Thursday, June 14, 2007
Review: The Sasquatch Triangle 6-14-07
This was a great program with International Bigfoot Society President and founder Ray Crowe. He discussed how he got started in the research, recent sightings in Oregon, his association with Tom Biscardi, his theory on what the Sasquatch is and other subjects. He answered questions from Bill Green and Billy Willard, as well as a couple of questions I asked. It was a fun and great show, and I was honored to produce the show. Don's next scheduled guest is Daniel Perez of the Center For Bigfoot Studies in Norwalk, California, next Thursday at 9:00 EST/8:00 Central. The link can be found over to the right, so please tune in and support great research.
Editorial: Should we be neutral on Tom Biscardi?
I can already predict I will take some heat for this editorial, but I am willing to take it anyway. I have a neutral stance on Tom Biscardi because I do not know the man, so I cannot say whether or not he is a hoaxer or an alleged hoaxer or a fraud or whatever. Sure, most of the Bigfoot Community has their own opinions on Mr. Biscardi, but some people go against the grain and have a neutral stance on him until they meet him. Some like myself have decided to make up our own minds about Biscardi rather than following along with the rest of the Bigfoot Community. Of course, what happens when a credible researcher associates with Biscardi or goes on his radio show is, most of the Bigfooters jump on the person that decided to associate with Biscardi or say that person is a sell-out. That is utterly ridiculous and absolutely unprofessional. People choose to associate with Biscardi or go on his radio show to get out the message of Bigfoot, not because it's the Tom Biscardi show. Why don't certain individuals in the BF Community let others make up their own minds about somebody before they condemn someone? Am I defending Biscardi? No, although it may seem like I am. He has made his share of mistakes and goofs in his time, but haven't we all? Biscardi's detractors tend to harp on the "Capture story" from two years ago and use that against him, but perhaps they need to re-examine that before they condemn the man. Now, am I trying to tell people to change their hostile stances towards Tom? No, because I cannot make people do anything they don't want to. But, at least back off on publicly bashing the man until you have the absolute facts on him. Bash in private all you want, but bashing someone in public can come back to bite you, so be careful. Now, to close, I will say this-he can come off as a bit of a slick, used-car salesman type to those who don't really know him, and that can be detrimental to Tom, but let's not forget, Roger Patterson was also a used-car salesman type, and look what he did. A lot of people ask "What has Tom Biscardi done for the Bigfoot Community?" Well, I say he has promoted awareness for the studies of these animals and has given people the opportunity to tell their stories of their sightings without fear of ridicule. No matter what one thinks of Tom, at least he gets out there. There is an old saying-"Sweep around your own front door before you sweep around someone else's."
Sasquatch Triangle Tonight...
Don's guest will be International Bigfoot Society President and founder Ray Crowe (no relation to Russell). The show starts at 9:00 EST/8:00 Central and can be found at the link to the right. As always, please tune in and support great research.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Interview with Monica Rawlins, from Melissa Hovey's "The Search For Bigfoot" Blog
Women in Bigfoot Research, Monica Rawlins
Interview by Melissa Hovey
*Photos provided by Chris Buntenbah
Wildlife Photographer*
Monica, what can I say. If you want the truth - this is the woman to go to, just be ready for her response. She is straight forward and pulls no punches. Monica is not only a member of the Texas Bigfoot Research Center, she is a strong voice within the organization.
When I first became involved with the TBRC and met Monica, I knew she would be someone that would be tough on me when necessary, but a good friend should I accept her challenge to be willing to push myself and challenge my own comfort levels. My friendship with Monica has been something I value very much. She has, in all honesty, helped me through some rough times when I doubted myself and my place in this research.
Someone once told me - I balance beauty with brains -- that person has not met Monica. Monica is as tough as nails, but she is very intelligent, and can hold her own in a debate with the best of them ( I am grateful to her and I agree on most issues ). I admire people who stand up for what they believe in, and are not afraid to say exactly what they think, and Monica is one of those people.
I respect Monica first and foremost; she has achieved excellent standing within the TBRC, and she is a respected leader within this fine group of researchers. I am very proud to profile Monica Rawlins here on this blog, and it's about time.
Women in Bigfoot Research, Monica Rawlins
Please tell the readers about yourself. What you would like people to know about you.
Monica: I grew up in Northern California and spend most of my summer vacations in a remote part of South West Oregon, so I really grew up around the Bigfoot legend. I moved to Texas in the Spring of 1992, and really had just a passing interest in the subject of Southern Bigfoot. My only exposure to such an idea was with the film, "The Legend of Boggy Creek", which inspired me to go out and research here in the South. I am convinced that such a creature exists in the Pacific Northwest, but am still very skeptical that there are any here in the South, the regions that I have researched anyway.
How long have you been active in the field of Bigfoot research?
