Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Regan: Two New Posts

Our ever-reliable Oregon rep, Regan Lee has 2 new posts that will be of interest - one on a mystery feline; and the other on the classic British film, The Abominable Snowman.

And as Regan asks with respect to her second post: was the film's creator aware of the paranormal aspects of Bigfoot?

Here's a few quotes from Regan's article to give you an idea of its content:

What I found surprising in this were the references to the Yeti's telepathic and other "paranormal" abilities, as well as the eye illumination. There's also the implication of Yeti living in caves and within the earth; for example, in the previously mentioned scene, the Yeti arrive from the rear of the cave. The film was made in 1957 which means that awareness of "paranormal Bigfoot" was out there in the literature even back then. Hairy bipedal encounters, from the Yowie to Bigfoot to Yeti, include story after story of these beings having telepathic abilities, appearing not only on, but inside mountains, traveling via caverns, caves and underground tunnels, eyes that glow from within, playing with the mind, visiting humans in the astral realm and dream state, and other preternatural traits.

And here's the rest of what is a very interesting article.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Big Cats of Oklahoma

Our Oklahoma rep Melissa Miller has an excellent new post on the big-cats of Oklahoma. And so, it's over to Melissa for all the details:

"Big cats are not new to Oklahoma. Mountain lions have been documented in the state since 1852 and listed as a game species since 1957. The Oklahoma Wildlife Department describes the cats this way: 'Its tail is more than half the length of the body, it has black tips on the tail and ears, and is primarily tan in color. The size of these animals varies by sex. Males average seven feet long (from nose to the tip of its tail) and weigh around 140 pounds, while females average six feet in length with a body weight around 95 pounds.' The Oklahoma Wildlife Department also states that the best place to see a cat is extreme western Oklahoma; and yet, some of the most dramatic sightings have taking place in extreme eastern Oklahoma."

And click here for the rest of the story.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Otter Observations

Regan on the return of the Otter...

Big Cat News

The CFZ's Ohio rep, Brian Parsons, has an excellent new post on Big-Cats in the U.S. This is an excellent post which demonstrates the sheer scale of reports in the U.S., as well as the official reaction to the subject-matter. Check it out!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Regan Muses

Our Oregon-CFZ rep Regan Lee has a thought-provoking new post over at Binnall of America which, in part, states:

"National and smaller, independent restaurants often promote their food offerings using the very thing they kill and sell to us to eat. On the surface, it's presented as humor, nothing more. The chicken, fish, cow or pig joyfully entices us to partake of him.

"Just below the surface is the idea of the mascot representing another realm where the spirit of the sacrificed animals calls to us, bewitching us to eat its own kind. Below that, however, is a symbolic exorcising of guilt; by using the very animals we're killing and eating as a happy and enthusiastic ambassador, we don't have to deal with our responsibility in the process.

"Our self-indulgence and often times sheer gratuitous is quieted by the use of goofy, dorky, funny, slapstick animal caricatures eating their own and sacrificing themselves, and they're happy to do it.

"Paradoxically, at the same time the use of these animals behaving in ecstasy over their sacrifices gives us justification and the go-ahead to eat away."

And here's the rest of Regan's post.

Knock Knock: Who's There?

The CFZ's Michigan-based representative - my good friend Raven - has been doing a tremendous amount of work: writing articles, doing on-site investigations, establishing new links with people in the field, as well as setting up websites and blogs.

Does the woman ever sleep?! Probably not!

Anyway, over at her new Into the Shadows blog, Raven has an interesting new post titled Knock Knock Bridge, which is a study of a wealth of weirdness at a particular bridge not far from where she lives.

I like stories like this, as I've done a lot of investigations myself where high-strangeness has occurred at bridges - most famously from my own perspective at Bridge 39 on Britain's Shropshire Union Canal, where a mysterious, spectral ape known as the Man-Monkey was seen in 1879.

And with that said, here's an extract from Raven's post:

"Today Jessica and I took a ride out to the Canton area to do a pre-investigation study of the Denton Road bridge and the surrounding area. There is so much history that lies just beneath the surface of that entire area that we'll have to do many investigations to cover even a portion it.

