sungai Penuh and Tapan road Sungai penuh is the main town in the area. You have a tourism office who can give you a couple of leaflets about the area. From Sungai Penuh, don’t miss Tapan road. It’s exactly what the name suggests : a road, cutting right through the national park forest. It is an excellent place to spot wildlife. To get there, I looked for an ojek in town and arranged a departure for 6:50AM. I got offered 100 for the ride, which I bargained down easily to 60’000Rp. After 30 minutes, we reached a barrack from the national park that can be used as accomodation (get the key first from the staff in town I guess because it’s usually locked). From there, just walk down the road and open your eyes. Beware because there is no phone signal from there. Retrospectively it would have been wise to agree on a time to get picked up and taken back to Sungai Penuh. I’ve seen a couple of pick-up passing by but they were already overloaded with passengers. I eventually flagged down a guy alone on his motorbike and asked for a ride back (50’000Rp). Try to check for the weather before leaving because there is no shelter on the way. Lempur and lake Kaco The last stop of this stay in the national park was the village of Lempur. This is the best base to visit the unreal lake Kaco. A popular spot for local young people, the lake can be reached in 3 hours from Lempur. Just follow the asphalt road south of Lempur to reach the forest. Then follow the trail (the start is marked). There is a river to cross after about 2h30 walking, right after you pass a kind of bamboo grove. The trail is flat and easy to follow. It becomes quite muddy after rain. The lake itself is quite cold and surprisingly deep. There isn’t much wildlife to spot on the way. Unfortunately, some garbages are left over near the lake. There is a small cabin indicating that a national park ticket has to be purchased before accessing the lake but I have never seen it staffed. Hiking to Renah Kemumu Renah Kemumu is a remote village located about 20km south of Lempur. As of 2018, the track between the two villages is only ridable by modified motorbikes (with chains attached to the tires for adherence). You pass near 2 lakes and normally large portions of forest before reaching the village. I left Lempur and was dropped at the end of the asphalt road a little bit after Lingkat lake around 7:30AM. I reached Renah Kemumu at 2:10PM. I slept at the village head’s house (left 100’000Rp for food and hospitality). Unfortunately widespread logging has occured on the track. Farmers are clearing the sides of the road to make way for crops. Villagers from Renah Kemumu are hopeful that the development of a geothermal project will speed up the creation of road suitable for cars to Lempur. As of today, they need to drive 6h to reach Bangko. A road to Lempur would put them only 2 hours away from Sungai Penuh, its transports, administration and hospital. The first day was very poor in wildlife sightings (only a couple of yellow mitred leafmonkeys not far from Renah Kemumu). Besides, I’ve met farmers along the way until KM12. Some bringing cinnamon harvest on buffalo-pulled sleighs, others bringing back a few birds they shot (including a beautiful black-browed barbet) to eat. In Renah Kemumu, I spent most of my time resting and discussing with guests in kepala desa‘s house. There is a very old megalith up the hill (as well as another one in the ricefields near Lempur). Unless you are a specialist, you probably won’t find it very interesting. The return the following day was much richer in wildlife. Besides a couple of shy yellow-mitred leafmonkeys, I counted 15 hornbills flying over me. After I found a large tiger footprint in the mud, I came across a huge wild boar getting out of the forest to drink at a puddle, it flew away as soon as he saw me. I left at 7:00AM and arrived at 4:00PM in Lempur (but I had to wait a bit in a farmer shelter for the rain to stop). Tiger attacks do happen sometimes in the area. For instance in May 2018. I stayed at the following places during my stay in Kerinci NP. Besides maybe Paiman in Kersik Tuo, I doubt any English is spoken at any of those places. - Paiman homestay in Kersik Tuo. 100’000Rp for a simple single room, shared bathroom (cold water) and breakfast. Nice family living there. Very popular among local hikers. Large groups usually stay all together in a common room upstairs. - Pak Edes’ losmen in Pelompek (right at the foot of Gunung Tujuh). A double room for 100’000Rp, shared bathroom (cold water). Lovely family running it, they charged me 15’000Rp per meals I took there. They have only 3 rooms so it might be full. But you can stay at the national park office in that case. Lots of mosquitoes though, maybe because of the proximity with Bento swamp. Contact: 08-23-8044-6193. - The only other option in Pelompek is Kerinci View homestay which charges 250’000Rp per room. Kersik Tuo can also be used as a base to reach Gunung Tujuh. - Hotel Yani in Sungai Penuh. Simple double rooms for 100’000Rp, shared bathroom (cold water) - Buk Tin homestay in Lempur. 150’000 for a comfortable double room, private bathroom (cold shower), breakfast. The owners are great, I felt like home. I took 5 or 6 tasty meals there, the wife asked me for 50’000Rp for everything, I gave 100’000Rp. You can contact them by phone : 08-52-7216-1009 or 08-23-7436-6777. Insights on transport in Kerinci I came from Bukittinggi by shared taxi (travel). No bus is available for this trip. We left at 9:40AM and arrived in Kersik Tuo at 5:30PM. The fare was 120’000Rp. From Kersik Tuo, regular white angkot take you to Pelompek for 5’000Rp. From Pelompek to Sungai Penuh, it costs 15’000Rp and takes 2h30. So I guess the fare from Kersik Tuo to Sungai Penuh is 10’000Rp. From Lempur to Sungai Penuh, 2 buses leave Lempur at 8:00AM and one at 7:30AM. Then they return to Lempur around 1:00PM from the bus terminal. Fare is 20’000Rp. From Sungai Penuh, I took a shared minibus around 10:00AM bound to Padang for 100’000Rp (shared car also available for 120’000Rp). We arrived at 5:30PM. Shared taxi (travel) heading to Padang can pick up passengers directly at the airport. Contacting them beforehand is the best solution if you want to optimize your transport time from Padang airport. Wings Air operates a flight a couple of times a week from Sungai Penuh to Jambi. I picked up a couple of leaftlets from the tourism office in Sungai Penuh. There is one or two yearly festivals which are a nice occasion to witness traditional dances in local costumes. The main one is Festival Kerinci held in July (previously Festival Masyarakat Peduli Danau Kerinci). Get in touch with the tourism office (dinas pariwisata) in Sungai Penuh for more updated information. Traditional mysticism is still strong in the area. Check out this article about the still strong belief in a cryptid called orang pendek. I have browsed extensively all the ressources put online by British Luke Mackin who runs a tourism agency based in Sungai Penuh. I first came across some of his old posts on Lonely Planet forum and especially a very comprehensive set of GPS points about the area. This set contained lots of link to his personal Flickr and Facebook page which are also full of informations. Kerinci, Gunung Tujuh or Lake Kaco are now rather well-known regional attractions but all the ideas about Lake Belibis, Pauh Tinggi waterfal, Renah Kemumu came from his posts online. I really recommend that you check his company Wild Sumatra’s website. Organized tours of course come at a price (not unreasonable though) but they also have their perks. This is not really the philosophy of this website but I’m sure some would be interested.

|Welcome to Cryptid Wiki| | The wiki about cryptids, that anyone can edit. Cryptids are monsters... except that cryptids could actually exist! When talking about Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster you're talking about something that could live right on this Earth right now! On Cryptid Wiki, we document all of the possible information you can get about cryptids and determine if they're real or not. You can contribute to this wiki. Do you want to make a new article? Just type in the name of the article in the box below and click "Create new article." We do not accept creepypasta monsters, such as slenderman, herobrine, the rake, or any others as they are, well, creepypasta. If you create a page like this, you will be issued a warning and the page will be deleted. |Providing 1,569 articles and 8,151 images since July 29, 2009| |Featured Article (January 2020)| The Beast of Sherman is creature sighted during the mid-1960s. A boy and his family were repeatedly harassed by a pair of colossal, albino creatures that can only be described as giant, prehistoric monsters. Admittedly, the evidence surrounding this case is scant. In fact, the only know report of these creatures comes from a letter printed by noted “Mothman Prophecies” author and paranormal investigator John Keel in his tome on unknown creatures entitled: “The Complete Guide to Mysterious Beings.” |Read previous featured articles • Nominate future articles| |Create an Article| | To create a cryptid related article, type a title in the box below, and click Create article. But before you do, please check if the article already exists on a different name. |We need your help| |Cryptid Wiki is a constantly growing encyclopedia of cryptozoological knowledge. To help the wiki grow, use the search tools provided to find a section of the wiki to help improve. You can improve the wiki by adding more accurate or current information, images, data, and much more. Look around and see how you might like to contribute!|

The information in this small segment is taken from B.M. Nunnelly's most interesting book Mysterious Kentucky. He gives us an account of the so-called Spottsville Monster. This seems to be a Bigfoot-like creature with possibly canine characteristics. Now, I know some cryptozoologists shy away from the possibility that cryptids are connected in some way with portals leading to otherworldly locations. However, some of today's physicists are beginning to look with a friendlier eye on such ideas, particularly on the possibility that other universes or dimensions might exist. One particular witness told Nunnelly that one day he saw what looked like heatwaves rising from the road. I have seen similar waves myself rising from hot tarmac on a summer's day, as I'm sure have many of my readers. But out of this wavy area, as though it were a door, stepped the humanoid Spottsville Monster. The witness said it sent him an angry mental message, stepped back into the haze and disappeared. He continued to watch this area from afar through binoculars and he saw a number of these creatures enter and depart through the haze. The existence of such portals would explain the provenance of some cryptid creatures reported in areas inadequate to sustain them. Scientists who would earlier have frowned at the idea of other universes seem willing to accept their possibility. Cryptozoologists should not dismiss them out of hand, merely because they seem the stuff of science fiction. So did the horseless carriage once. Brian Nunnelly's book is published by Whitechapel Press and may be ordered through Amazon.

Australia is home to the deadliest animals on Earth. The wildlands host infamous insects and the seas feature toxic jellyfish and the like. One would think that a continent with so many hazards would not need to add mysterious cryptids to the list of dangers. One would be wrong. Written records going back to times when the first European explorers and settlers arrived mention the belief by the Aborigines in a unique animal known as the Bunyip. The word “Bunyip” translates to “devil” or “evil spirit” in the Wemba Wemba Aborigine language. As with most cryptids, descriptions of the animal’s behavior vary widely. One school of thought believes that the Bunyip is a dangerous cryptid that devours helpless humans. Other stories report the exact opposite: the creature is a peaceful creature that lives mostly in the waters in and around Australia and eats plants and is shy of humans. The physical descriptions of the Bunyip are also contradictory. Some reports describe the animal as having a dog-like face, flippers and long hair, tusks, and a tail. Other sources claim the Bunyip has scales or feathers and a mane like a horse. Many report that it emits a terrifying cry that shatters the otherwise peaceful Australian countryside. What is a Bunyip? An 1845 newspaper article may have provided the best description of the creature to date: The Bunyip, then, is represented as uniting the characteristics of a bird and of an alligator. It has a head resembling an emu, with a long bill, at the extremity of which is a transverse projection on each side, with serrated edges like the bone of the stingray. Its body and legs partake of the nature of the alligator. The hind legs are remarkably thick and strong, and the forelegs are much longer, but still of great strength. The extremities are furnished with long claws, but the (natives) say its usual method of killing its prey is by hugging it to death. When in the water it swims like a frog, and when on shore it walks on its hind legs with its head erect, in which position it measures twelve or thirteen feet in height. Sightings and Skeletal Discoveries Sightings of the creature are reported throughout Australia. These sightings usually are near large bodies of water, but the Bunyip seems to be at home on land or in the water. No Bunyip has ever been captured, but some fossils and skeletal remains were allegedly found in the 1800s. These discoveries yielded no definitive conclusions. Additionally, a “Bunyip skull” discovered in 1846 is now believed to be that of a deformed horse or cow. But this hasn’t stopped researchers from investigating the possibility of the creature’s existence and origins. Some have noted the similarities of the Bunyip’s description to an animal known as the Diprotodon, which is believed to have died out thousands of years ago. The Diprotodon looked something like a rhinoceros and was amphibious. Others wonder if the tales of the Bunyip have their origin in the appearance of some kind of seal–especially as Aborigines living deep in Australia may not have seen a seal, which lives primarily in the oceans. Perhaps they are some kind of seal that has evolved over time to live in the inland waters. Seals eat neither humans nor plants, though. Recent sightings are scarce. The last true documented sighting may be more than a hundred years old. This long absence of sightings hasn’t deterred amateur researchers and hunters to continue the quest to capture a Bunyip.