Monica: I have been active for the last 4 years.
Are you active in any Organized Groups, or are you Independent? Or Both?
Monica: I am active, as much as possible, with the Texas Bigfoot Research Center. I began my role with this group as a Southeast Regional Leader, being that I lead all research within the south east region of Texas, followed up on recent reports within the area and organized and led research outings until I moved to Dallas in the Spring of '04.
While I am no longer a regional leader, I am a member of the groups "advisory board" which is made up of senior members of the group that make decisions on where the group is headed as a whole. I enjoy this role, as the group is very important to me and I want to make sure that its best interests are at the heart of all decisions.
What do you think about the growing numbers of women becoming active in this field?
Monica: I think it is great, and I really don't understand why more women are not active.
Have you had to deal with any resistance to your being in this field of research, due to your gender?
Monica: Yes, but not until recently. This question was posed to me 2 years ago at a conference, and at that point I had not really considered it, but it did make me take a really good look around, and more specifically at the roles that some would like to see women play in active "research". There are some individuals who hold very antiquated ideas in regards to women in the field.
How do you deal with this? What advice would you give to another female researcher who is experiencing this?
Monica: I deal with it by ignoring it, when I am in the field (and I admit it is not as often as I want) I am just as focused and dedicated to the research as anyone else there. If you want to think like a caveman, go hang out in a cave, there is no time for that in serious field research. I feel that every member has the potential to contribute great things if trained correctly and given the opportunity - regardless of gender. I would advise other women facing this adversity to cast all negativity to the side, go out and give it their best, you will surprise yourself and others.
Can you give any advice to women who are considering entering this research, but are hesitant.
Monica: Do not hesitate, and do not take any crap. Go out, suck it up and play like "one of the guys" and you will do well. Be sure to keep an open mind, and don't be discouraged if others do not accept your ideas; no one in this field is an expert.
Have you had a sighting? If so please explain
Monica: NO
Does not having a sighting ever discourage you? If so, why? If not, Why?
Monica: No, not in the least. I am actually skeptical of anyone who sees them behind every bush, or claims that evey noise in the dark is one.
What keeps you interested in the research?
Monica: I believe in the possibility of such a creature existing. While I do believe that most sightings are misidentifications, a flash of fur or shadows in the dark don't prove a thing, I do believe that if they are in the N.W., they could be here in the South. It is my own curiosity combined with this possibility that keeps me going.
Do you ever get into the field?
Monica: Not as much as I had in the past. I have family commitments that keep me out of the field more than I care for, but my family will always come before any research. Also, I do not agree with some of the methods used in the field, but I also do not have the time to create my own outings - therefore I choose to remain outside of most current field research.
Do you take witness statements?
Monica: Sometimes
Most researchers have one Report that "Stands Out" in their minds, is there a report that still "stands out" for you?
Monica: They all blend together.
Please tell the readers about yourself. What you would like people to know about you.
Monica: I am in my early 30's, the mother of 3, with a full time job. I enjoy the outdoors (obviously) and adventure.
Do you have any advice for a new researcher?
Monica: Keep an open mind, but remain skeptical.
I would like to thank Monica Rawlins for allowing this interview. This is another researcher I am sure we will hear more from in the future :)
Let's Talk Bigfoot Tonight...
Melissa and Teresa will be interviewing Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy and Alliance of Independent Bigfoot Researchers member Alton Higgins. The show starts at 10:00 EST/9:00 Central and can be found at the link to the right. Please tune in and support great research.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Update on the Arcata, California 40th-Anniversary Patterson/Gimlin Movie Symposium
Special Appearances
Bob Gimlin - Confirmed
Patricia Patterson - Awaiting Confirmation
John Green - Awaiting confirmation
Professor Warren J. Houck
Al Hodgson - Confirmed
Confirmed Speakers
Dr. Jeff Meldrum
Dr. Henner Fahrenbach
Christopher Murphy
M.K. Davis
Don Monroe
Kathy Strain
Al Berry & Ron Moorehead
Autumn Williams
Thom Powell
Jason Valenti
Roger Knights
Speakers awaiting confirmation
Dr. Dmitri Bayanov
Dr. Igor Bourtsev
Dr. Daris Swindler
Dr. John Bindernagel
Thoms Steenburg
Editorial: Are Photos and Films Enough?
