Archive for the ‘science’ category

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“Cressie”

September 19, 2008

–In Lake Crescent, New Foundland, reports exist of a mammoth species of eel called “The Lake Beast,” or more affectionately, “Cressie.”  The notion of eels up to 30 feet long is reflected in Native American legends dating back centuries, and referring to a “Pond Demon,” and a “Swimming Demon.”  Some believe that it could be a displaced ocean dweller, as eels are quite ancient, evolving before the continents divided.–Remember Pangea?

Once again, the intepid boys from MonsterQuest investigated, going through the murky waters of the Canadian lake in question.  Results were again inconclusive with “Cressie” not found, although eyewitness accounts were intriguing…and a lobster trap set for the beast underwater was dragged a considerable distance by something…

Water creatures are big stuff right now.  Destination Truth is airing a segment on one.  And even while their existence remains unproven, in many countries it is illegal to kill them…Hmmm, isn’t that interesting?!

Categories: animals, anomalies, cryptozoology, furry, science, unexplained
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You Big, Hairy Ape!

September 11, 2008

–Of cryptids there is conjecture, but Gigantopithecus really existed!  An extinct species of ape, Gigantopithecus made the scene from roughly a million years ago to perhaps as recently as 300,000 years ago…and some would say that he’s still out there kicking. Gigantopithecus hung out in ancient China, India, and Vietnam, some say even making it to North America via a land bridge. He existed in the same time frame and location as several hominid species, and is thought to have stood up to 10 feet tall, weighing up to 1,200 pounds.

Gigantopithecus remains in the form of molars were found in 1935 in a Chinese apothecary shop, where fossilized teeth and bones (termed dragon bones) were often ground into powder and consumed in some branches of traditional Chinese folk medicine; good for what ails ‘ya! Several jawbones and over 1,000 teeth have been recovered.

MonsterQuest has profiled Gigantopithecus, reviewing accounts of those who have witnessed “really big apes,” one of which in a merry sport is reported to have thrown pinecones at a guy for 45 minutes; gotta love the big ape!  By the reckoning of some, Bigfoot may be a relative of Gigantopithecus that has endured into the present day…

Categories: animals, anthropomorphic, cryptozoology, furry, science
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“Fringe” on Fox Works!

September 10, 2008

–Fringe (after “Fringe Science”) is a new show on Fox whose pilot debuted September 9th that promises to delve into the paranormal outskirts of science, and appears to deliver.  If you liked The X-Files, you’ll probably enjoy Fringe, which even includes a female FBI agent, Olivia Dunham, played by Anna Torv.  A creation of J.J. Abrams, the show mixes horror, thrills, and comedy, and is reminiscent not only of X-Files but also The Twilight Zone, The Night Stalker, Twin Peaks, and even the movie, Altered States.

Just when people were overcoming their jitters about flying, the opening episode commenced with a jet in a thunderstorm suddenly stricken with a flesh-eating condition that transformed everyone on board into a juicy cadaver. The jet lands on auto-pilot, where it is descended upon by FBI, CIA, and other operatives in hazmat suits. Acting, writing, photography, and atmospherics of the show were excellent, keeping the audience on edge and keeping you wanting more.

This is not a “furry” themed show, but as this blog often touches on the strange and the unexplained, fans of the same may have a winner to watch here; Fringe is well-worth a look! In the 1990’s the X-Files told us that the truth is out there. In 2008, Fringe teaches that everything is part of a pattern. Upcoming episodes promise to get into topics like precognition, teleportation, and other cool stuff…I’m in!!!

Categories: science, unexplained
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Mongolian Death Worms!

September 4, 2008

— Hehe, Mongolian Death Worms are cryptids reported to exist in the Gobi desert of Mongolia.  They are supposedly two to five feet long (not as big as a sand worm from Dune), reddish in color, and kinda look like intestines.  More intriguingly, they are said to be able to spit sulfuric acid, and can kill at distances by electrocution! — Gotta get me some of these puppies for my backyard!

The most recent expedition in search of these creepy-crawlies was conducted by the reality TV series Destination Truth in 2006-07.  This show would appear to be the SciFi channel’s answer to the History Channel’s MonsterQuest.  In searching the Gobi Desert at night for the Death Worms, they found a tunnel of some sort on the sand. As this might be the lair of a creature that can spit sulfuric acid and electrocute prey, the intrepid investigators did what any of us would do…they plunged their arms into the presumed worm hole! Soil from these holes tested normal rather than acidic…

Categories: animals, furry, science, unexplained
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Fraudulent Cryptids

August 26, 2008

–Hoaxes regarding hidden or cryptic animals did not start with Bigfoot. Master showman P.T. Barnum in the 19th century as well as Robert Ripley in the 20th were well known for exhibiting sewn-together specimens such as the Fiji Mermaid (depicted), the mummified upper body of a monkey sewn onto the bottom half of a fish!  To some of the more naive and gullible people of earlier generations, such creations of a taxidermist were proof enough of a fantastic or mythological creature.