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This article is currently under construction. Illustration of different Aliens. |Year First Seen||Unknown| Most of these same scientists, however, believe that it's very likely that life exists outside our planet. Many of them also believe that it's nearly impossible that there is no other intelligent life in the universe. Astronomers have observed dozens of planets orbiting stars other than our sun, suggesting that other earth-like planets exist in the universe.Considering the unimaginable vastness of space, the idea that this intelligent life is actually visiting us remains highly speculative within the scientific community. In fact, most scientists believe that interstellar space travel of this magnitude is so unlikely as to render it impossible. For us to reach the nearest star outside our solar system, Alpha Centauri, a spacecraft would have to travel at one million miles an hour for more than 2,500 years. Even traveling at this speed is theoretical; our fastest spacecraft currently travels at a mere 40,000 miles an hour. According to a Gallup poll conducted at the end of the 20th century, one-third of Americans believe that aliens have visited us. According to many of these believers: an alien craft and its occupants crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, the U.S. government recovered the craft and has been meeting with the aliens in a place called Area 51, these meetings are linked to the recent rise in UFO sightings, the aliens themselves have been abducting and experimenting on people, the aliens have been leaving signs of their presence in the form of crop circles, and the government and media have been covering all of this up. To date, all reported UFO and alien activity has been dismissed as Earth-based aircraft, known astronomical objects, hoaxes, etc. These mysterious Creatures mostly appeared from 1940 to 1980. Alien Reports throughout the Years On July 8, 1947, Roswell Army Airfeild (RAAF) public information office in Roswell, New Mexico, issued a press release stating that personnel from the field's 509th Bomb Group had recovered a crashed "flying disc" from a ranch near Roswell, sparking intense media interest. The following day, the press reported that Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force stated that, in fact, a Radar-tracking Balloon had been recovered by the RAAF personnel, not a "flying disc." A subsequent press conference was called, featuring debris from the crashedobject, which seemed to confirm the weather balloon description. Additional witnesses added significant new details, including claims of a huge military operation dedicated to recovering alien craft and aliens themselves, at as many as 11 crash sites, and alleged witness intimidation. In 1989, A scientist put forth a detailed personal account, where he claimed that alien autopsies were carried out at the Roswell base. Hopkinsville GunbattleOn the evening of August 21, 1955, members of the Calloway family from Philadelphia were visiting friends, the Sutton family of Kentucky. The Sutton family home was a rural farmhouse located near the towns of Kelly and Hopkinsville, in Christian County, Kentucky (the farmhouse still stands today although the Sutton family moved soon after the incident). There were a total of eleven people in the house that night, including the children of the two families. The Suttons had no running water in the farmhouse, and due to it being a warm evening Billy Ray Taylor, the patriarch of the Taylor/Calloway family, went to an outside water pump for a drink. It was about 7:00 PM. Taylor said he observed strange lights in the sky to the west, which he believed to be an unusual craft. The craft was disc-shaped in appearance, and featured lights on its side that had "all of the colors of the rainbow". Taylor ran back to the house excitedly telling the others about his "flying saucer" sighting, but no one believed him; instead thinking that he had become overly excited after seeing a vivid "Shooting Star". At about 8.00 p.m., the families began hearing strange and unexplained noises outside. The Sutton family dog which was in the yard outside began barking loudly and then hid under the house, where it remained until the next day. Going outside a few minutes later with their guns, Billy Ray Taylor and Elmer "Lucky" Sutton then asserted that they saw a strange creature emerge from the nearby trees. Jerome Clark describes the creature as: - "a luminous, three-and-a-half-foot-tall being with an oversized head, big, floppy, pointed ears, glowing eyes, and hands with talons at their ends. The figure, either made of or simply dressed in silvery metal, had its hands raised." Disquieted by the creature's bizarre appearance, the pair were further unnerved when it began rushing towards the house holding its hands up in the air, which the men took as threatening behavior. When the creature approached to within about 20 feet, the two men became scared of a home invasion and began shooting at it, one using a shotgun, the other man using a .22 Rifle. There was a noise "sounding like bullets being rattled about in a metal drum", and the creature, they said, then flipped over and fled into the darkness and shadows. Sure that they had wounded the creature, Lucky and Billy Ray went out to look for it. Hendry writes that as the men were stepping from the porch, "a taloned hand reached down from above and began grasping at their hair." They again shot at the creature—it was perched on an awning over the porch—and it was knocked from the roof. Again they heard the rattling noise, although the creature was apparently unharmed. In a later televised interview, one of the grown up children would claim that, as well as "floating" above the ground instead of walking, the creatures "stuck to the side of the house in the way a spider could".Lucky and Billy Ray returned to the house in a disturbed state. Within minutes, Lucky's brother J. C. Sutton said that he saw the same creature (or at least a similar creature) peer into a window in the home; J. C. and Billy Ray shot at it, breaking the window, whereupon it too flipped over and fled. The creatures could be heard loudly scurrying about on the roof, and scratching as though trying to break through. For the next few hours, the witnesses would assert that the creatures repeatedly approached the home, either popping up at the doorway or at windows in an almost playful manner, only to be shot at each time they did. The witnesses were unsure as to how many of the creatures that there were; at least two, as two were seen at once, but there may have been as many as fifteen. At one point the witnesses shot one of the beings nearly point blank, and again would insist that the sound resembled bullets striking a metal bucket. The floating creatures' legs seemed to be atrophied and nearly useless, and they appeared to propel themselves with a curious hip-swaying motion, steering with their arms. Clark writes that "if the creatures were in a tree or on the roof when hit [by gunfire], they would float, not fall, to the ground." Not all of the eleven actually claimed to have seen the creatures; June Taylor was too frightened to look, and Lonnie Lankford, and his brother and sister were hiding out of fear during the encounter. However this still left seven witnesses to the creatures in the farmhouse, and all present in the house had seen strange lights or heard the strange noises the creatures made. There might have been partial corroboration of the Taylor-Sutton tale: at about 11 p.m., a state highway trooper near Kelly independently reported some unusual "meteor-like objects" flying overhead, "with a sound like gunfire coming directly from them."Hendry writes that Sutton family matriarch "Mrs. Lankford … counseled an end to the hostilities," noting that the creatures had never seemed to try harming anyone nor had they actually entered the house. Between appearances from the creatures, the family tried to temper the children's growing hysteria. At about 11.00 p.m., the Taylor-Sutton crew decided to flee the farmhouse in their automobiles and after about 30 minutes they arrived at the Hopkinsville police station. Police Chief Russell Greenwell judged the witnesses to have been frightened by something "beyond reason, not ordinary." He also opined "these were not the sort of people who normally ran to the police … something frightened them, something beyond their comprehension." A police officer with medical training determined that Billy Ray's pulse rate was more than twice normal. Twenty police officers accompanied the Taylor-Suttons back to the farmhouse, and several entered it to assess the damage. According to Daniels et al., "the official response was prompt and thorough." In 1998, Karal Ayn Barnett wrote, "By all accounts, the witnesses were deemed sane, not drunk, and in such a state of terror, no one involved doubted that they had seen something beyond far their kin." Police interviewed neighbouring farmhouses, whose residents were also distressed and reported to the police strange lights, strange sounds, and of hearing the gun battle at the Sutton farmstead. Police and photographers who visited the home saw many bullet holes and hundreds of spent shells, and further discovered what Clark describes as "an odd luminous patch along a fence where one of the beings had been shot, and, in the woods beyond, a green light whose source could not be determined." Though the investigation was inconclusive, Daniels et al. writes, "Investigators did conclude, however, that these people were sincere and sane and that they had no interest in exploiting the case for publicity. The patch sample, although photographed, was never collected and had mysteriously disappeared by the noon the next day. " Police left at about 2:15 a.m., and not long afterward, the witnesses claimed that the creatures returned. Billy Ray fired at them once more, ruining yet another window. The last of the creatures was allegedly sighted just before dawn, at about 4:45 a.m. on August 22. They disappeared with the dawn. According to a variety of reports given by the Hills, the alleged abduction happened on the evening of September 19, 1961 around 10 p.m. The Hills were driving back to Portsmouth from a vacation in Qubec, Canada. There were only a few other cars on the road as they made their way home. Just south of Groveton, New Hampshire, they claimed to have observed a bright point of light in the sky. While Barney navigated U.S. Route 3, Betty reasoned that she was observing a communication satellite since it moved erratically and urged Barney to stop the car for a closer look, as well as to walk their dog, Delsey. Worried about the presence of bears, Barney carried a pistol that he had in the trunk of the car. Betty, whose sister had confided to her about having a flying saucer sighting several years earlier thought it may be what they were encountering. Barney grabbed a pair of binoculars in order to get a better look at the strange light. When he looked through them, he saw multicolored lights and a row of windows with "beings" standing within sight. Barney originally thought the light was a conventional aircraft since they were near Pease Air Force Base. The Hills claimed that they continued driving on the isolated road, moving very slowly in order to observe the object as it came even closer. They stated that it seemed to have been moving in unison with the topography and dipped in front of the peaks and descended slowly in their direction. At one point the object appeared to land on top of Cannon Mountain, but quickly began moving again. Approximately one mile south of Indian Head, they said, a huge craft rapidly descended toward the Hills' vehicle causing Barney to stop directly in the middle of the highway. The craft descended to approximately 80–100 feet above the Hills' 1957 Chevorlet Bel Air and filled the entire field of the windshield. Barney, carrying his pistol, stepped away from the vehicle and moved closer to the object. Using the binoculars, Barney claimed to have seen about 8 to 11 humanoid figures who were peering out of the craft's windows, seeming to look at him. The one remaining figure continued to look at Barney and communicated a message telling him to "stay where you are and keep looking." Red lights on what appeared to be bat-wing fins began to telescope out of the sides of the craft and a long structure descended from the bottom of the craft. The silent craft approached to what Barney estimated was within 50–80 feet overhead and 50–100 feet away from him. Barney tore the binoculars away from his eyes and ran back to his car, saying, "They're going to capture us!" He saw the object again shift its location to directly above the vehicle. He drove away at high speed, telling Betty to look for the object. She rolled down the window and looked up, but saw only darkness above them.Almost immediately the Hills heard a beep which Betty described similar to a microwave and then another beep. At which point they were 35 miles from where they originally were. From later recollections, they recall their car vibrating and stalling. Betty touched the metal on the passenger door expecting to feel an electric shock, but felt only the vibration. The Hills say they experienced the onset of an altered state of consciousness that left their minds dulled, and that they also felt a tingling sensation throughout their bodies. Arriving home at about dawn, the Hills assert that they had some odd sensations and impulses they could not readily explain: Betty insisted that their luggage be kept near the back door rather than in the main part of the house. Barney noted that the leather strap for the binoculars was torn, though he could not recall it tearing. Barney says he was compelled to examine his genitals in the bathroom, though he found nothing unusual. They took long showers to remove possible contamination and each drew a picture of what they had observed. Their drawings were similar. Perplexed, the Hills say they tried to reconstruct the chronology of events as they witnessed the UFO and drove home. But immediately after they heard the buzzing sounds their memories became incomplete and fragmented, and they could not determine a continuous chain of events. Barney recalled saying "Oh no, not again", though he could not place the comment in context. After sleeping for a few hours, Betty woke and placed the shoes and clothing she had worn during the drive into her closet, observing that the dress was torn at the hem, zipper and lining. Later, when Betty retrieved the items from her closet, she noted a pinkish powder on her dress, but had no idea where it might have come from. She threw the dress away, but later changed her mind, retrieving the dress and hanging it on a clothesline. The powder vanished in the wind, though Betty says a few pink stains were left on the dress. Over the years, she said, five laboratories have conducted chemical and forensic analysis on the dress. The Socorro Encounter Alone in his patrol car, Sergeant Lonnie Zamora was chasing a speeding car due south of Socorro, New Mexico on April 24, 1964, at about 5:45 p.m., when he "heard a roar and saw a flame in the sky to southwest some distance away — possibly a 1/2 mile or a mile." Thinking a local dynamite shack might have exploded, Zamora broke off the chase and went to investigate. He describes the noise as "a roar, not a blast. Not like a jet. Changed from high frequency to low frequency and then stopped. Roar lasted possibly 10 seconds" as he approached on a gravel road. "Saw flame about as long as heard the sound. Flame same color as best as recall. Sound distinctly from high to low until it disappeared." He explains that his car windows were down. Zamora notes no other possible witnesses except possibly the car in front, which he estimates might have heard the noise but not seen the flame because it would be behind the brow of the hill from their viewpoint.Zamora struggled to get his car up the steep hill, and on the third attempt, which was successful, he noted no further noise. For the next 10–15 seconds he proceeded west, looking for the shack whose precise location he did not recall. It was then that he noticed a shiny object, "to south about 150 to 200 yards", that at first he took to be an "overturned white car ... up on radiator or on trunk", with two people standing close to it, one of whom seemed to notice him with some surprise and gave a start. The shiny object was "like aluminum — it was whitish against the mesa background, but not chrome", and shaped like a letter "O". Having stopped for a couple of seconds, Zamora approached in his car meaning to help. Zamora only caught a brief sight of the two people in white coveralls beside the "car". He recalls nothing special about them. "I don't recall noting any particular shape or possibly any hats, or headgear. These persons appeared normal in shape — but possibly they were small adults or large kids. Zamora drove towards the scene, radioing his dispatcher to say he would be out of his car. He stopped his car, got out, and attended to the radio mic, which he had dropped, then he started to approach the object. According to Zamora, Keeping the object in view he ran behind his car, bumping his leg on the rear fender and dropping his glasses, and continued running northwards away from the object, which was still near the ground. He now gives a more detailed description of the object. "Oval in shape ... smooth — no windows or doors ... Noted red lettering of some type (see illustration). Insignia was about 2½' high and about 2' wide I guess. Was in middle of object ... Object still like aluminum-white." He also noted that the object was still on the ground when the roar started. The UFO then took off into the Sky. The Exeter Incident At approximately 2 am on September 3, 1965, Norman Muscarello was hitchhiking to his parents' home in Exeter along Highway 150. Muscarello, 18, had recently graduated from high school and was about to leave for service in the U.S. Navy. He had been visiting his friend at her parents' home in nearby Amesbury, Massachusets; since he did not own a car he would catch a ride to and from his friend's home. However, at that time of night there was little traffic on the highway, and as he walked he noticed 5 flashing red lights in some nearby woods. The lights illuminated the woods and a nearby farmhouse (the farm belonged to the Dining family, who were not at home at the time). The lights soon moved towards him, and Muscarello became terrified and dove into a ditch. The lights moved away and hovered near the Dining farmhouse before going back into the woods. Muscarello ran to the farmhouse, pounded on the door and yelled for help, but no one answered. When he saw a car coming down the road, he ran into the road and forced it to stop. The couple in the car drove him to the Exeter police station. At the station Muscarello told his story to police officer Reginald Toland, who worked the night desk at the police station. Toland, who knew Muscarello, was impressed by his obvious fear and agitated state. Toland radioed police officer Eugene Bertrand, Jr., who had earlier in the evening passed a distressed woman sitting in her car on Highway 108. When Bertrand stopped and asked if she had a problem, the woman told him that a "huge object with flashing red lights" had been following her car for 12 miles and stopped over her car before flying away. Bertrand considered her a "kook" but did stay with her for approximately 15 minutes until she had calmed down and was ready to resume her drive. After arriving at the police station and hearing Muscarello's story, Bertrand decided to drive back to the Dining farm with Muscarello to investigate the field where he had seen the UFO.Bertrand drove Muscarello back to the place of his sighting. From Bertrand's patrol car they saw nothing unusual. However, when they left the car and walked towards the woods where Muscarello had first seen the objects, some horses in a nearby corral began kicking their stalls and making loud, frightened noises. Dogs in the area also began howling. Bertrand and Muscarello both saw an object rise up from the woods beyond the corral. Bertrand described the UFO as "this huge, dark object as big as a barn over there, with red flashing lights on it." The object moved slowly towards them, swaying back and forth. Instinctively remembering his police training, Bertrand dropped to one knee, drew his pistol, and pointed it at the object. He then decided that shooting would not be wise, so he reholstered the pistol, grabbed the stunned Muscarello, and both men ran back to the patrol car. Bertrand radioed another Exeter policeman, David Hunt, for assistance, and while the two men waited for Hunt to arrive they continued to watch the object. According to UFO historian Jerome Clark, Bertrand and Muscarello "observed the object as it hovered 100 feet away and at 100 feet altitude. It rocked back and forth. The pulsating red lights flashed in rapid sequence, first from right to left, then left to right, each cycle consuming no more than two seconds...the [local] animals continued to act agitated." When Hunt arrived he also watched the strange object. The object finally flew away over the woods and disappeared. Ronnie Hill Case The Ronnie Hill case Nebraska Police Sergeant Herbert Schirmer claimed that he was abducted by Aliens on December 3, 1967, while in Ashland, Nebraska. Under hypnosis he reported that he had seen a blurred white object that came out of what he had at first mistaken for a truck because of blinking red lights. The white object communicated mentally with him, preventing him from drawing his gun. After hypnosis he said that the beings in the vehicle were friendly, had bases on Venus, and drew energy from power lines. The commission's conclusion was "Evaluation of psychological assessment tests, the lack of any evidence, and interviews with the patrolman, left project staff with no confidence that the trooper’s reported UFO experience was physically real." Sprinkle thought Schirmer believed what he was saying and was not consciously inventing the story. Pascagoula AbductionOn the evening of October 11, 1973, 42-year-old Charles Hickson and 19-year-old Calvin Parker — co-workers at a shipyard — were fishing off a pier on the west bank of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. They heard a whirring/whizzing sound, saw two flashing blue lights, and reported that a domed, cigar-shaped aircraft, some 30 to 40 feet across and 8 to 10 feet high, suddenly appeared near them. The ship seemed to levitate about 2 feet above the ground. A door opened on the ship, they said, and three creatures emerged and seized the men, floating or levitating them into the craft. Both men reported being paralyzed and numb. Parker claimed that he had fainted due to fright. They described the creatures as being roughly humanoid in shape, and standing about five feet tall. The creatures' skin was pale in color and wrinkled, and they had no eyes that the men could discern, and slits for mouths. Their heads also appeared connected directly to their shoulders, with no discernible neck. There were three "carrot like" growths instead - one where the nose would be on a human, the other two where ears would normally be. The beings had lobster-like laws at the ends of their arms, and they seemed to have only one leg (Hickson later described the creatures' lower bodies looking as if their legs were fused together) ending in elephant-like feet. Hickson also reported that the creatures moved in mechanical, robotic ways. On the ship, Hickson claimed that he was somehow levitated or hovered a few feet above the floor of the craft, and was examined by what looked like a large football-shaped mechanical eye, about 6 to 8 inches in diameter, that seemed to scan his body. Parker claimed that he could not recall what had happened to him inside the craft, although later, during sessions of hypnotic regression he offered some hazy details. The men were released after about 20 minutes and the creatures levitated them, with Hickson's feet dragging along the ground, back to their original positions on the river bank. Imjarvi Alien4:45 p.m. Aarno Heinonen and Esko Viljo saw a bright light in the sky approaching them with a buzzing sound. A round 10-foot wide metallic object with a flat bottom, wrapped at first in a reddish gray mist, descended to within 10-12 ft of the ground, and the buzzing ceased. It was so close to Heinonen that he could have touched it with his ski pole. From an opening in the center of the object's bottom, a bright light beam was the emitted, creating an illuminated area of 3 ft in diameter on the snow beneath it, edged with black. A red gray mist descended again;when it cleared both men could see, only 10 feet away, a 3-foot tall humanoid creature standing in the illuminated area, carrying in its hands a black box with a pulsating yellow light. The arms and legs were very thin, the face pale like wax, and the nose hooked; it wore a light green coverall with darker green knee boots, white gauntlets, and a conical metallic helmet. Then the mist again descended, and long red, green and purple "sparks" floated out from the lighted area. A sort of flame rose from this spot and entered the UFO; then the mist vanished, as did the UFO. Main Article: Foo Fighters Giant Brains of Palos Verdes On the night of August 17, 1971, a pair of men from Palos Verdes, California — Peter Rodriguez and John Hodges — left the home of a mutual friend at about 2 am. The pair climbed into Hodges’ car and were about to drive off when they simultaneously noticed a pair of huge, blue, mist shrouded, disembodied brains lying about 6-feet in front of them in the middle of the road.They described one of the creatures as being approximately “the size of an overgrown softball,” while the second one had the dimensions of a human torso and (most startlingly) seemed to have a red, eye-like organ wedged into the center of its frontal lobe. It was at this juncture that the larger brain spoke to Hodges telepathically, stating: “Take the time to understand yourselves, the times draws near when you shall need to. You shall not remember this incident until we meet again.” Hodges wasted no time in speeding away from these bizarre beings and driving his equally frightened friend home. When Hodges — who was now alone — returned to his own home he was terrified to see the two big blue brains waiting for him outside his house. At this point Hodges apparently lost consciousness because his next memory was of waking up in what he referred to as a “control room.”This control room was lined with what seemed to him to be computer consoles. Hodges noticed that the brain creatures were nearby… along with a cadre of beings that were even more terrifying. Hodges stated that he was confronted by a group of bald, thin lipped, 7-foot tall, grey skinned humanoids with no less than six webbed fingers and toes. Alien Timeline by Joe Nickell. |Main Wiki Pages and Navigation||Home • Cryptid • Cryptid Photographs • Cryptid Timeline • CWR • Sasquatch • Sea Creature • Weird| |North America||Bear Lake Monster • Beast of Bray Road • Bermuda Beast •Bigfoot • Dover Demon • Enfield Horror • Flatwoods Monster • Fouke Monster • Hodag • Honey Island Swamp Monster • Igopogo • Jackalope • Jersey Devil • Lizard Man • Loveland Frog • Mannegishi • Michigan Dogman • Momo the Monster • Monster of Monterey • Mothman • Ogopogo • Oklahoma Octopus • Robert • Skunk Ape • Snallygaster • Wendigo • White River Monster| |South America||Bloop • Megaconda • Minhocão| Ahool • Alien • Bishop-fish • Chupacabra • Demon Dog • Dragon • Foo Fighters • Ghost • Globster • Goblin • HMS Deadalus Sea Serpent • Kraken • Reptilian • Sasquatch • Sea Monk • Shadow People • Thunderbird • Zaratan • Zombies |Cryptids with green text are authentic. Cryptids with yellow text are presumed authentic. Cryptids with blue text have an unknown authenticity status. Cryptids with orange text are assumed hoaxes. Cryptids with red text are hoaxes. Cryptids with purple text are found in religion. Cryptids with italic text have been featured articles.|