There seems to be a plethora of films and photos lately alleging to show images of hairy bipeds known collectively as Sasquatch and Bigfoot and Yeti, and while these are intriguing and interesting, I suspect the vast majority of the subjects in these photos and films are either hoaxes or misidentifications, especially all the videos we see on YouTube. But, I have to wonder, are films and photos enough to prove the existence of hairy bipeds, especially with the fact that for the most part, they are hoaxes or misidentifications? I say they are not enough, because (reluctant as I am to discuss this) it has been 40 years since the Patterson/Gimlin Movie was taken, and it is in dispute because of the controversial nature of Roger Patterson and this individual Bob Heironimus who claimed to be in the suit. But I will not dwell on it because there is no point in rehashing it. In 1967 it was hard to doctor a film or manipulate it; nowadays it can be done with the click of a mouse, through Photoshop and digital video manipulation. It is quite simple nowadays to create a convincing film or photo which can fool some people, but not all, especially sharp-eyed researchers who know digital manipulation when they see it. So, photos and films are not proof, and do not let anyone tell you different. A good film or video MIGHT go a good ways towards proving the existence of hairy bipeds, but the best photos or even National Geographic-quality footage is still not enough for the skeptics ,and sometimes not even for the Bigfoot Community. A body or piece thereof is needed. I will leave you with this quote from Jay Michael which is in the header of my blog: "There are no photos of Bigfoot; there are no videos of Bigfoot. There are ALLEGED photos of Bigfoot; there are ALLEGED videos of Bigfoot."
Editorial: The Johor Hominid Controversy: One Year Later
Nearly 1 year ago, a series of photos was promised to be unveiled on the public, allegedly of the Johor Hominid or Orang Mawas. The photo you see on the right was the "teaser photo" which promised something extraordinary from johorhominid.org. This photo was up at the website for several weeks, until a sharp-eyed French scientist, remembering that these eyes looked quite familiar, like something he had seen before. It turned out he had; it was actually a photo of an actor in costume for a television program on the Australopthecines from a book. Now, there was speculation that the photo was a deliberate hoax from Vincent Chow, but let us examine this a bit closer; supposing Chow and Ang were taken in by this photo and were not aware that it was actually from a book? It is always possible. I am reticent to accuse them of hoaxing, because Rick Noll, who worked with the two gentlemen last Summer, attested to their honesty on the "Sasquatch Experience" the other night. I think that Chow and Ang were deceived by someone who claimed this photo was the real thing. It isn't the first time researchers have been fooled by what they thought was evidence and turned out to be a hoax, and it won't be the last either. I think it is a lesson to those who count something as evidence without examining all parameters more thoroughly, so let's just be careful and more discerning.From Ray Crowe's "Track Record," April 2007
Memorial Plaque at Bluff Creek: The plaque is a bronze one about 16 inches long by 14 inches high and it reads "At this location known as the Patterson site on October 20, 1967, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin captured their famous film of a Sasquatch." Memorial donated by S. Fries, M.K. Davis, M. Gross and J. Hiers, of the Bigfoot Research Project. It is a really nice plaque and they will be building a river rock monument to attach the plaque to. Thanks Linda Coil Suchy for the tip.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Information on the "Mississippi Film" from Mike Quast's "Big Footage: A History of Claims for the Sasquatch on Film"
A motoring couple with a child reportedly took a super-8 film of a Sasquatch running on or parallel to a set of railroad tracks. The film was allegedly analyzed by the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California (results unknown) and was in the possession of California Sasquatch investigators Barbara Ann Slate and Vince Gironda (both now deceased). Daniel Perez of the Center for Bigfoot Studies in Norwalk, California feels the film may be genuine but admits it is hard to make out much detail. In the December '98 issue of Bigfoot Times newsletter, Perez asked Don Keating what he thought of the Mississippi Film. Keating replied, "...I understand it was taken in the Fall of 1977 somewhere near Tupelo, Mississippi by a family who had been picnicing. they saw the creature on the opposite side of a set of railroad tracks. The passenger, apparently the wife, grabbed the 8 mm home movie camera and began filming as they were driving. They did not stop the car because they were afraid that whatever it was would approach them and attack...All i ever saw were still photos...Reportedly, the film has been lost."
Squatch Detective Radio Tonight...
Steve does not have an announced guest for the show, but it should be a good one. The show starts at 9:00 EST/8:00 Central and can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thesquatchdetective As always, please tune in and support great research.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Review: Sasquatch Experience 6-10-07
This was a great show, with the "Springs Sweep Pick" Richard Noll, who discussed such things as the Memorial Day Footage and the controversy surrounding it, The Skookum Cast and the controversy surrounding it, his own research, what he thinks Sasquatch is, the New York Baby footage, his pending TV project with Doug Hajicek and other various topics. It was a wonderful show and a lot of fun, and a true pleasure. Our next program will have Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy member Monica Rawlins, next Sunday at 9:00 EST/8:00 Central at the link to the right. We want to thank those who have supported us and listened every week, and we especially want to thank those who voted for Rick Noll to be our guest. As always, please tune in and support great research.
Sasquatch Experience Tonight...
Our guest will be Rick Noll, researcher from Washington State. The show starts at 9:00 EST/8:00 Central and the link can be found at the right. Please tune in and support great research.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
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