Dark Ness at Loch Ness

Dark Ness is the title of a new book from author Tabitca Cope, the product description of which states:

"A tale of murder, myth, monsters and a bit of magic set in modern day Loch Ness. Several university people meet at the Loch, all pursuing their own research. They end up banded together to help the Laird and his friends fight a real enemy, but who are these men who look so alike, why do they want the laird? and is there a monster in the Loch?. The body count is rising, and all depends on a few people to save the world."

If that provokes your interest (and it certainly should!), then buy now!

Note: the link above is to Amazon UK, as it's a British publication. But, if you're in the US, no problem - you can purchase a copy right here.

This is the first in a trilogy of titles from Tabitca, and you can find a review of it at at this link.

Weird Creature Report

Researcher and author Stan Gordon - about whose work you can learn more at his website, www.stangordon.info - sent me the following yesterday afternoon:

Odd 4-Legged Animal Observed Near Pittsburgh

On June 18, 2011, a witness reported the observation of a very strange animal not far from Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh near the Allegheny River. It was about 8 AM that morning as the witness stood on her back porch and observed an animal unlike anything she had ever seen before.

The witness is quite familiar with the wildlife in the area such as coyotes, and even fox. Her comment to me was, “This animal was so bizarre.” The animal was observed as it cantered down a road just a few yards above her nearby roadway. The woman explained that this animal’s movements were not that of a trot or gallop, but an actual canter like that of a horse.

The animal stood about 2 feet tall, and was “too big, for a cat”. The witness also stated that it was not a dog, and didn’t move like a fox or a coyote. The animal, which was observed for about 45 seconds, was estimated to weigh about 35 pounds and was about 2 ½ feet long. The creature was very thin and streamlined, but did not look to be starving or emaciated. The animal looked either hairless, or had very short hair about 1/8 inches long. The entire body was of a pale tan cream beige color. The witness explained that the color was not a pink fleshy color, either.

The observer was able to see a pointy snout and pointy ears as well, and it had a cat-like face. The tail, which was about as long as the body (2 ½ feet), was hairless and skinny. The last 6 inches of the tail curved slightly upwards. The creature moved about 75 yards down the middle of the road, then moved to the right side toward a guard rail. It then changed direction and went to the left where it went into a wooded area. A dead wild duck was reported to have been found mutilated a few days later in the same area.

The witness went on the Internet to try to identify the animal in question. She came across a website with photographs depicting a strange creature which had been killed in a western state known as a “chupacabra.” She said what she saw looked very similar.

Reviewed: Investigating the Impossible

Over at my "Reviews" blog, you can find a review from me of the newly-published book from Ulrich Magin - Investigating the Impossible. As you'll see from my review, the book - published by Anomalist Books - includes substantial data on various aspects of cryptozoology, including sea-serpents, Mothman, and the Loch Ness Monster. Here's the link to the review.

All-Things Mothy!

For fans of Mothman...

I like the author's words that reading these titles may "...cause nightmares or bouts of melancholy in the uninitiated."

You have been warned!

CFZ-Canada

Check out the new blog of the Canadian branch of the Center for Fortean Zoology, which has got off to a lively, thought-provoking and entertaining start with some good posts on such issues as a recent TV show on Bigfoot, the elusiveness of cryptids, and more. Here's the link to the blog.

Apes of the Wild Frontier

From 1980 to midway through 1981, the British music charts were dominated by the excellent sounds of post-punkers Adam and the Ants.

Kings of the Wild Frontier, Car Trouble, Ant Music, Dog Eat Dog, and many more were regularly played at high-volume on the old turntable of a young, teenage Nick Redfern - immensely annoying his parents in the process. Well, that's what kids are supposed to do!

But, 30 years later, the Ants are back...kind of...

Jon Downes, Richard Freeman, and various other Center for Fortean Zoology figures, pay tribute to Adam and Co. in their new video extravaganza on the mysterious Orang Pendek, which re-writes the Ants' Stand and Deliver.

Marvel at Richard's back-garden boogieing, check out the close-ups of Jon's funky beard, and be afraid...be very afraid...

Monsters of Wisconsin

I just received in the mail a copy of the new book from Linda Godfrey, Monsters of Wisconsin: Mysterious Creatures in the Badger State. This is the latest in an on-going series of state-by-state cryptozoological-themed titles from Stackpole Books. I'll be reviewing MoW as soon as I've read it, but in the meantime, you can purchase your own copy right here.

Cats of the Past

Does Britain's big-cat situation date back much further than many suspect? Maybe! Check out my latest Lair of the Beasts post at Mania.com.

The PA UFO-Bigfoot Conference

This just in from Eric Altman:

Hello friends, colleagues and fans of UFOs and Bigfoot!

Attached is the new poster created by Craig Hines for the 2011 PA UFO Bigfoot Con scheduled for October 22 and 23rd, 2011. We are seeking assistance in helping spread the word by posting the event or the poster on your website, blog, mentioning it on your radio program or passing the word along.

The event is a two day event to take place that weekend held at the Science building on the Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood Pennsylvania just 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh PA.

The two day event features UFO speakers on October 22 and Bigfoot speakers on October 23, 2011.

The speakers scheduled on Saturday October 22 on UFO's are Bill Birnes from TV's UFO Hunters and UFO Magazine, World renown author and ufo researcher Stanton Friedman, MUFON Michigan Chapter Director and Author William Konkolesky, Film Director and UFO Investigator Roger Marsh, UFO Investigator, Author and Radio Show Host David Twichell, PA MUFON Director and Author John Ventre.

Sunday October 23, 2011 Bigfoot Speakers:

Anthropologist and Primate Anatomist from Idaho State Dr. Jeff Meldrum
World renown UFO/Bigfoot investigator Stan Gordon
Sasquatch Watch of Virginia Director Billy Willard
The Squatch Detective Steve Kulls
Crypto Artist and Pa Bigfoot Society Assistant director David Dragosin
PA Bigfoot Society Director and Host of Beyond The Edge Radio Eric Altman

There will be vendors tables on both days and book signings. There will also be a meet and greet all you can eat buffet dinner held Saturday night.

For tickets, directions, hotel information and more, visit www.paufobigfootcon.com. Tickets are starting to fly out the door, so don't miss out! Get yours today.

Go to www.paufobigfootcon.com and join us for this historic two day event!

Thank you for your consideration and assistance!!!

Eric Altman
Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society Director
www.pabigfootsociety.com
Host and Producer
Beyond The Edge Radio
Sunday nights 10:00 to Midnight eastern
www.beyondtheedgeradio.com
check out our face book pages
www.facebook/pabigfootsociety.com
www.facebook/beyondtheedgeradio.com
www.facebook/eric.altman1970

Crypto Controversy!

To those who may be fascinated by such stuff, over at Cryptomundo, there's a right old raucous going on (as we say in England) over my views that Bigfoot may be a Tulpa, rather than a flesh-and-blood entity. Lordy, the crypto community is an emotion-driven one! I'll keep posting comments as long as people keep bringing me up! LOL.

Here's the thread-link: http://www.cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/proof-2/

Capturing Cryptids

Why is to hard to capture (or find definitive evidence for the existence of) Bigfoot, the Yeti, Mothman and all the rest of that weird, monstrous menagerie? Maybe this is why (my latest Lair of the Beasts article for Mania.com).

A Crypto Conspiracy...

Over at Mysterious Universe, you can find a new post from me on (a) a well-known cryptozoologist; (b) the strange deaths of animals at a certain English zoo; and (c) secret police files on the whole, weird controversy. Here's the link to the story of the deeply odd affair...