Margaret is on her way to work at the CDC, walking instead of flying today so she can drink her coffee without spilling it, when she sees the cryptid. She's a truly far-out one, no limbs to speak of, just a long snaky body with a mirror for a face. Margaret smiles at her and goes to walk on by, but the cryptid slithers right at her all of a sudden and--hits?--Margaret with the giant mirror. Except she doesn't experience getting whacked with a sheet of glass. She's pretty close; Bella corrects her. She can come up with a spelling for her own name later. For now, more vocabulary! Nouns and verbs and yes and no and who/what/when/where/why. Bella can't always tell what she's getting at but tries to cooperate with Margaret's interests. Yeah, communicating abstract concepts is hard, even with the ability to draw pictures quickly. If Bella wants to decide what words to do next, that's fine too. Bella names objects! She places them in grammatical context and sometimes spells them if Margaret doesn't pronounce them right. Margaret is very appreciative of this; she learns quickly and consults her notes a lot. She can keep going for several hours; Bella will probably get sick of it first. Actually, Bella's not the first person to get sick of it! Larry, the fellow who caught Margaret, wanders over after less than two hours have gone by. Margaret does not have enough vocabulary to follow the resulting tense conversation. She tries to distract herself from her nerves by reviewing vocabulary words. It's not very effective. Bella and Larry have a heated argument! Margaret gives up on studying and watches them. She looks as nonthreatening as a cat-eyed vaguely reptilian woman can be reasonably expected to look. After a lot of heated argument, Bella picks up the creature that has been sitting by her all this time, displays it from several angles to Larry. He shakes his head. She puts it in a Pokéball and pulls out another one, a deer with treebranch antlers. He inspects this creature. The creatures are very interesting when they're not being extremely aggressive. She's not sure if Bella is trying to make a point or offering him the creature as a bribe to go away or what. Eventually, after more, less-urgently-heated conversation, Bella gives Larry the Pokéball that contained the deer and accepts a Pokéball from him. She sighs. Okay, so it probably was the bribe thing. Now Margaret feels bad about causing Bella to give up her tree-deer. Does Larry at least go away now? Yep. Larry goes away. Bella lets out a lapsize black mammal with gold markings, hugs it, and resumes teaching Margaret the language. "Thank you." Margaret goes back to learning. If Bella keeps the black mammal out, after a bit Margaret will ask (haltingly and with slightly awkward word choice) whether she can touch it. Bella says yes and holds out the mammal. It is quite docilely petted when Margaret touches it. Pet pet. Aww, it's fuzzy. Back to langauge lessons. After a while she gets hungry. She doesn't want to impose on an already very helpful stranger for food, so it's going to be disaster-movie style. Hmm, better warn her as best she can first since she doesn't know about magical girls. "I will food. I will not wings ten, fifteen minutes, make food, wings again." She doesn't know how to say "don't be alarmed", so she says, "I'm okay" and takes off her wings. Alright maybe she spoke too soon, not having wings is unbalanced and weird and generally unpleasant. She needs to steady herself for a moment despite sitting down, but after a bit she smiles again. It's pretty fake. "- what!" Bella pulls the Pokéball assigned to Margaret off her belt. "I'm okay, it's good," she says reassuringly. "I did that, I" she checks her notes, "I wanted that". "Can only do . . . some things. Not all things. Want do food, not can do wings." She points at her arm, adds "I do this, okay?" and makes a small strawberry vine grow out from between two scales. "I can feed you!!"

Hi gang. 2019 has some major developments with ghost hunting and TV shows. Here are the 5 stories that captured your interest. Paranormal Lockdown Cancelled & Ghosts of Shepherdstown Recast Back in February, Nick Groff gave a cryptid message that set off the paranormal TV community. Paranormal Lockdown, a favorite of mine, got whacked and his other show, Ghosts of Shepherdstown, would have a new location and cast. Many of us clamored to find out why that happen. We never got a clear answer from the network executives or the former cast, but it may have something to do with Nick’s new streaming network, Vidi.Space. Portals To Hell Foot Tap Some think it was intentional: Others say it was a simple mistake. Jack Osbourne was seen knocking a wall and claiming to hear some ghostly evidence. Katrina took off to check it out. The Rebirth of Ghost Hunters We got 2 revivals out of Ghost Hunters. Grant Wilson and his new team debuted in August with a show on A&E. Jason, Steve and Tango hit the airwaves in October on Travel Channel. It was good to see the leaders from the first ghost hunting TV wave again, but most people wanted to see everybody back together. It was interesting to see how the generation that grew up on Ghost Adventures say both shows were boring. Fans of the original totally dug the new versions. Guess we have a generational split, eh? The Most Ambitious Ghostober Ever We got an onslaught of paranormal programming from Travel Channel in October. If you throw in A&E, there were a good 12 ghosty type shows and special that hit in time for Halloween. The most ambitious had to be Haunted Salem, a 4-hour live event from Salem, MA. It had all our favorite ghost hunters involved like Amy Bruni and Adam Berry. It ended with Ghost Adventures at The Conjuring house on Halloween night. I needed a break after that and watched some cryptid shows! Paranormal TV Shows Hit A Rut Well, it’s difficult to say, but many of the shows are interchangeable now. It’s moved (mostly) to dark entities, possession and immediate activity. Let’s put someone in a dark room and let an evil spirit suck on their lifeforce and all that. It’s not really about investigating anymore: It’s the scare that matters. But now I don’t get a jolt because I’ve seen the same setup too often. I think this made the Ghost Hunters/Nation revivals more appealing. It’s just a straight investigation, like a police procedural. I’ve also found myself watching more recreation shows like Paranormal 911 or Haunted Case Files. The producers just take the ghostly encounter and remake it (with some embellishing). I’m still excited to see what happens in 2020. Hopefully, we get more ghostly goodness that gets played straight. In a few days, Kindred Spirits returns. I’ve missed this show! Happy New Year!

In June 2019, a video supposedly showing some sort of humanoid cryptid resembling the character of Dobby from the Harry Potter movie series went viral on social media: a lady posted this and said she saw this on her home camera this morning. what y’all think this is ? pic.twitter.com/L98wckn6bO — jey bee . 👑 (@jadynbee_) June 7, 2019 This video was originally shared online by Facebook user Vivian Gomez along with the description: “So I woke up Sunday morning and saw this on my camera and am trying to figure out … what the heck?? First I saw the shadow walking from my front door then I saw this thing. … has anyone else seen this on their cameras?? The other two cameras didn’t pick it up for some reason.” We reached out to Gomez for more information but have yet to receive a response. Nonetheless, this video has been viewed millions of times and has spurred a number of theories about what it shows. We’re not entirely certain about the identity of this “creature,” but we’ve rounded up some of the most popular explanations and done our best to examine them. Does this video show a real house elf similar to Dobby? We’re fairly certain this video doesn’t actually feature Dobby since that house elf is a fictional invention of author JK Rowling. Unless Harry Potter is a documentary series (it isn’t), the chances that this video shows the character of Dobby are infinitesimally small. Does This Video Show an Augmented Reality Version of Dobby? Unlikely, but possible. This video was originally posted to Facebook on 6 June 2019. The following day, Niantic, Inc. and WB Games San Francisco released a trailer for the location-based augmented reality game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. How Stuff Works explains that augmented reality “is the blending of interactive digital elements — like dazzling visual overlays, buzzy haptic feedback, or other sensory projections — into our real-world environments.” In other words, this game will create an illusion for players allowing them to interact with magical beings in the real world: As you step outside and explore the world, the Map will reveal Traces of magic, highlighting the location of magical Foundables. While these Traces can be found all around you, certain Foundables may be more likely to appear at various types of real-world locations including parks, banks, municipal buildings, college campuses, libraries, monuments, zoos, art galleries, and more. Cast a variety of spells to overcome the Confoundable magic, keep the magical Foundables safe, and send them back to the wizarding world. By returning Foundables, you’ll earn unique rewards that can be tracked in the game Registry. While this video would probably make a good viral marketing campaign for the game, VGomez doesn’t appear to be involved in any way with that effort. We reached out to Niantic for comment but did not hear back by press time. A Kid with Underwear on Their Head Doing a Silly Dance? The most logical explanation is usually the correct one. While we’d love to see some solid evidence confirming the existence of aliens, bigfeet, unicorns, or house elves, this video probably isn’t it. Gomez’ Facebook page is full of photographs of an approximately 8-year-old boy. A few of her friends also took to the comments section to theorize that the video likely showed Gomez’ son (presumably) doing a silly dance in the driveway: Viv, I think it’s Bobby! Too much fortnite! I hear your front door open and see the shadow. Is Bobby sleep walking? I can see his little chicken walk. The video also appears to show the “creature” exiting the door of this house. At the start of the video, just before “Dobby” enters the frame, a door-shaped shadow on the right side of the screen can be seen moving against the fence. Gomez’ son likely has access to the house. A fictional character from Harry Potter probably doesn’t. While we haven’t been able to definitively determine what this video shows, the footage likely depicts a young child in a silly costume dancing in the driveway rather than an encounter with a fictional character.

Make the Yuletide Gay Lunar Light Studio presents Make The Yuletide Gay, a network wide annual holiday audio narrative that we will bring to you every year on Christmas Eve. Thank you to our podcast family for making this happen, and happy holidays to everyone! Music Directed by Where to find Make the Yuletide Gay Make the Yuletide Gay Preview The role of Tucker was played by Andy Randolph from Ending Pending. The role of Joel was played by Evin Hodges from Ending Pending. The role of Daisy was played by Penny Parker from Badvertising. The role of Cadence was played by Laura Quill from Story Bored. The role of Cole was played by Joe Langlois from Overwhich. The role of Zeke was played by Ray Jeroso from Overwhich. The role of Sky was played by Mike Patten from upcoming podcast, The Unofficial Bruce Springsteen Mythology. The role of Finn was played by Marty Gibson from Netflix and Kill. The role of Delaney was played by Hannah V Boyens from Netflix and Kill. The role of Cricket was played by Brittany Richter from Whatchacallit. The role of Justin was played by Reid Groskreutz from Whatchacallit. The role of Mel was played by Lillie Blue Lennox from The Good Boys Girls. The role of Cara was played by Hayley Rose from The Good Boys Girls. The role of Todd was played by Johnny Saamyavaadee from upcoming podcast, Commradical. The role of Ellie was played by Alex Flanigan from The Cryptid Keeper. And the role of Grace was played by Addison Peacock from The Cryptid Keeper. Make the Yuletide Gay is a proud production of Lunar Light Studio. Check out all the fine shows on our network including Badvertising, The Cryptid Keeper, Ending Pending, The Good Boys Girls, Netflix and Kill, Overwhich, Story Bored, Whatchacallit and so many more. Thank you for listening and happy holidays to one and all!