This isn’t exactly the kind of mermaid likely to arouse anyone’s romantic fantasy, however, unless you’re into very dead things and have a stronger stomach than I do…

Categories: animals, furry, science, unexplained
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Boneless Horror!

August 22, 2008

—Extremely large invertebrates seldom seem to get big press, but the giant squid and giant octopus are both out there, and the latter was recently featured on a MonsterQuest episode.  Mythological and undocumented reports exist of such creatures, with giant squids and octopuses hopelessly intermingled and jointly referred to as kraken. Such giant creatures are in some legends regarded as forms taken by shape shifting vengeful sea gods.

In 1896 remains of an extremely large specimen were washed up off St. Augustine, Florida (see picture).  It didn’t have much of a head left and only the stumps of tentacles, but the science of the day estimated that the arm span of the creature may have reached 100 feet.  The largest octopus documented is the North Pacific giant octopus, with a 14 foot arm span.  Off the Bahamas Islands, however, is reputed to exist an octopus variant called the lusca, with a 75 to 200 foot span.

The octopus is a rather intelligent invertebrate, and can figure out how to open jars to get food within them.  Having a boneless body makes the octopus able to squeeze through remarkably small openings to hide or prey.  The fact that the body of an invertebrate such as the squid or octopus decays rapidly and can stretch after death makes post-mortem estimates of their size extremely difficult.

Categories: animals, anomalies, furry, science
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Bigfoot Busted!

August 20, 2008

–Sigh…just days after a much ballyhooed news conference was held in California to proclaim that the remains of a creature found in the North Georgia mountains was the legendary man-ape, the “carcass” when thawed out was discovered to be a rubber gorilla outfit! The two individuals aiming to prove the existence of Bigfoot paid an undisclosed sum of money for the ice-enclosed rubber suit.

While this fraud fell apart faster than I thought it would, we who believe know only one thing:  The truth is out there! Perhaps we someday will have a real cryptid discovery to celebrate…it’s happened before!

Categories: animals, anomalies, furry, science, unexplained
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Whale Mistakes Boat for Mother!

August 18, 2008

–A baby humpback whale estimated to be about one to two months old evidently mistook a 36-foot yacht for its mother!  The young whale swam around the sailboat several times off Australia, nuzzling it and attempting to suckle.  The boat eventually lured the baby whale back to open water…poor confused kid!

Categories: animals, furry, science
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The Georgia Ape

August 16, 2008

–Well, the Montauk Monster’s missing, but we’ve got the Chupacabra video, and supposedly a dead Bigfoot.–Not bad times for cryptozoology or hucksterism, depending on what you believe!

Reporters were not impressed by the Bigfoot presentation of the two men claiming that it was the genuine article, as they did not produce a body nor disclose its location.  One of the two was also involved in a previous Bigfoot hoax in 2005, when he was going to do a “Pay-Per-View” thing.  They did produce a picture, which looked like a Chewbacca costume with a few guts sprinkled on for good measure.  Of three DNA samples produced, one was human, the second possum, and the third untestable.   Without rigorous and independent scientific investigation, conclusions will be tainted at best.

This will take months to spin out, but I would look for the claims to start to unravel.  I’d be thrilled, however, if this was the real deal…but DNA samples may prove that this was the offspring of John Edwards...

Categories: animals, anomalies, furry, science, unexplained
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Bigfoot Found?

August 14, 2008

–This could be major, or just another hoax.  Two Georgia residents who lead bigfoot-tracking expeditions are claiming to have found the body of a bigfoot in the woods of northern Georgia.  The men, one a police officer and the other a former correctional officer, claim they have a body, photos, and DNA evidence of the 7-feet tall, 500 lb. mammal.  On August 15th, the men will reveal their findings at a news conference in Palo Alto, where they intend to present DNA evidence that will prove that the carcass is that of a bigfoot. The creature has a 16-3/4 inch footprint and a palm to fingertip span of 11-1/2 inches. The presenters are not stating where the body was found or where it is now.

Will this be the find of a lifetime, or just another disappointment?–I want to believe!

Categories: animals, anomalies, cryptozoology, furry, science, unexplained
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