"As we drove through where the bridge is located,an eerie ambiance fell over the van. It was like we had just slipped into another dimension of time. With the exception of the newly built condos that now dot the land heavily, and the occasional jogger or bicycle, there is a stillness to the place that can only be described as otherworldly.

"We met a gentleman named Don who has lived there since 1963 and was not only able to give us a first-hand account of the folklore,but also had a wealth of knowledge regarding the development of the area as well.

"Don told us that the bridge was called 'knock knock bridge' by all the local children when he was growing up,because, as legend has it, if you knocked three times and waited, something spooky was bound to happen.

"From ghost lights to shadowy dark figures chasing cars,there have always been strange stories passed down from one generation to the next."

And here's the rest of Raven's post...

Monday, March 16, 2009

Moonshadow Investigations

Take a look at Moonshadow Investigations, the new website of Raven, the CFZ's Michigan rep. Raven has some great, ambitious plans for both her website and her general research; so keep checking in at her site for all the new developments.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Regan's Latest

Our CFZ-Oregon rep Regan Lee has a notable new post online, in which she says:

"My husband Jim is writing a novel; it's a conspiracy/sci-fi/paranormal tinged book, and it's wonderful to have him read me the latest every week. It's tentatively titled Product A recent scene in his book has the main character remembering something that happened when he was a child. Staying at the beach with his mother, he is aware of a creature in need. A giant, whale/octopus/leviathan kind of creature, preternatural, that calls to him. The character goes to the creature, who is injured, meets a girl; through a series of telepathic Fortean type events, the creature manages to return back into the ocean."

And here's the rest of Regan's post.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Naomi And Her Pets

Naomi West - who covers the state of Texas for the CFZ, along with me and Ken Gerhard - has a cool slide-show on her animal-pals, and here it is!

Derek at YouTube

Over at YouTube, you can find the CFZ's Illinois rep Derek Grebner giving a one-to-one on his views on cryptozoology. Check it out!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Ghillie-Suits & Bigfoot

Our Michigan rep and good friend Raven has just uploaded to her blog a new article on the whole issue of people mistaking hunters in Ghillie-suits for Bigfoot. And here it be!

Killing: Yes or No?

Oregon-based CFZ rep Regan Lee has an interesting new post over at Binnall of America on the "kill or no-kill" policy when it comes to Bigfoot.

As someone who believes Bigfoot to be a wholly paranormal beast, I'm not sure that trying to kill it in a conventional manner is the easiest thing in the world to do. But, that's just my own personal opinion.

As Regan says:

"Within the Bigfoot phenomena, there are several controversial topics. I'd say the three most controversial include the debates over 'giant ape' vs. something else, paranormal/inter-dimensional vs. strictly flesh and blood, and the kill/no kill view. I'm not that interested in the first of the three; it is what it is in that regard. And if Sasquatch is a paranormal/inter-dimensional entity, (which I believe it is) the other stuff is moot. But one thing I'm absolutely positive about is the kill/no kill debate. Regardless of what Bigfoot is, I support, without hesitation, a 'no kill' stance."

And here's the rest of Regan's post.

Check it out, as it contains some thought-provoking commentary.

And, of course, hunting (whether Bigfoot or, indeed, any animal) is a topic that always sharply divides people.

As for me, I have no problem with people hunting for food. After all, it's really not that different to going to a shop and buying a frozen chicken or a piece of beef. In the latter scenario, you buy it already killed; and that's the only difference.

As for hunting and killing animals for pleasure, well, I don't get it.

Of course, it's not my place to impose my beliefs and ideas on other people (I leave that dubious honor to our elected leaders); but I just don't understand why someone might take pleasure in - and get a rush from - slaughtering an animal just to stick its head on a wall.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Raven: A New Website

Check out the new website of Raven, the CFZ's representative for Michigan. Titled Moonshadow Investigations, it can be found right here.

The Conser Lake Creature

Regan Lee - the CFZ's resident Oregon rep - has a new article posted at her Frame 352 blog, on the Creature of Conser Lake.