Hey again BlueFrackle, just wanted to let you known that I've some important things to do that's not related to any fandom wikis, so I'm signing myself off and won't be coming back. Keep up the good work and I hope you add more new things to Hilda Universe once in a while and please take care of everything of you or admins can, ok. Its been a pleasure, thank you:) You see, the truth is that I'm the one who created the Gargantuan page originally, in fact, pretty much all the pages that I've been rewriting and cleaning up on this wiki, they were all done by me. Just a few years back when I frist found Non-Creatures, it was unlock and so I added some pages such as Bill Cipher, Giant Mole (City of Ember), Beast (Over the Garden Wall) andDick Hardly. But at the time, I wasn't parepared and used text from other wikis, I felt bad for it wanted to fix it all and make them even better, so that's one of the reasons why I signed up for this. Now please don't take this the wrong. I'm glad you like how the Gargantuan page is but I wanted do it just little more different and I was proud with the last edit I did to it that was restored however. That's me reason for all changes I made and I promised to never use text from wikis, haven't since and never will again. I really hope this helps? There you go, back to the way you did. I have to say, it's admirable that you became a much better user when you stopped copypasting, so, you have good reason to be proud of that, but I didn't know you were the original creator. If I did, I wouldn't have opposed the rewrite. Thanks for all your help BlueFrackle. And listen, I'm truly sorry about rewriting the Gargantuan page, just thought could use some more info and about its appearance. I won't touch any more pages without permission from admins such as yourself again, I promise and thanks again:) First thing, I'm deeply sorry to be bothering you BlueFrackle, I know that you're busy. Just wanted to let you know that when you get back here on January 20th in one week, I really need your help with rewriting both page, Alfur and Giant (Hilda), if you don't mind please? Hooray, I'm back now! I've cleaned up those two pages and added information that was missing; including Alfur's bio and info about the Giants' culture and history. Please take a look and tell me what you think :) I'm deeply sorry to bother you again BlueFracle, see I'd just added a Culture and society section to the page, Giant (Hilda) and I need help on finishing with writting it and also even with updating the biography section as well too please. And second, I wanted to rewrite the overview section for Alfur but it seems I need help with that too. Is that alright with you? I won't ask anymore asking after these two page, promise. Look, I'm sorry to say that, but I truly don't have time to rewrite pages now, and for the next week I'm going to be very busy with other things (unrelated to this wiki). This is not an emergency or anything, so I believe it can wait. Please wait until January 20th or ask someone else, because sadly, I won't be available for the next days :( BlueFracle umm, there something else I'd like ask if not any trouble? To be honest, I need help updating all pages on the Hilda Universe. Cause as I said, couldn't have put any of it better myself:) and I really hope its not any trouble but please, take your time if you want. I'll just leave a list of all other pages below ok: Hm... Well, I'm not sure what you need, because these pages seem already pretty good to me, and I've already worked on some of them. For example, I've updated the Nisse page last year and added important info that was missing about their culture. I'm not sure what else needs to be added, to be quite honest :/ Sorry, I'm glad you think there pretty good:, thanks:) but umm, what I do need help with updating are both Jellybean and Forest Giant please and that'll be it for a while at least. Oh and uh, with Jellybean, merely needs to swicth on the template from creature to character. Alright, thanks for you're help and forgive me for bothering... Listen umm, I'll be honest with you. The truth is that I haven't exactly been watching Hilda on Netfilx uh, at least not all of season 1 yet. so far, I've only seen just three episodes and though its been a while now perhaps, but I'm quite confident that I'll be picking up where I left off real soon I'm sure!:) Oh, well I believed I noticed that even after when she become human again, Hilda can now talk to Trolls, so I thought it be necessary to put her under the "Zoopathic Creatures" category...does that make sense? And uh, would it be okay if I put the page Troll (Hilda) in the "Flora" category? It makes sense, although, strictly speaking, Trolls are not animals. But we don't have a category for people who can communicate with Trolls, lol, so I think it's OK to use that one, at least for now :) You know, what I really want would be to create a category for species that combine aspects of both fauna and flora. There are many of them in fiction (as well as some in real life, such as Euglena). The problem is that I don't know what to call this category... If you happen to have any suggestions, I'd surely appreciate that I took Hilda off the "Zoopathic Creatures" category. I thought about it and perhaps at least within the comics, she can now talk to Trolls but well they're not exactly animals. So I put her under Nobility instead, does that work? Hey Alex, it's been a while, good to have you back! :) Well, it depends on what type of creature we want to illustrate. If it's a mythical or folkloric being, try to find an old illustration that is preferably in the public domain and faithful to most descriptions. If it's a fictional creature, just take an image from the source material (book cover, page illustration, comic panel, TV or video game screenshot, etc.). Even though the images are copyrighted, using them to illustrate wiki articles is considered "Fair Use" and thus not illegal; but they have to come from the source material (i.e. not fanart, unless the artist gave you permission, and even then, we have to give credit). It's the work that the character or creature originates from. For example, the source material of the Mouse King is The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (a story by ETA Hoffmann). The source material for Darth Vader is Star Wars, etc. "Alabama Hound-Man" or "Railroad Hound-Man". I say "hound-man" instead of "dogman" because of its vaguely hellhound-like features (red eyes, striking fear, etc.), but mostly because cryptids named "Dogman" are usually of the bipedal cynocephalic kind; not a quadrupedal humanoid like this. Hmm... the ridge is the most notable feature, but "Ridged Creature" sounds silly. Perhaps just call it "Rose City Creature"? "Boca Chica Monster" seems good enough to me. There's not much information to work with here, and almost any creature with a tapetum lucidum could appear to have glowing green eyes at night. This one has all the typical features of a Grey alien, except for the long pointed ears. The combination of alien and fey vibe is interesting, but I wouldn't know what to call it, save for a fancy name like "Visitor of El Verde" perhaps. "Grand Junction Creature" or "Tentacled Thing" The "Ghost of Bigfoot" moniker made me smile, but yeah, there are other options to choose from. "Wisconsin Shapeshifter", "Ethereal Humanoid", "Wisconsin Ghost Monster"... "Bucks County Demon"? "Pennsylvania Hellspawn"? "Imp-like Infant"? "Glowing Mouth Monster" is a possibility. There's no clear indication of a place more specific than "Midwest", but maybe "White Thing of the Midwest" or "Midwest White Monster". "Beast of Pahrump", "Pahrump Creature", or "Hairless Beast". Maybe consider adding this case to the Black-Eyed Children page on ASW, but yeah, I never heard of another case were one of them transforms like this. "Insectoid Shapeshifter" or "Insect Child" could work. "Scottish Wendigo" could be appropriate here, since the article links it to it, but honestly, "Hairless Humanoid" would do just as well. No location indicated (I'm guessing USA, but there were other countries running elections in 2016, so, who knows?), but we might call it "Eyeless Red Man", "Eyeless Demon", "Invisible Humanoid", etc. Chupacabras in Portugal aren't unheard of, actually... but this thing doesn't seem to be one. "Portugal Desert Beast" or even "Wandering Humanoid" sound better. Do you think "Gremlin Beetle" is too silly? Cause I kind of like it. "Giant Beetle" is too generic, but "Giant Green Beetle" would work too. Just so that you know, man, I don't think it's a good idea to illustrate our pages with images from that site, though. The author has been pretty vocal about art theft on Tumblr in the past, and I'm not sure whether cases like this would qualify as "fair use" or not. Perhaps call it "Texas Creeper"? Similar to the cryptid known as Antarctic Godzilla. ...Although, to be honest, it's also possible that these people were seeing Batsquatchs. I can see how a Batsquatch could be mistaken for the Creeper by someone unfamiliar with it. But that's just a possibility, of course.

Animal Planet’s “Monster Week” is underway, and AiPT! Science has decided to join in on the fun, with a slightly more skeptical viewpoint. Click the “MW2018” tag down below for more, all week! Finding Bigfoot finally admitted defeat last night, but could the story be different for a decidedly more local monster? Brian Regal has led an interesting life. After going into the army straight out of high school, he earned a certificate in scientific and technical illustration, drew for the first ever university textbook on dinosaurs and even taught at the Kubert School for a time. But he was always interested in history, so Regal became a 30-year-old freshman at Kean University, where he now teaches the history of science, technology and medicine. It’s been a circuitous path, but not nearly as convoluted as the history of the subject of his latest book. AiPT! Comics spoke to Regal about what inspired him, with co-author Frank Esposito, to write The Secret History of the Jersey Devil: How Quakers, Hucksters, and Benjamin Franklin Created a Monster, why people believe in such a strange thing and how the Jersey Devil has an even more interesting origin story than you might have thought. AiPT!: First of all, why the Jersey Devil? Regal: The story I always tell everybody is, when Hurricane Sandy came through and laid waste to most of New Jersey a few years back, in our particular neighborhood, the power was out for over a week, and when it finally came back on, I had a lot of TV-watching to catch up on. There was a show — I forget, I think it might have been Monsterquest, or one of those — and they were doing a segment on the Jersey Devil, and it was just so awful; it made me angry. My colleague at Kean, Frank Esposito … is a scholar of Native American history and New Jersey history, and we got to talking, and the two us pretty much simultaneously said, “Let’s do a book about the Jersey Devil!” So that was it! Three and a half, four years later, it’s on the shelf. AiPT!: The Jersey Devil is a weird case, because it kind of gets lumped in with cryptozoology, but it’s really more of a historical legend than it is a creature that people see often, right? Regal: Yeah, well, going by cryptozoologists’ own standards of what makes a cryptid, it isn’t really. It doesn’t make any sense evolutionarily, biologically. It has a strange folkloric history. I think that’s the thing that the cryptozoology people get drawn to — that it does have this folkloric aspect to its history. AiPT!: But you say it doesn’t make sense evolutionarily — nobody knows exactly what it’s supposed to look like. Aren’t there — Regal: Yeah, there is a certain basic morphology to it. It sort of looks like an emaciated deer with wings. I always tell people, imagine if Pegasus went over to the dark side. Or if Pegasus had let himself go, that’s sort of what the Jersey Devil looks like. But the problem is, you can’t have a quadruped with wings. AiPt!: But people still say they see it. Or do they? Regal: Sure. Oh yeah, they still see it. I give talks all over the region here, all the time — I just gave one a couple weeks ago — and I stand up there and I give them this lecture about this thing, and I make jokes about how I’m going to disappoint everybody by telling them this thing isn’t real, and sure enough, when it’s all over and you go through that whole shaking hands and “thanks a lot for coming,” and all that kind of stuff, someone will come up and say, “Yeah, yeah, I know; I know it’s fake, but I really saw it. It was in my yard.” Or, “We were out, driving around, and we saw it.” So yeah, people still think they see this. They still think it’s real. We are under no illusions that this book of ours is going to make people suddenly stop believing in the Jersey Devil. That’s not gonna happen. AiPT!: It does seem like you want people to think about the history of it a little differently. So tell us a little bit about the usual story people tell about the origin of the Jersey Devil, and how you might think the reality is a little different. Regal: The legend is that a witch named Mother Leeds living in the Pine Barrens in 1735 gives birth to a 13th child, which she curses as it’s being born, and it turns into this monster [that] flies off and spends the next couple of centuries just sort of annoying people in the woods. It doesn’t ever really do anything. That’s one of the, sort of disappointing things about this whole story. There are a few scattered, apocryphal stories about the Jersey Devil eating people, but that’s really not much in the legend. You see it, it looks at you, you look at it, you run away in one direction, it runs away in another direction, and that’s pretty much the end of the encounter. AiPT!: But you think there was more to it than that. There was maybe political and religious things that might have led to the birth of this legend? Regal: Yeah, that’s what we did in this book. Frank and I decided that we wanted to do something with a monster legend that had never really been done before, and that was to approach this as historians (which is what we are), and we approached it the way we would approach any aspect of the past. We began digging through the archives and looking through material and museums and libraries, all around the region, and you dig out what you can find, and you use that to build a story. AiPT!: Is there anything [interesting] you can tell us you found out, without spoiling the book too much? Regal: Ben Franklin was a bit of a dick? AiPT!: Everyone knows that! Regal: Great guy, probably the best of all the founding fathers, but he apparently had a little bit of a nasty side to him, so that’s kind of interesting. AiPT!: Do you think the cryptozoologic field could benefit from this kind of historical perspective that you’ve taken? Regal: Yeah, but I don’t think they will. I think the whole draw of cryptozoology is sort of the romance of the thing. Going out into the woods and looking for Bigfoot, or wearing some night vision goggles — it’s sort of adventurous and fun. AiPT!: You said you’re not expecting anyone to read the book and stop believing in the Jersey Devil. What do you hope people will take away from it? Regal: That they’ll see that this story is much more interesting than they think it is. That it’s not just some sort of wacky, provincial, local foolishness, but it comes out of the very foundations of what became the United States. It’s part of the colonial period, it’s involved in politics of the empire, and grew out of a collision of Europeans and Native Americans and politics and science and the dawning of the Scientific Revolution in America. We think it’s much more interesting than just some sort of dopey, malformed horse with wings, running around the Pine Barrens.

Mothmen embroidered patch Motorcycle club inspired design featuring a fictional Mothman-themed riding club, "Mothmen". The "Point Pleasant" location rocker is a reference to the West Virginia location where the tragic events surrounding the Mothman sightings and the collapse of the Silver Bridge took place. - 6.375" W x 5.5" H - 100% embroidered - available with iron-on or hook-and-loop backing Part of the Cryptid Biker Patches set which includes:

