Sumatran Muntjac Found
14 October 2008 | No Comments
The picture is actually from 2002 (mine is an enhanced cropped version), but this long-forgotten dog-sized deer was only recognized recently. It hasn’t been documented in nearly eighty years. See the National Geographic Article for the full photo and a short article.
A Short Ghost Primer
6 October 2008 | No Comments
Ghost Theory Series #1
A bump in the night. The sound of feet out of step with yours as you walk a dark hall. A darting shadow. A whisper when you’re alone. The sense that someone, something is there with you. That person you almost see out of the corner of your eye, but then - gone.
Throughout human history, there are records of people experiencing various phenomena that could be broadly called “ghosts”. They have claimed to have seen long-lost loved ones, to have encountered foul-tempered (and often foul-smelling) entities, to have startled at meeting people they could see through, to have experienced terror at the sight of a face, a hand, a torso, a figure - sometimes in full color, often in white.
Many believed these experiences to be an omen or a vision. Others thought it was evidence that they were of importance in this world - or the next.
Some “ghosts” never appear at all. The paranormal experience is purely auditory. Many have claimed to have conversations with dead relatives, religious leaders, political leaders and others of significance.
Traditionally, ghosts are thought to be the spirits of physical things, particularly animals such as humans. The idea is that the people we meet every day have both a physical body and a non-physical spirit. We are said to encounter a “ghost” when we encounter the spirit without the body.
Scientifically speaking, however, there is no definitive proof that anything exists beyond physicality, and consequently no proof that animals have souls. So eventhough there is ample evidence that humans throughout history have experienced paranormal activities they have considered to be spirits, it can’t be assumed that these things are actually spirits - human or otherwise.
Fortunately, this leaves much room for dispensing with traditional ideas about ghosts and opening our minds to alternative possibilities.
In this series we’ll discover the various paranormal phenomenon broadly referred to as ghosts and explore many ideas of what these could be.
In the next section we’ll talk more about poltergeists, because I believe they provide some key information about all types of paranormal activity.
Specter-Reclamation / EPA Battle
27 September 2008 | No Comments
Moved this post to off-topic blog.
Ghost Theory Series
9 September 2008 | No Comments
I’m writing a new series on all things people call ghosts. It will cover apparitions, spirits, poltergeists, wraiths and more. Together, we’ll differentiate the various phenomena, discuss common beliefs about what causes these phenomena and explore alternate explanations.
Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any articles.
Google Earth Bigfoot Maps
18 February 2007 | 2 Comments
I’ve never used Google Earth, but the prospect of having a Bigfoot overlay of North America was too intriguing to miss. The program was lightweight and easy to install. I was up and running in a few minutes. After installing the software, I clicked on the file “bigfootreports.kmz” on Mangani’s Bigfoot Maps home page and it automatically loaded into Google Earth.
From there, I could roam around and click on particular sightings, links would pop-up that would then take me to a web page with a more complete description.
No surprise, most of the sightings were in the Pacific Northwest, but I was delighted to see them throughout the United States. Granted, some of the “sightings” were actually “smellings”, but I still enjoyed exploring the claims even if the details were sparse on many of those I clicked on.
There were a few sightings I’m familiar with that weren’t mentioned, but I’ll have to find the records of those sightings before I submit them to Mangani.
I got the link from My Paranormal Life. Thanks Rand.
Upgraded to WordPress 2.1
25 January 2007 | No Comments
I upgraded to WordPress 2.1 and ended up with some strange effects. I’ll try to iron them out soon.
Cryptozoology and Wildlife Conservation
22 January 2007 | 1 Comment
I believe conservation of animals that we know are becoming extinct is more important than researching animals we can’t presently find, but neglecting cryptozoological claims could have an impact on endangered species.
The giant squid, it turns out, is a food source for the endangered sperm whale. Dietary information is critical information that can help us learn how to rescue these whales from extinction. Dismissing cryptozoological claims may actually contribute to extinction of known species.
Less important, but of great interest to me, is the threat to the unverified species. Shouldn’t our commitment wildlife conservation extend to them as well? They are a part of the ecological balance after all, even if we refuse to acknowledge them as such - too often dismissing the possibility of their existence.
Endangered Species
22 January 2007 | No Comments
I’ve always been fascinated by endangered species. The Cumberland Bean (a clam) isn’t nearly as fascinating as the Komodo Dragon, but diversity of life is something I cherish and would like to see preserved even if we have to create limited habitats for these creatures.
If we are to seriously entertain Darwinian Evolution, we shouldn’t be surprised that one species eats, kills or crowds-out another species. It’s just nature taking it’s course. There’s no moral woe to be imposed on a species (including humans) for doing what is inherent to it’s existence.
Many humans believe it is morally required that we avert the extinction of these threatened creatures. Perhaps it’s human foolishness or a lack of understanding that we are animals carrying out the directives of nature. Darwin aside, I’m not convinced of the moral argument, but I do believe we can prevent extinction and I would like us to believe that we should.
Keep Reading: This was written as the beginning of the post “Cryptozoology and Wildlife Conservation“, but it seemed to want to stand on it’s own.
Pooky Night
31 October 2006 | No Comments
In some parts of Ireland, Halloween is known as “Pooky Night”. This is perhaps from the shape-shifting spirit for whom the remnants of the harvest were left after Samhain, the last day of harvest. It appears as a large black goat or a black horse with a flowing mane and glowing yellow eyes. (Remind you of anything?) I’m not sure which would be scarier, the goat or the horse. I think I might have been persuaded to leave something in the field too, just in case the legend was true.
Happy Halloween everyone.
Friday the 13th
13 October 2006 | No Comments
Frequency: Did you know that Friday is the most common day for the 13th to fall on? The Gregorian calendar cycles every 400 years. Within those 4,800 months, the 13th of any given month will most often fall on a Friday.
Phobia: Those who fear Friday the 13th are more likely to have reason to. Their increased anxiety will create the consequence of more troubles on that day. For those in superstitious cultures, the anxieties they experience about this day is consistent with their culture and therefore not irrational. For this reason, it’s incorrect to refer to a fear of Friday the 13th as a “phobia”. Phobias are irrational or excessive anxieties. Someone who is truly paraskavedekatriaphobic possesses irrational or excessive anxieties that abnormally interferes with their life.
Energy: It’s possible that people cast off more energy when they’re afraid. This has been suspected to cause poltergeist-style activity and may even provide energy needed for other paranormal activity to occur.
Next: The next Friday the 13th will fall in April, 2007. I probably won’t do this every Friday the 13th, but since it’s the first one since the blog launch I figured what the friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Thanks Wikipedia.