Much like Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a beautiful, fascinating, and timely commentary on gender and economic inequality and religiously-justified politics, Rachel Vincent’s Menagerie trilogy is a beautiful, fascinating, and timely commentary on xenophobia, “otherness,” and our tragic tendency to treat other people as sub-human out of fear, ignorance, and selfishness. Titles: Menagerie, Spectacle, and Fury Author: Rachel Vincent Series: Menagerie Series First Publish Date: September 29th, 2015, by Harlequin MIRA Genre: Urban fantasy, dark fantasy Narrator: Gabra Zackman Publisher’s Description of Menagerie: When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger’s Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she’s forced to “perform” in town after town. But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other “attractions” — mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons, and kelpies — are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she’ll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed. Possible spoilers beyond this point. Invested Ivana says… In the world of Rachel Vincent’s Menagerie trilogy, cryptids have always existed—human/animal hybrids of myth and legend, creatures that look human but have inhuman abilities, etc. But it’s a horrible time for them. If they are outed and caught, they are ostracized from society, separated from their families, exploited and bred like beasts, and treated as deadly or evil creatures by humans. The impetus for this treatment is an event that happened several years prior—a mass killing that occurred all across the globe, committed by creatures that were not human. Rage, fear, and ignorance spurred humans into tormenting all cryptids, believing that one form of cryptid was responsible for the killings. Delilah Dawson has returned to her hometown after going to school for cryptid zoology in order to understand and care for the various cryptid creatures. Her boyfriends treats her to a trip to the carnival, where a menagerie of cryptids is on display. After watching the brutal treatment of a child werewolf by the menagerie staff, Delilah has an unexpected transformation—and gets labeled a cryptid herself. This change in Delilah’s status is the real horror and appeal of the series. As a stand-in for the reader, Delilah—a perfectly normal human—suddenly becomes “other,” and the treatment she receives after that point is atrocious. It leads the reader to think, “What if that happened to me?” It reminds us that anything a group of people is allowed to do to others—such as tear children from parents and place them in animal cages—they can eventually do to us. It forces us to recognize the “frog in hot water” phenomenon that many people believe we are living through today. Delilah, who has learned to view cryptids much the way a sympathetic vet or zoologist views animals, is now forced to see how little difference there is between them and herself. She comes to know them as individuals with the same concerns about their family and survival as she has. And because she had the privilege of a human upbringing and education, she is able to plot and scheme and fight for cryptid rights with more skill and righteous indignation than a cryptid without that privilege. There are so many timely and relevant themes in this trilogy that it could be great fodder for a book club. At the same time, it is rich, beautiful, sorrowful, devastating, and empowering fantasy fiction and a joy to read. Stories like this one justify the theory that reading can help people be more empathetic, compassionate, and emotionally intelligent because they are “experiencing” events from a point of view other than their own. The audio version, narrated by Gabra Zackman, is fantastic. For me, hearing the characters’ voices really amps up my emotional connection to the story. And did I mention the ending? Wow! It’s not a happy ending, but it’s not an unhappy ending, either. It’s clever, victorious, sad, and hopeful with a huge dollop of karma, which I adore. But it also leaves the reader with questions: What happens next? What impact does the final event have on the world? Will things get better for cryptids? Those questions go unanswered in the book, indicating that it is up to us how the future goes for everyone who is “other.” We readers have to be the ones to make that better future manifest in our own world. The Menagerie trilogy is not popcorn fiction, but a significant commentary on the state of humanity in the tradition of The Handmaid’s Tale, Fahrenheit 451, and other great dystopian classics. But it’s also a beautiful, accessible, and highly-entertaining piece of fiction, one that will leave you with some deep thoughts and lots of feels. Five stars for each book.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012 The Geelong Advertiser has this fascinating bit of local lore in the paper this week. Devil's Pool, the Bunyip Hole - the Barwon River precinct at Queens Park better known as Buckley Falls, for the British convict who lived with Aborigines for 32 years - has long hosted an unusual rocky cascade, water race and remnants of a long-gone industry. That's not to mention enough snakes among its rocks to make anyone nervous on a warm summer's day. But as a picturesque riverside scene it is difficult to match the bluestone, red brickwork and craggy texture of the former paper mills that operated at Buckley Falls from 1878 to 1923. At its height, the mill employed 200 people, making paper from not just wood pulp but rags, sacking, used paper, rope ends and other species of refuse to make some 40 different types of paper for writing, printing, wrapping, blotting and more. It was set up by Robert Miller, at a cost of between 40,000 and 50,000, as the Barwon Paper Mill. It underwent various changes of ownership; in 1888 to Victorian paper Manufacturing Company and two years later again to H.L. Littlewood & Co. The mill buildings lay unoccupied from 1923 to 1929 after which the Hydro Manufacturing Company ran iceworks and cool storage until the war years. More recent years have seen them utilised as factoriettes for a variety of trades pursuits. The 3/4-mile water race to a Belfast-manufactured turbine that generated some 300 horsepower of cheap electricity to the mill was constructed by 30 men who blasted their way through solid rock, presumably oblivious to the devil or bunyip allusions of the pool. Had they been aware of local bunyip lore, however, they might have been a tad nervous. For some years earlier, in the 1840s, a bunyip scare struck fear into the fledgling Geelong settlement. As this newspaper reported in 1845: "We have been favoured by Mr Menzies with the inspection of a petrified bone found on the shores of Lake Timboon to the westward of Lake Colac. "The bone is apparently the head of the tibia, or lower joint of the knee. The dimensions of this fragment of bone are of the most colossal nature, measuring as it does 10 inches across the front of the knee (in diameter, not circumference)." On being shown to an "intelligent black" it was "at once recognised ... as belonging to the bunyip". This was corroborated with several other Aborigines. No big deal, you might have thought, but next came detailed reports of several bestial attacks on animals: a mare at Little River, a mutilated cow near Barwon Heads. Bunyip fever whipped through the area. And purported attacks further afield even led scientists of the day to study and speculate on the Timboon bone. Hysteria peaked in 1847-48 when a bunyip "skull' was found in a stream near the Murrumbidgee River. But the scientists were never able to corroborate any bunyip. Speculation has since ranged from seals to bitterns to diprotodons but the creature has remained steadfastly untouchable - and consigned to history as much as Robert Miller's operations next to the Bunyip Pool. Monday, 30 January 2012 A mysterious blood-thirsty wild cat is feared to have struck again after three wallabies were found devoured on farmland in the Cotswolds area of the United Kingdom. The trio were found stripped to the bone, with their internal organs neatly placed beside their bodies. Examinations revealed they had suffered puncture wounds to the neck - consistent with a vicious attack by a panther-like creature. Experts now believe the animals were devoured by the Wildcat of Woodchester which is already believed to have killed three times this month. The mutilated bodies of three deer have been found in the past few weeks in countryside near Stroud, Gloucestershire - just 12 miles from where the wallabies were mauled to death. The wallabies were found only 12 miles apart leading to the belief that it was the same cat Samples of DNA from the predator's first deer kill on January 4 are currently being tested to confirm whether or not a big cat is behind the killings. The results are expected to be revealed over the next few days. But big cat expert Frank Tunbridge is in no doubt over who killed the wallabies and the deer. Mr Tunbridge, 65, said: 'There could be no creature other than a big cat that could bring down and kill these wallabies. 'The field was surrounded by a 7ft fence and there was no apparent entry signs - so the predator must have leapt over it. 'The killer struck over two nights. The first night he killed two wallabies, stripped one of the carcasses down and hid the other under a pile of leaves and straw. 'Then he came back and killed a third - devouring his further kills. A fourth wallaby appears to have died from a heart attack. 'The wallabies are only about 12 miles from Woodchester so it appears that this could be the same big cat. 'They have all the hallmarks of a panther or puma kill.' The wallabies, part of a private collection, were found by their devastated owner on January 6 - two days after the apparent first kill by the Wildcat of Woodchester. The Gloucestershire farmer did not want to divulge his name or location. But he did release gory pictures of one of the dead wallabies. The carcass had been ripped open in a similar way to the three roe deers the beast is believed to have slayed. The first deer had been torn open and was missing its heart, kidneys and liver. Its snout was also missing - important because big cats clamp their jaws over the mouth, causing death by suffocation. Experts believe the deer was brought down and devoured by a large and powerful predator such as a puma, jaguar or leopard. Tufts of the animal’s fur were also found piled by the body - and such predators neatly pluck the hair from the body before shearing their teeth into the flesh. Another deer carcass was found by a dog walker between Whiteway and Redcomb, near Cirencester - ten miles away - on January 10. A third roe deer body was found at a development in Cooper’s Edge, near Gloucester, days later. Dr Robin Allaby, an expert in evolutionary genetics at Warwick University’s School of Life Sciences, is studying samples of DNA taken from the first carcass. He said: 'I’m prepared to believe in the existence of big cats in the UK and we have a reasonable chance of finding out if it was there. 'We are in the process of studying samples of DNA taken from the deer and if its death was the result of a big cat then we’re hoping it left cheek cells and saliva.' Is this the culprit? A picture of a large black cat taken in the area. Wednesday, 25 January 2012 Melbourne's zoos will become urban arks, breeding sanctuaries for 20 of the most at-risk species in the state, as scientists struggle to save them from extinction, according to The Age. Flagging a strategic shift to become a ''zoo-based conservation organisation'', Zoos Victoria - which includes Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo - has released a ''priority'' list of species it believes are in urgent need of help. The list includes 11 species that are already the subject of the zoos' conservation efforts, including the Tasmanian devil, mountain pygmy possum and orange-bellied parrot. Nine additional vulnerable species, including the Baw Baw frog, Leadbeater's possum, the alpine she-oak skink and the Guthega skink, are set to be brought into captive breeding programs in the coming months. Tuesday, 24 January 2012 Is it something in the air? We're not sure, but The Bunyip Movie is the fourth Aussie cryptid film on the books in the past two years, albeit another horror much along the same lines as Gone Missing (except the big cat has been replaced with a feisty bunyip). And they have all passed through the Blue Mountains shooting their Yowie/Bunyip-related docu- and mockumentaries. So what's the premise? Following in the steps of The Blair Witch Project, the original suspense horror Alien and the inspired crowd-sourcing heart of films like The Tunnel, The Bunyip Movie* (working title) is a micro-budget suspense horror being shot in New South Wales, Australia. Entrepreneur Tanc Lorenzo has just sold his tech security startup, ThinkTanc, for millions. As he and his small team of staff set out on their usual monthly team-building weekend, the new Board of Directors makes their presence known. No longer will Tanc's team-building trips consist of death-defying sky-dives, supersonic flights or bungee jumps - this time, he's taking the team on an easy 2-day hike in The Blue Mountains. But when Tanc disappears on the first night, the team discover that their tame weekend away is turning out unexpectedly. Pursued by an unseen and malevolent creature in the harsh Australian wilderness, the group will have to overcome all odds just to survive. Who knows, they may well come across some real cryptids during their shoot! Of course the Blue Mountains are better known for bush-bashing Yowies rather than water-dwelling Bunyips - a small technical detail! Can we expect an eyeful of Aussie cryptid entertainment in 2013? Watch this space... Monday, 23 January 2012 People should stop wasting time and money looking for the Tasmanian tiger, according to new Australian research. Dr Diana Fisher and Dr Simon Blomberg from the University of Queensland's school of biological sciences report their findings in a recent issue of Conservation Biology. Since the last wild thylacine was captured in 1933, there have been ongoing searches and numerous unconfirmed sightings of the carnivorous marsupial. But, says Fisher, such efforts are misguided. "There's been more search efforts for the thylacine than any other mammal globally," she says. "I think that's just a waste of money." What do you think? Monday, 16 January 2012 A discovery of an animal skull in regional Tasmania caused much excitement today in Australia, but it turns out the animal remains are nothing more than a dog - not a Thylacine as first claimed. Updating their website several hours ago, the skull's discoverers - brothers Levi and Jarom Triffitt - said the results were in. "The museum have told us its a dog skull but still can't identify what sort, our story is as we have filmed it bar the lobster which was filmed 2 months ago, however we were looking for lobsters and to find this skull was an amazing experience we'll never forget, we will still live in hope they are out there somewhere..." The trail bike riders discovered the skull while filming during a ride through bushland. They say they were riding in bushland in central northern Tasmania last week while filming stunts for a promotional video when they came across the skull. "Lot's of people think 'dog', but when you actually get on Google and compare it to your normal dogs that are in Tasmania, the closest thing we could find it to was an American timber wolf, which I don't believe we have here," Jarom said at the time. The last known tasmanian tiger died in the Hobart Zoo in 1936. Wednesday, 11 January 2012 A quick visit to a mysterious pile of bones on Sydney's outskirts...a chilling discovery. Is it the killing ground of an Australian Big Cat? Tuesday, 10 January 2012 We've pulled up some more video from the archives about one of our favourite topics - the yowie! Two glowing red eyes, an ominous growl, flying stones, tortured screams...what could it have been? Listen to Mike's interview with this NSW witness... Sunday, 8 January 2012 The Victorian Government has downgraded its promised investigation into the existence of puma-like big cats in Victoria after senior bureaucrats poo-poohed the idea. Shock! Horror! Not really a surprise when the Victorian Government investigation never really got off the ground. In echoes of the NSW Government investigation into the big cat phenomena, it was over before it began - a hollow promise, a quirky news story, nothing more. Instead, public servants will look at the accumulated paperwork regarding the hundreds of big cat sightings and unexplained livestock deaths in the past decade. Perhaps they should cut some corners and buy a copy of Australian Big Cats: An Unnatural History of Panthers instead! Department of Primary Industries documents released under Freedom of Information to the Herald Sun newspaper show the inquiry has been downgraded to a "small desktop study of existing documents". The downgraded probe follows a negative report from the DPI's Biosecurity Victoria. Biosecurity Victoria executive director Hugh Millar memoed Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh stating there was no evidence to support theories that "giant black cats the size of pumas or panthers" were killing Victorian livestock. "In all likelihood, reported sightings of big cats are just that, feral cats ... or misidentification of black wild dogs or even foxes," the memo states. Acting Opposition agriculture spokeswoman Jacinta Allan said the government documents proved the promised inquiry was a waste of resources. "While elective surgery waiting lists blow out, Victorians lose jobs in a weakened manufacturing sector and business investment flees the state, the Baillieu Government is still wasting taxpayer funds chasing mythical big cats," she said. But Mr Walsh, who last year said the probe would find out the truth about big cats "once and for all", said the issue remained important to rural Victorians. He said the inquiry, a "desktop study" of Parks Victoria staff and wild doggers' field work and species survey work, would begin after an aerial wild dog baiting program ended. Thursday, 5 January 2012 In today's post we continue to 'get our Yowie on' with another witness interview from the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, NSW, carried out only this week with thanks to local researcher Neil Frost. Our witness Sean shares his unsettling tales of camping trips with uninvited hairy guests and inexplicable showers of stones! Wednesday, 4 January 2012 Over the years we've amassed quite a bit of interesting footage - mostly witness interviews but occasionally wildlife footage as well. We've also been given footage to share, and this latest offering from authors Tony Healy and Paul Cropper is a pearler - an interview with a man who saw the Lake George Yowie in the mid-1970s! Lake George (also known by its indigenous name Weereewa - 'bad water') is an aquatic conundrum, a 25km long shallow, salty body of water that lies between Sydney and the nation's capital, Canberra. Its ebb and flow - the Lake will dry up completely for years at a time - has been the source of much local superstition and legend. Several fishermen and five Duntroon military academy cadets have drowned in its waters, and all manner of things have been found when the waters have receded - including a plane! All kinds of phenomena has visited its unpredictable shore - ghosts, UFOs, and as you'll hear now, even Australia's own bigfoot, the yowie! Tuesday, 3 January 2012 |A peek at one of our bookshelves, courtesy of Tania Poole.| The year ahead holds plenty of promise - including a growing list of interesting cryptozoology and naturalist books. We've pulled together a few that have caught our eye and presented them here to share with our readers. (We've just noticed a slight anomaly - if one of the links comes up as a generic Amazon ad, just refresh the page to get the book link.) Enjoy! The Encyclopaedia of New and Rediscovered Animals by Karl Shuker. The Black Rhinos of Namibia: Searching for Survivors in the African Desert by Rick Bass. The Kirtlands Warbler: The Story of a Bird's Fight Against Extinction and the People Who Saved It by William Rapai. The Existence of Sasquatch and Yeti by Carol Hand. Abominable Science: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie and Other Famous Cryptids by Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero. I'm sure there will be plenty more so keep your wallet handy. Monday, 2 January 2012 Normally we only feature news about wild animals on the endangered and extinction lists. But a rare breed of domestic dog, once popular among royalty and celebrities, is on the brink of extinction and probably deserves a mention. Sealyham Terriers were first bred for pest control, but are now rarer than endangered species such as giant pandas and tigers! The breed's popularity soared in the 1920s, when the Kennel Club - the UK's largest dog organisation - registered more than 2000 puppies every year. The breed was exported overseas and bred here in Australia. The dogs, often described as intelligent and loyal, were favorites with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock. Their gregarious personalities and boundless energy, meant they remained sought after for decades, and in 1959 a Sunday newspaper reported, "A notice has been posted in Clarence House and Windsor Castle giving explicit instructions that when Princess Margaret has breakfast in bed, her two Sealyhams must be brought to the room along with her breakfast tray." But last year only 49 were bred in the UK, the breed's home, putting them on the Kennel Club's top three most endangered native breeds list. The dramatic change is attributed to new fashions, the availability of a greater number of breeds and the decline of ratting as a form of vermin control. Sealyham Terriers are believed to be a mix of the now extinct English White Terrier combined with Dandie Dinmont, the Fox Terrier, the West Highland and the Corgi.

We’re living in a time where more and more of us seem to have everything, making finding that perfect gift a real challenge. Where gift-giving is concerned, dads rise to the top of that challenging list. Unsure of what he could possibly want or need, you might find yourself mulling through a mental list of substandard options. But you don't want to gift dad something sub-par; you want to find a gift for dad he'll love! As luck would have it, we’ve got a suggestion that is sure to make shopping for dad a breeze - the Cratejoy marketplace. Packed with top-notch monthly subscription boxes, we've got men's gift boxes that make great gifts for any occasion throughout the year. Whether you're searching for holiday gifts, Father's Day gifts, or something special just to show him how much he means to you, we've got fun and useful boxes for every father. To get you pointed in the right direction, we've put together this gift guide highlighting 12 of our favorites. With boxes catering to a broad range of interests, continue reading below to find just the right gift for the dad who has everything. Unique Gifts for Dads Who Have Everything Price: Starts at $26.50/every 2 months What's Included: Escape the Crate is a gift dad can enjoy with the whole family. Embrace game night and take it to the next level with this at-home escape room adventure. A bi-monthly subscription, each box encourages quality family time and togetherness. Bring your A-game and work as a team to decode ciphers and solve riddles and puzzles until finally the historical mystery is sorted out and an escape is made! Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. in the 1st week of the month, every other month Price: Starts at $16.67/month What's Included: One of the best gift ideas for dad is the Basic MAN box. A best seller for a reason, this practical monthly subscription makes it easy to head back to style basics. Each box delivers a new pair of high-quality underwear, socks, and a T-shirt, giving him the perfect opportunity to upgrade his wardrobe necessities. Help dad channel his inner Marie Kondo and say out with the old and in with the new. Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. in 1-2 business days after orders are placed Price: Starts at $22.00/month What's Included: Great for any new dad who's in the thick of experiencing all the joys that fatherhood brings, The Rad Dad Box can help him make time to create special moments with his children. Bringing fun treats for both dad and kids each month, he'll get 3-4 items at the Starter level, or 5-8 in the Deluxe box, ranging from books to read and games to play with his littles, to artisanal body care, grooming products and apparel. Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. between the 10th-15th of the month Price: Starts at $27.95/month What's Included: Grill Masters Club is a great monthly gift set for any dad who enjoys to fire up the barbecue and get outside for a backyard cookout with family and friends. Packed with 4 unique grilling items including spice mixes and rubs, accessories, wood chips for meat smoking and delectable hot sauces, each monthly box has all he’ll need to throw some steaks or burgers on the grill for a flavorful meal! Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. in the 1st week of every month Price: Starts at $29.17/month What's Included: Searching for a unique gift for dad? Send him a little monogram mania each month with the Standard Dispatch box. Every box features 1 curated, top-quality item complete with a laser-engraved mark for an added personalized touch. With 4 different custom monogram options to choose from, dads who enjoy the finer things in life will appreciate a subscription dedicated to high-quality items, like stainless steel tumblers, tools or leather goods. Shipping: Only ships within the U.S. between the 4th-6th of every month Price: Starts at $11.25/month What's Included: Socks might get a bad rap in the gift department, but we really shouldn't underestimate the value of high-quality socks. Anyone with an active lifestyle: runners, hikers, and dads, can all attest. Cue SpiffySocks. This monthly subscription will make it easy for him to be on his feet, delivering socks made of sustainable bamboo fiber that's twice as soft as cotton, naturally antibacterial, thermo-regulating, sweat-wicking and super durable. Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. on the 22nd of the month Price: Starts at $9.00/month What's Included: Go a little bit old school with a gift that promotes a hobby dad loves with Baseball Cards of the Month. With 23 subscription options available, this box truly has something for everyone. Each month brings custom-made cards and card packs, including autographed cards, for all the baseball card enthusiasts out there. It's easy to find an option that works for all types of fans and anyone's budget. Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. around the 22nd of every month Price: Starts at $37.99/month What's Included: Ditch the generic gift card for dad this holiday season and send him a creeptastic monthly gift box that's devoted to all things cryptozoology and paranormal activity. Cryptid Crate offers a curated collection of items handpicked from some of the best independent producers and artisans in the business, bringing 4-7 items, from wall art and tees, to home decor, books and films, all celebrating the mysterious world of the yet-to-be-substantiated species of the world. Shipping: Ships to select countries from the U.S. on or around the 1st of each month Price: Starts at $24.91/month What's Included: With a gift of ComicCrate, dad can share his love of comics with his own kiddos. A box that's on a mission to "turn reluctant readers into reading superheroes", select between 2 subscription options, depending on age and reading level, to send a monthly box packed with 6 new comic books, all thoughtfully chosen by other comic-loving parents. It’s a simple way for dad to enjoy quality reading time with his littles. Shipping: Only ships within the U.S. every week throughout the month Price: Starts at £14.99 GBP/month What's Included: Everyone’s favorite way to bring wizarding magic to the doorstep, GeekGear is a monthly subscription for lovers of all things Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Perfect for any dad who counts himself as a proud member of one of the most popular fandoms ever, each box brings 6-10 exclusively licensed products. He'll unbox exciting collectibles, wall art, postcards and a new exclusively designed T-shirt every month. Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.K. except for select countries between the 21st-26th of each month Price: Starts at $20.99/month What's Included: Bust out that bottle opener and join the craft beer revolution with the First Sip Brew Box. Showcasing the story of a different craft brewery in every box, give dad the ultimate monthly BYOB craft beer experience that brings everything but the brews. Featuring hops-loving brewers and small businesses, each box is packed with a range of hoppy artisan products, like clever tees, intriguing edibles, candles, soaps and more. Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. on the 15th of every month Price: Starts at $29.99/month What's Included: If dad's motto is 'families that play together, stay together', UnboxBoardom has got his name on it. With a goal of providing fun-filled experiences to all families, it's a monthly subscription box that's filled with fun and games. Available in 3 different options, select the subscription frequency, and choose either the featured monthly game or opt for the element of surprise. From popular strategy games to party games, this box brings the best on the market. Shipping: Only ships within the U.S. on the 15th of the scheduled month

Last month I was invited to participate in a Halloween swap on Elfster called Halloween Creeps. Our goal was to send our partner a Halloween gift worth under $30, handmade encouraged.Continue reading “Halloween Creeps Swap” Last spring I started sewing again after years away from the machine. Once I completed a few small projects and made a few stuffed animals, my friend asked me if I could make him some Hello Katya dolls. Here’s how I did it:Continue reading “DIY Hello Katya Doll with Gingermelon Doll Pattern” I’ll admit it: I’m a t-shirt fiend. I love t-shirts and wear them as much as possible. They’re so versatile! I’m drawn to graphic tees that are kind of spooky and esoteric, so when I saw this cool death’s head moth tee, I knew it would fit into my wardrobe just fine.Continue reading “Independent Designer Spotlight: Bright Comets Apparel” Cryptids are creatures whose existence is passed on through legends and folklore but is never scientifically proven. Cryptids are becoming more and more popular these days, showing up in all corners of pop culture including movies, books, and podcasts. None of these are affiliate links, just things I came across on Etsy that I liked! Here are 8 cute and creepy cryptid-themed gifts you can buy on Etsy: I have been enamored with Marcy Kentz’s jewelry since I came across it on her Instagram last year. Her jewelry designs juxtapose sacred geometry and nature in a modern, witchy way. Her pieces are talismans full of esoteric symbolism, perfect for any witch’s wardrobe. Marcy writes a note inside every jewelry package, making it that much more special. In late September I came across this cute, witchy dress made by artist Brett Manning. I saw it on Brett’s Instagram and knew it would fit my style perfectly! This was a limited time pre-order and was purchased through Brett’s Etsy.

I recently received a telephone call from 'JD': JD and his wife were returning dishes and other items that were used for a wedding reception in Detroit, MI on October 27th. The wedding coordinator was located in Washington Township, MI in Macomb County, north of Detroit. The time was around 1AM on Sunday October 28th when they arrived at the location. JD was in the house, getting ready to head home, when the coordinator's Schnauzer dog began to bark and scratch at the back door. The coordinator's husband left the dog out and follow it into the back yard. About the same time, the neighbor called to ask if they could quiet their dog down. The coordinator's husband (John) was watching the dog, as it continued to bark wildly, as it cowered behind him. John looked in the direction of the dog's attention, and noticed a huge dark figure standing at the edge of the property. John stated to JD that the figure was 9ft tall and bulky. He also noticed that the top of the head was conical, though it was difficult to see much detail. John slowly moved to his right, and then the figure moved in the same direction. John then moved to his left, and the figure followed. John picked up the dog and began to back up towards the house, continuing to watch the figure. It then crouched down on all fours, taking a threatening stature. John quickly turned and ran into the house. The next morning, John checked the location where the figure had been standing. He noticed faint footprints that were twice as large as an adult man. JD asked John if he had taken photographs, but he had not. The BFRO has no reports of Bigfoot in Macomb County, MI. The Michigan Sasquatch Project has several reports from the area. Lon Who was Jack the Ripper? Facing down a hundred-year-old mystery, relentless detectives continue to search for the identity of the infamous killer, who terrorized the women of Whitechapel in autumn 1888. At the end of the 19th century a foreign traveler only had to spend a day sightseeing in London to feel stirred by England’s power. At Westminster the Houses of Parliament proudly proclaimed British global domination, while at Buckingham Palace Queen Victoria crowned the nation’s golden age. All along the Thames to the sea, lined with ship after ship of merchants and the Royal Navy, visitors could see for themselves the formidable maritime might of the largest empire the world had ever known. But all was not well with London. Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novel, Heart of Darkness, describes London as “one of the dark places of the earth.” To the theatergoers and shoppers thronging the well-lit, opulent streets of the West End, this description might have seemed out of place, but just three miles to the east, in the neighborhood of Whitechapel, disease, alcoholism, and poverty ravaged the lives of thousands of souls. It was a place that was, as the Diocese of London reported, “as unexplored as Timbuktu.” Read more at Who was Jack the Ripper? Facebook event announcement: Timothy Renner - Fortean Investigator and Author - Arcane Radio DO YOU ENJOY 'PHANTOMS & MONSTERS?' If you would like to support the newsletter, blog and my work, you can use one of the donation buttons on the blog or newsletter, or go to Paypal.com and use my email [email protected] as the payee. Thanks again. Lon TODAY'S TOP LINKS The Mysterious Bronze Objects That Have Baffled Archaeologists for Centuries The Creepy Case of the Black Nun The Strange Case of the Hammersmith Ghost The Mysterious Drummer of Tedworth Shirley Jackson's Spooky Stories Wood Knocks Volume 3: Journal of Sasquatch Research Chasing the Elusive Pennsylvania Bigfoot: A Cryptid from Another Reality Dreams That Can Save Your Life: Early Warning Signs of Cancer and Other Diseases Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body UPDATED WEEKLY: Lon's Suggested Reading List - Books & Films / DVDs PodBean - iTunes - Stitcher - YouTube - Spotify - Google Play - blubrry - Player FM - TuneIn - Podbay FM - Spreaker - acast - iHeart Radio The publication of any and all content e.g., articles, reports, editorials, commentary, opinions, as well as graphics and or images on this web-site does not constitute sanction or acquiescence of said content unless specified; it is solely for informational purposes. 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| Part of the series on| Logic and rhetoric A Holmesian fallacy (also Sherlock Holmes fallacy or process of elimination fallacy) is a logical fallacy that occurs when some explanation is believed to be true on the basis that alternate explanations are impossible, yet not all alternate explanations have been ruled out. - far-fetched hypothesis - arcane explanation This fallacy usually occurs when someone uses the Holmes Method without being a superhuman genius. The Holmes Method is illustrated by the quote from "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier",[note 1] a 1926 Sherlock Holmes short story: "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." —Sherlock Holmes To apply this method, one must find explanations and eliminate them one by one. However, to draw a logical conclusion from this is fallacious, because both steps require omniscience: - Find every possible explanation. - Correctly disprove every possible explanation, except the true and undisprovable one. As should be obvious, this is incredibly difficult, requires all knowledge of the situation, and may lead one to ridiculously improbable explanations. In essence, a major flaw in this line of reasoning is that there may be explanations that you simply have not thought of. It is typically offered by ghost enthusiasts as an example of why one must not discount belief in the spirit world. Star Trek's Spock even uttered a version of it in Star Trek VI — The Undiscovered Country. It's no surprise that paranormal claims of all kinds have adopted this fallacy. For example, crop circles: Look at that mutilated cow in the field, and see that flattened grass. Since the farmer is away and couldn't have done the deed, aliens must have landed in a flying saucer and savaged the cow to learn more about the beings on our planet. Naturally, these are not the only explanations. Angry neighbors, rival farmers, pranksters, predators (not the Schwarzenegger movie kind), undetonated ordnances from a past war (if applicable), and many other perfectly mundane probabilities exist that must be eliminated. Even assuming they are, there are myriads of other supernatural phenomena that could potentially explain the death of the cow and the flattening of the grass that would similarly need to be falsified before the conclusion of "UFOs" or "aliens" can be accepted under this logic (For example, perhaps it was attacked by an avian cryptid. Perhaps it was struck down by [Insert Deity Here]. Perhaps it was possessed by ghosts or demons, causing the cow to burst as they departed its body. Perhaps it is evidence of an airborne biological weapons test by Monsanto, designed to kill all cattle and force America to eat GMO-fed meat. And so on. Ad infinitum.). According to Aristotle in De Anima, the philosopher Thales of Miletus once said (paraphrased): Thales failed to falsify all alternate explanations because he didn't know that magnetism existed. Similarly, we may be disproven by future discoveries. Lord Kelvin is almost infamous for these. Because he had no knowledge of nuclear fusion, isotopic decay, or nuclear fission, there was in his mind no way to reconcile the evidence that had been found by biologists and geologists that the Earth is at least hundreds of millions of years old with the seeming impossibility of the Sun shining almost as bright as it does today for that period. As such, he believed the Sun was at most a few million years old and that either the biologists and geologists were wrong or the Earth far predated the Sun. Most often, the Holmes method leads people to explanations that are easy to find but difficult or impossible to falsify, such as a god of the gaps or other supernatural entities with unknown properties. Often, people ignore the flaws in their preferred explanations. It is possible to grant provisional (scientific, not logical) assent to an explanation if it explains something better (or more simply) than all known alternatives. This isn't an absolute truth, merely the most probable one. An alternate formulation, that is closer to what Holmes actually practiced, rather than preached, is that "when you have eliminated the common possibilities, one of what remains must be truth, no matter how improbable what remains may be". Dirk Gently, in Douglas Adams' The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, rejects the Holmes principle on the basis that "the impossible often has a kind of integrity to it which the merely improbable lacks." Often, impossible ideas merely suppose that there is something we don't know about, "and God knows there are enough of those". This ties in to the omniscience idea, that you should not assume that all possible explanations have been accounted for just because you personally can't think of any others. - Beware The Logic of Sherlock Holmes, Skeptical Science - A Sherlock Holmes Logical Fallacy, Steven Novella - The Holmesian Fallacy, Bob Frankston - A Fallacy of Sherlock Holmes, Philosophy 12 - Arcane Explanation, Bruce Thompson - Far-Fetched Hypothesis, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Skeptical Fallacies: The Holmes Retroduction, Topher Cooper - Similar quotes appear in Chapter 6 of the 1890 Sherlock Holmes novel The Sign of the Four ("How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable. must be the truth?"), the 1892 Sherlock Holmes short story "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" ("It is an old maxim of mine that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."), and the 1902 Sherlock Holmes short story "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" ("We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.") - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Improbable Truth Ghost Box Communication - Seeing ghosts Legendsofamerica.com - Jackson Purchase Paranormal Investigations - Starteck IV Spock Logic I YouTube - Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (1988) pgs 150-51 in the 2012 Pan Books edition

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small nation in South Asia, nestled in the heart of the Himalayas. The country is famous for its natural splendor, which features tall, ice-capped peaks, mountain rivers, massive glaciers, lush green forests, and rich biodiversity. There are several popular historical, cultural, and religious destinations for tourists. Here is a list of some of the best places to visit in Bhutan: 10. Phobjikha Valley And Gangtey Treks The Phobjikha Valley is well known for its scenic beauty. The famous Gangteng Monastery of Bhutan is located here. Every winter, rare black-necked cranes from Tibet visit the valley to roost. Interestingly, these cranes are known to circle the Gangteng Monastery three times as they arrive in the valley near the last week of October. As they depart the valley, they perform the same act of circling the monastery three times. The Crane Festival is held each year at the monastery to welcome the cranes into the valley. The Phobjikha Valley is also rich in biodiversity, and hosts 13 globally threatened species. The Phobjikha Valley and Gangtey treks are popular activities for tourists visiting the region. 9. Royal Manas National Park Stretching from the banks of the Manas River to the ice covered tops of the Himalayan mountains, the Royal Manas National Park is a treasure of Bhutan waiting to be explored. It is the country’s oldest national park and occupies an area of 1,057 square km. The park is home to the nation’s charismatic megafauna, such as Bengal tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, and rhinoceroses. A large number of birds, including four species of hornbills and other rare species, also inhabit the park. Punakha is a town and administrative center of the Punakha dzongkhag (district), and served as the capital of the Bhutanese government until 1955, when it was replaced by Thimphu. Punakha is located at an elevation of 1,200 meters and is most famous for the Punakha Dzong. Also known as the Palace of Great Happiness, construction of the Punakha Dzong began in 1637 and was completed within two years under the command of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is the most beautiful Dzong of Bhutan and houses sacred Buddhist relics. The first king of Bhutan was coronated at this site in 1907. Located at the junction point of two mountain rivers, the Punakha Dzong is vulnerable to flash flooding when the glaciers melt during warm periods. Tourists to Punakha can also visit the tiny Ritsha village nearby, which features homes made from pounded mud with stone foundations. Rice fields and gardens surround these houses. The rice grown here is famous throughout Bhutan. 7. Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary The Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area spanning parts of Bhutan's Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar Districts. The sanctuary is home to several endemic species of flora and fauna, like the eastern blue pine and the black-rumped magpie. The origins of the sanctuary are associated with an interesting tale. Unlike most other protected areas of the world that are established to protect the wild flora and fauna of the region, the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary was established to protect the migoi, a cryptid creature similar to a yeti. Although there is no scientific evidence to prove the creature's existence, locals strongly believe that the migoi lives in the region. 6. Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary The Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses an area of 1,520.61 square km in northeastern Bhutan and is one of the top natural attractions in the country. The elevation of the sanctuary ranges between 1,500 meters and 6,000 meters. The Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1998 and features a rich biodiversity, scenic landscapes, alpine lakes, and picturesque valleys. The sanctuary is a favorite destination of bird lovers around the world. In fact, it has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Black-necked cranes, grey-crowned prinias, and wood snipes are some of the notable birds of the sanctuary. 5. Lhuntse Dzong The Lhuntse Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and dzong located in eastern Bhutan’s Lhuntse District. The Kuri Chhu river flows near the dzong along a scenic valley surrounded by high peaks. The monastery was built in 1543 and underwent a series of modifications since then to attain its present form. The dzong served as the ancestral home of the Wangchuck Dynasty in the past. The Lhuntse Dzong features five temples and an assembly hall for monks. The Khoma village is a nearby attraction, famous for the Kishu Thara, which is an intricate woven silk cloth. Paro is a town that is home to several important sacred and historical sites in Bhutan. It is located in the Paro Valley and hosts the country's only international airport. One of the major attractions in Paro is the Rinpung Dzong, a Buddhist fortress and monastery, which has been included in Bhutan's Tentative List for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The famous Taktsang Monastery is also accessible from Paro. The town also features examples of traditional architecture, boutique shops, and local restaurants. 3. Taktsang Monastery Renowned for its beauty and uniqueness, the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, also known as the Paro Taktsang and the Tiger's Nest, is a Buddhist sacred site precariously located on a cliffside high on the Himalayas in Bhutan’s upper Paro valley. The monastery was established in 1692 and is believed to be the site where Guru Padmasambhava, the tutelary deity of the country, meditated for years. The monastery is visited by both ordinary tourists and renowned personalities from across the world. After trekking for three hours, Prince William and Kate Middleton visited the site on April 15, 2016. 2. Jigme Dorji National Park The Jigme Dorji National Park is a picturesque wilderness area in Bhutan. The park was established in 1974 and now occupies an area of 4316 square km. The elevation of the park ranges between 1,400 and 7,000 meters and encompasses a wide variety of habitats that change with altitude. The Jigme Dorji National Park is a perfect destination for wildlife lovers, as it home to more than 37 species of mammals. These include fierce predators like the Bengal tiger, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, snow leopard, and the Indian leopard. The national park is also rich in herbivore fauna, like the takin, barking deer, goral, and sambar. Additionally, the park hosts several birds of vibrant colors that are a pleasure to watch. The Jigme Dorji National Park also offers a spiritual experience to the visitor and several sites of cultural importance. Thimphu is the capital and only city of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Located in the heart of the country, it is the world’s third highest capital city by altitude. It stretches along the western bank of the Raidāk River Valley. Thimphu fully reflects the culture of Bhutan and therefore is the country's most visited destination. The most notable attraction in Thimphu is the Tashichho Dzong, a fortress and Buddhist monastery at the city’s northern edge that has traditionally served as the seat of the head of the Bhutan's civil government, known as Druk Desi. Other attractions in Thimphu include the Simtokha Dzong, Dechen Phodrang Monastery, Dechencholing Palace, Tango Monastery, Buddha Dordenma, and Memorial Chorten. The Motithang Takin Preserve is a top nature attraction in Thimphu. Originally founded as a mini-zoo, the attraction has been upgraded to a preserve and houses a significant population of the national animal of the country, the takin. What is the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary? The Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area spanning parts of Bhutan's Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar Districts. The sanctuary is home to several endemic species of flora and fauna, like the eastern blue pine and the black-rumped magpie. About the Author Oishimaya is an Indian native, currently residing in Kolkata. She has earned her Ph.D. degree and is presently engaged in full-time freelance writing and editing. She is an avid reader and travel enthusiast and is sensitively aware of her surroundings, both locally and globally. She loves mingling with people of eclectic cultures and also participates in activities concerning wildlife conservation. Your MLA Citation Your APA Citation Your Chicago Citation Your Harvard CitationRemember to italicize the title of this article in your Harvard citation.

i realy need to thank you for your mutch needed help but i have only one more recwest and that is to tell peaple about my wiki so i can get more peaple on it and maybe one day my wiki will be as mighty as yours :) https://blob-world.fandom.com To enable achievements, you click Admin on the bar at the bottom of the screen, then go to Wiki Features, which will be on the first row that appears. When you're on Wiki Features, keep scrolling down and you'll reach a button for enabling achievements. You can then edit them on the page Special:AchievementsCustomize. I'm afraid I can't give you any advice on building a community, since both my Wikis have only one or two other editors! By the time I started writing here, it was already a well-established community. I'm not quite sure I know what you're asking about for #3, do you think you could link me to an example of what you mean? Thanks. ok thank you so much #3 means like whin you first join and you get something on your mesige bord thing but dont worry i fixed that and on #2 its ok and on #1 i cant find the achevements switch but anny wyas thank you so mutch whith your help I just checked, and the achievements button has been removed. Hang on a moment and I'll find out how it's done now. Apparently you now have to contact FANDOM directly and request achievements. You can do this on the page Special:Contact on your own wiki. The extensions section is listed under "Changes to a Wiki". A link on the extensions page will lead you to a contact form. It says it's been removed because it's too long. I don't know why that should be, since it's still up on your channel, and 47 minutes absolutely isn't all that long for a YT video. Perhaps it's because this is the channel's first video? I've just checked, and 15 min+ videos are restricted to verified accounts, and apparently verification must be done with a code sent via text or phone call, not email(!). Sorry for bothering you, but you're the most active admin recently so i frequently ask you something. By the way, read the Dragon article especially the gallery section, do we need that many images? it's fine, but our wiki turned into deviantart with many uncredited images, it's bugging me, just look at it, for example a picture of dragon with caption "cute dragon 2" "Brontolophoraptor what?" ", just why? I don't know who did such a thing, but i'm sure that Cryptids Boy is one of them based on the recent wiki activity where he/she add more images like Kitsune, i assume that this guy aren't the only one that did this? what's your opinion For now, I've put the dragon gallery into a collapsible box, for easier article navigation, but the captions do indeed need some editing. I do feel that perhaps pages like this should only have a few important, selected images - after all, there must be thousands of pictures of dragons out there. I know Cryptids Boy frequently adds DeviantArt images to articles, especially the dragon page(s). Just looking at the article history, it looks like he's the only user who's been doing this recently. What is the progress of articles about Cryptozoological Book if you're working on it? I want to add Books on the top navigation of this wiki, the tv series are lonely up there. If you're finished (or not, whatever), can you list article within Books and Manuscripts that deserve being at the top navigation? but if you're not ready it's okay, or maybe i've mistaken and you're never working on article about books, sorry then. I'd forgotten about it again, actually. I'd been intending to wait for my copy of Still In Search of Prehistoric Survivors to arrive before I wrote about it and its predecessor, but when it did arrive I was too distracted by actually reading and rereading it! I'll write up articles for In Search of Prehistoric Survivors and the Bibliothèque Heuvelmansienne shortly okay thank you, i've done it, what do you think? tell me if there are another reliable books about cryptozoology that deserved to be at the top By the way, List of proposed prehistoric survivors is an awesome article, somehow we have to put it at the navbar, i thought about creating sub-navigation below Media called "Cryptid Wiki" or "On this wiki", just asking, maybe i will discuss it on the forum And thanks for complimenting the article, though it isn't finished yet. A navbar section for various longer pages that don't fit into the other categories might be useful. I've been thinking of writing up a dictionary of common cryptozoological terms. Oddly enough, another user asked this just the other day. But the answer is no, we don't - it was considered late last year, apparently, but nothing ever came of it. There is a built-in wiki chat, though. Bradypus Tamias wrote: Oddly enough, another user asked this just the other day. But the answer is no, we don't - it was considered late last year, apparently, but nothing ever came of it. There is a built-in wiki chat, though. ah okay thanks, yeah I will see if we can make a youtube channel for the wiki I'm moving this conversation here to avoid clogging up the other thread on my wall, which is unrelated. Please note that I cannot understand a word of Navajo, and I can't find translations for some of the words you're using. I understand that you're not happy about the skinwalker (yee naaldlooshii) page, for religious reasons? I'm afraid that, as an encyclopedia, we cannot censor pages, and must keep 'accurate information up even if it offends people. Having said that, is there any information on the page that you specifically take issue with? I mean, flawed or inaccurate information. Ha’át’éego (apologies if that's the wrong word)? I agree that the image is not the best. Do you know if THIS IMAGE really does show two yee naaldlooshii? If it does, I will move it to the top of the page. Please bear in mind that I know very little of this subject. My specialty within cryptozoology is flesh and blood animals. By the way, "your kind" might have been killed, but not by "my kind". I'm an Englishman, and none of my family have ever set foot in America. i am sorry yas hastiin doo shił bééhózin da that you were not born or even set foot into my kind lands and i quite understand the blood and flesh my self and if i were you and if you want others to know that is your coice and i am trying to help your pigskins from my people Brady I did some looking into this. It appears that the Navajo language used by this user are nothing more than quotes from the Bible. I think this is not a real Navajo user and is just a racist impersonator of the tribe (troll). Thanks Australopithecusman. I was already suspicious when I saw the other wikis he'd edited on (and the fact that some of the words were nonsensical, but I thought that was my dictionary's fault), but this proves it. @The dude is weird, your "kind land" wouldn't happen to be Florida, would it? How about the Australian outback, mate?

5736 N.E. 33rd Ave. Portland, OR, 97211 Monday, February 10, 2020 McMenamins History and UFO Festival present... Kennedy School - Kennedy School Theater 6 pm doors, 7 pm event Minor with parent or guardian Qualifies for “Attend a McMenamins History-Sponsored Event” Experience Stamp. Why not stay the night? Receive 15% off your hotel room that evening using the code HISTPUB or mention it when you call the hotel. 6 pm doors, 7 pm eventFreeMinor with parent or guardian Presented by Jeff Davis, author of Weird Oregon A cryptid is a creature that is supposed to be extinct, but is not. Oregon has more than its share of these creatures, both on land and in the water. Weird Oregon author Jeff Davis will discuss many of the water loving cryptids of the Beaver State, including facts and myths surrounding the Wallowa Lake Monster, the Devil of Devil’s Lake, to a possible cousin of the Loch Ness monster living off the Oregon Coast, and many more. Real or fake, they are all interesting. About the Speaker: Jeff Davis was born in the Pacific Northwest. At an early age, he became interested in archaeology and folklore. He went on to get degrees in anthropology and archaeology while working on many U.S. Forest Service lands. While he never encountered a Sasquatch, he became interested in the science of cryptozoology, the search for supposedly extinct animals. He has written or contributed to over a dozen books on the odd and unusual, among them, Ghosts, Critters, and Sacred Places of Washington and Oregon, Weird Washington, and Weird Oregon. His website is www.ghostsandcritters.com. Join us once a month to hear from experts in unexplainable phenomena - think UFOs, extraterrestrials, Bigfoot, ESP, ghosts and beyond. Come have a beer and a burger handcrafted beverage, concessions, and/or a slice of pizza, settle in and learn something new from a curated line-up of scholars, experiencers and others. According to Wikipedia: "Paranormal events are phenomena described in popular culture, folklore and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described to lie beyond normal experience or scientific explanation. A paranormal phenomenon is different from hypothetical concepts such as dark matter and dark energy. Unlike paranormal phenomena, these hypothetical concepts are based on empirical observations and experimental data gained through the scientific method. The most notable paranormal beliefs include those that pertain to ghosts, extraterrestrial life, unidentified flying objects, psychic abilities or extrasensory perception and cryptids." We thank the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) for coordinating and hosting this programming at Kennedy School Theater. This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp Site handcrafted in Ashland, Oregon by Project A Copyright © 2018 McMenamins Inc. All rights reserved. Daily Fresh Sheet

Characteristics[edit | edit source] Bald Townie seems to be in the know, as he knows a lot about Mews and the current news. He is bald, and has a beard. He has relaxed eyes and a slightly sceptical mouth. He wears an orange shirt and light blue pants. Storyline[edit | edit source] You find Bald Townie on the Main Street of Cryptids Island, who will stop you if you try to run past him. He asks you if you had seen the Reward Flyer. He then gives it to you. You can then ask him a few questions, which he will answer to the best of his ability - telling you who Harold Mews is, and telling you that he doesn't know what a cryptid is.

Now this is news! Mark Cothren, a farmer from Lebanon Junction, KY, has made a shocking announcement: he's killed a Chupacabra in his yard. What's a Chupacabra? It's a mythical beast that was first posited in 1995 in Puerto Rico, shortly after which alleged sightings swept Mexico, Central America, and South America. Gradually, as happens with all cryptid myths like Mothman, people started reporting it everywhere, even Russia. Wikipedia describes the commonly shared view of the Chupacabra's appearance (one variant of which is seen in the image above via an artist's model conception): The most common description of chupacabras is a reptile-like being, appearing to have leathery or scaly greenish-gray skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back. This form stands approximately 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) high, and stands and hops in a similar fashion to a kangaroo. In at least one sighting, the creature was reported to hop 20 feet (6 m). This variety is said to have a dog or panther-like nose and face, a forked tongue, and large fangs. It is said to hiss and screech when alarmed, as well as leave behind a sulfuric stench. When it screeches, some reports assert that the chupacabras' eyes glow an unusual red which gives the witnesses nausea. With that description in mind, let's have a look-see at what Mr. Cothren caught: Uh... dude. That's it? Really? What you call "Chupacabra", I call "Chihuahua." This sighting is part of a new trend in the Chupacabra myth, one in which the traditional description given above is completely ignored, and more and more people are starting to say that Chupacabras can also look like a wild dog. Why? I guess because are catching wild dogs, and wanting to say they caught a Chupacabra, and therefore are retconning an entirely new description onto the concept. In November 2007, an alleged Chupacabra head was DNA tested and deterimed to be that of a coyote. In January 2008, a "dog-like" animal was seen killing chickens on a farm in the Phillipines and was declared to be, obviously, a Chupacabra and not a dog. In July 2010, a coyote-dog hybrid with mange was called a Chupacabra in Texas. And now, we have this poor dead critter to add to the list, and it would be hilarious in its absurdity except I don't find dead critters funny. Cothren was quoted by WAVE3, by way of POPFi: "I was like, ‘every animal has hair, especially this time of year!’ What puzzled me is how something like that could survive through a winter with no hair." Well, it didn't survive the winter, sir - you shot and killed it.

A story this week out of Brazil highlights the third "F" -- which stands for the flight response. It could also stand for "fear," because that's what usually motivates an animal running away. The story, which comes out of the town of São Gonçalo de Campos, near Feira de Santana, in the state of Bahia, is about a rather terrifying cryptid that has been sighted more than once in local neighborhoods. Even the government officials are taking it seriously. Apparently, for the last two weeks there's been a curfew in the town; no one is to be outside after 9 PM. It started when a man identified only as "Pingo" described seeing a five-foot-tall black monster, which ran at him; Pingo turned and fled, escaping (he said) only by the narrowest of margins. At first, the other villagers made fun of him -- until others had similar encounters. Locals are calling it a "werewolf." All of this would have been nothing more than another tale of "I saw something real, really I did" if it hadn't been for the footage captured on a home security camera. Watch it for yourself: Here's a still: Okay, yes, I know. There are no such things as werewolves. There's no reason why this couldn't have been faked. It probably is a guy in dark clothes jumping around in front of the homeowner's security camera, in order to keep the whole scare going. Who knows? Maybe it's even "Pingo," who dreamed the story up to have his fifteen minutes (or in this case, more like two weeks) of fame. But I have to admit that watching this video gave me some very irrational shudders right up the spine. There's something about the way the creature moved that just doesn't look... human. I'm probably being suggestible, I realize that; our fight-or-flight responses have been programmed through millions of years of evolution to shriek at us, whenever we see a shadowy shape in the dark, "DEAR GOD IT'S A PREDATOR RUN FOR YOUR LIFE OR YOU WILL BE MESSILY DEVOURED." The chances of it being anything other than a hoaxing human are very small. Even so, if I lived in São Gonçalo de Campos, I would definitely abide by the curfew. I probably would also deadbolt my doors shut at night. Maybe it is only Pingo playing a prank; that's what my prefrontal cortex is telling me. But if I lived anywhere near where this thing had been seen, my limbic system would outshout my prefrontal cortex without even breaking a sweat.

Krotan is actually a metamorphing bioweapon giving the ability to the user to shape-shift himself. It comes in the form of a drug from Thanagar that allows a person to change himself into any shape or animal he wants. However, it only works once on a human, but a Thanagarian can change their shape an unlimited amount of times. It is highly addictive and prolonged users become incapable of retaining a cohesive shape if not given the drug regularly. Used and trafficked to Earth by the Thanagarian criminal Byth. Introduced in the pages of Hawkworld. Pre-Crisis, Krotan was the name of a scientist who invented a similar drug called the Changeling Pill. 9. Sword of Omens Children growing up in the 80s and 90s would be well-familiar with the cry: “Thunder… Thunder… Thunder… Thundercats! HOOOOOOO!” Yes, it’s the shout of Lion-O from the Thundercats cartoon series to summon the Thundercats using his Sword of Omens. The Sword of Omens – wielded by Lion-O in the Thundercats animated series and comic books. Roughly the size of a dagger, the blade could be increased in length to that of a short sword and then a long sword at Lion-O’s command. Embedded in the hilt of the Sword of Omens was the mystical Eye of Thundera, the source of the ThunderCats’ power; the Eye provided Lion-O with “sight-beyond-sight”, a sort of clairvoyant ability, and could be used to “summon” the rest of the Thundercats. 8. Hypertime Watch Well no, it does’t stop time. Its hypertime, a technology which allows the user’s molecules to speed up to the point where the world appears to be standing still. The acceleration is so magnificent that the user can’t be seen by the people in ordinary time and space but for the user, it seems to stop time by increasing a many many folds his own. Hypertime is a superdimensional construct which—under very limited circumstances can also allow versions of characters from one continuity to interact with versions from another. Hypertime works like this: the main, or “official” timeline is like a river, with a nearly infinite number of distributaries—alternate timelines— branching off. Most of the time, these alternate timelines go off on their own and never intersect with the main timeline. On occasion, the branches return, feeding back into the main timeline – sometimes permanently, sometimes temporarily. Thus, history can sometimes change momentarily and then change back (or not). If characters from a very different Hypertimeline move into our own, this accelerates the process, causing more noticeable (but shorter) changes to the timeline. 7. Hero Dial Dial H for Hero Dial H for Hero is basically a kid’s comic book about a mysterious dial that enables an ordinary person to become a superhero for a short time. Basically it’s a small unit with a dial on it kinda like the old rotary dial telephones, by selecting the letters H-E-R-O in order, each time it is used, the dial causes its possessor to become a superhero with a different name, costume, and powers. These superheroes are usually new, but on one occasion the dial caused its user to become a duplicate of an existing superhero, such as Plastic Man. Some versions of the dial contain additional letters, allowing other kinds of transformations. 6. The Claw The Secret Saturdays The Claw is an ultimate mind-controlling device. It can overpower and control the brain of any being, the owner would want to. The series concentrates on the adventures of the Saturdays, a family of cryptozoologists who work to keep the truth about cryptids from getting out in order to protect both the human race and the creatures themselves. The Saturdays travel the world searching for cryptids to study and battling twisted villains. The focus is on the Claw, created by Doc for Zak, initially Doc called it the “multi-function adaptive combat defensive enhancement” but Zak quickly started calling it the Claw. Attached to one end is the Hand of Tsul ‘Kalu, a powerful, ancient cryptid artifact that help Zak control and focuses his natural ability to influence and control cryptids. It glows when Zak is using his power. It contains a spring loaded cable and telescoping shaft. Zak has used it as a grappling hook, to snare objects from a distance and to swing from, and as a vaulting pole.On the end of the Claw the head is similiar to the cryptid’s head on Zak’s shirt. It is unknown if Zak can use the claw to fire electricity, like the Tsul ‘Kalu did during his battle with Doc.

In the first half of the program, researcher and author Linda Godfrey reported on sightings of an unknown upright-walking canine known as the 'Manwolf' or 'Dogman.' Witnesses describe these creatures as 5 to 7 feet tall, extremely muscular, covered in fur, with large fangs, the head of a wolf or German Shepherd, and somehow imbued with a special sentience (perhaps as a result of walking on their hind legs). According to Godfrey, every part of the United States has its own version of the creature, but the largest concentration of sightings are around the Great Lakes. In addition, there are what appear to be migratory routes to Oklahoma and some south eastern states, she added. Godfrey provided details from a recent case that may have involved a canine cryptid. On December 29, 2010, a Quarter Horse was found dead in the driveway of a stable near Deerfield, Wisconsin. The animal suffered a fatal neck wound that looked as though something had taken a single swipe at it and cut the jugular, carotid, and part of the trachea, Godfrey explained. A similar incident occurred only 15 miles away in Jefferson, Wisconsin, where, in 1972, a woman reported seeing a tall hairy humanoid on her property. The creature left claw marks on the side of the woman's house seven feet above the ground, as well as entered her barn and put a 30-inch gash into a horse's neck, she noted. This past October a group of six people ventured to Wisconsin's infamous Bray Road, where they came face-to-face with the roadway's namesake beast, Godfrey continued. Four of the six reported seeing two creatures standing 6 to 7 feet tall, moving upright on their hind legs, with canine silhouettes and yellowish eyes, she said. According to the witnesses, as soon as the creatures saw they were being watched they dropped to all fours and ran off into the darkness. Godfrey also shared the case of a fisherman who confronted a walking canine creature on the banks of the Alabama River, as well as the 2006 account of a father and son who encountered a 'Manbat.' The flying creature had a 10-ft wingspan, emitted an ear-piercing shriek, and caused the men to become immediately ill, Godfrey revealed. The remainder of the show was devoted to Open Lines, with several callers sharing their own creature encounter stories.

Please LIKE this Radio Show: facebook.com/TheJourneyOnRadio Please LIKE She-Squatchers: facebook.com/SheSquatchersOfficial Tennessee Bigfoot: Dr. John Stamey & She-Squatchers She-Squatchers (Jen & Jena) welcome Dr. John Stamey to THE JOURNEY Radio Show to discuss Bigfoot happenings in Tennessee! 👣 Dr. John Stamey is the organizer of the upcoming Tennessee Bigfoot Conference. Dr. John Stamey received his doctorate from NC State University in Raleigh. During his three years in that program, he was also a research associate for the Rhine Research Center in Durham, working with renowned researchers such as Dr. Sally Rhine Feather. His current book is "Bigfoot Explorers" and talks about both the historical and current well-known explorers for the mysterious cryptid. Dr. Stamey also runs the SC Lizardman Festival and Charlotte CryptoCon. Dr. John Stamey will be speaking at the Tennessee Bigfoot Conference. He will be talking about "Faster Than the Speed of Light" - particles and entities in the Universe that do move faster than the speed of light, and how these particles have contributed to Dr. Ronald Bryan's famous model of multiple dimensions and the experience of those with near-death experiences who have been told to "go to the light." Dr. Stamey is also the host of podcasts Comic Con Stars and ScaryCast. Reserve VIP TICKETS now, limited supply! MORE INFO: BigfootDay.com Facebook Event Page: www.facebook.com/events/497738380620941/

By Carla Charter Loren Coleman, director of the International Cryptozoology Museum has been fascinated with Cryptids since 1960. A Cryptid is a reported creature which has not been scientifically verified. “As a child I saw a movie on the Yeti and Cryptozoology. I then went to school and asked my teachers what a Yeti and Cryptozoology was. I was told three things. They don’t exist, get back to your studies and leave me alone. I went to the library and started reading books on Cryptozoology and corresponding with cryptozoologists. At the age of 12, I started field investigations with game wardens, police officers and on my own. “ Coleman’s interest soon expanded from Yetis to other cryptids as well. He attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale graduating with a degree in Anthropology with a minor in Zoology. Coleman also earned a Masters at Simmons School of Social Work. Throughout the years Coleman collected Cryptozoology souvenirs, art pieces and evidence from investigations. Coleman’s museum is the only one in the world dedicated to Cryptozoology and was founded in 2003. “One reason I opened the museum is that in my house basement and U Haul storage unit I had 450 plastic totes and 40,000 books on cryptozoology.” The museum will be expanding to include an archives and research library which will include Coleman’s research as well as research donated by others to the museum. “Our museum is educational, scientific and also fun,” said Coleman. Coleman said there are reports of cryptids in New England, including Champ the elusive Lake Champlain sea monster. “ There were legends of Sea serpents in New England,” he continued. Another New England cryptid is the Dover Demon from Massachusetts, which Coleman said he had named. The Museum does have evidence of New England cryptids including a 12-foot-long skin which is on display. “There were reports of a giant snake In Westbrook, Maine and the police found this skin.” Coleman said. There have been Bigfoot reports in the Berkshires adding there are active groups of searchers in Massachusetts. There have also been reports in the Western Mountains of Maine. “The Algonquin Tribes have legends of Wendigos, which are a native name for what the English call Bigfoot. “The museum also has a 9-foot Bigfoot display People can come and take a picture in front with Big Foot. It has become an iconic picture that people post on Facebook.” The museum has a Yeti hair sample from the 1959-1960 of Sir Edmund Hillary. In the 1800’s, a large white Spectral Moose was reported in Maine. “It was written about in hunting magazines in the 18th century.” There is the Turner terror in Turner, Maine which is a wolf-like creature almost a hyena like creature. “Being an international museum,” Coleman continued, “we also have a display of an Orang Pendek. It is 4 feet tall it is covered in hair and stands up straight coming from Sumatra and Indonesia.” As for personal encounters, Coleman said he had a black panther encounter in Illinois in the late 1960s, adding there are black panther reports in New England as well. During investigations in the South, Coleman continued, he has heard screeches of a Bigfoot like creature. In 1999, Coleman was involved in a Loch Ness Monster Project. “We were there for two weeks on the surface and we did not see anything.” As for the skeptics Coleman said “We are very skeptical ourselves. We ask people to be skeptical and open minded at the same time., that’s what we do. Eighty percent of cryptid sightings are misidentification and mistakes. Twenty percent of the sightings can’t be explained.” Some animals well known today, first began as cryptids, including Mountain Gorillas, Giant Pandas and Okapi. “We have a display entitled ‘Classic Animals of Discovery’ which present known animals which were former cryptids.” Coleman has written 40 non-fiction books on the subject of Cryptozoology and other mysteries. He has appeared on television programs including Finding Big Foot, In Search Of, Monster Quest and Mysteries at the Museum. The International Cryptozoology Museum is located at Thompsons Point in Portland, Maine. They are open Sunday, Monday and Wednesday from 11-4 and Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 6 p.m. They are closed on Tuesday. More information on the International Cryptozoology Museum can be found at www.cryptozoologymuseum.com.

The hairy, toothy beast featured in The Crate segment of 1982’s horror anthology Creepshow was nicknamed “Fluffy” by FX guru Tom Savini, the iconic artist who crafted him. And while The Crate is one of the most popular Creepshow chapters, not much is known about the primate who lived in a large wooden box beneath a staircase for over a century. YouTuber BH Pumpkinclaw recently released a video exploration of Fluffy’s origins, culling clues from within the film and from external resources. It’s a fascinating retrospective that’s likely to give you new insights into Creepshow’s infamous cryptid. Give it a spin and let us know what you think in the Comments section! Related Article: Top 10 Creepy Facts About “Creepshow” After the video, you can peep the trailer and synopsis for 1982’s Creepshow, directed by George A. Romero from a screenplay penned by Stephen King. Enjoy! Official Synopsis: The Crate is arguably one of the best admissions to Creepshow, a creature hidden for almost two centuries in the bowels of a Maine University, hungry and waiting. What was the monster affectionately known by its creator Tom Savini as Fluffy? Where did it come from? How did it get there? Official Synopsis: A compendium of five short but terrifying tales contained within a single full-length feature, this film conjures scares from traditional bogeymen and portents of doom. In one story, a monster escapes from its holding cell. Another focuses on a husband (Leslie Nielsen) with a creative way of getting back at his cheating wife. Other stories concern a rural man (Stephen King) and a visitor from outer space, and a homeowner (E.G. Marshall) with huge bug problems and a boozing corpse. Creepshow stars Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielsen, and Adrienne Barbeau. Related Article: Top 15 Terrifying Horror Anthology Movies