Spottings

Earlier this week, Magicians Penn & Teller turned their eyes towards cryptozoology on their Showtime TV Series Bullshit!.

It should come as no surprise that they think cryptozology is… well, bullshit.

We here at Spottings feel it is necessary to make some comments on the show.

For starters, Penn & Teller have done an amazing service for cryptozoologists everywhere. They used a cheesy bigfoot costume, created some fake footage, posted it on the internet and sat back and let the flies take the bait. Even we here at Spottings reported it.

I wish we’d quoted the BFRO‘s rather credulous statements of the footage’s authenticity more extensively, as the original article from their sight is now gone, because it demonstrates the pitfalls of just believing any old thing you see on the net. While this may be substantially embarrassing for places like the BFRO, it will hopefully lead to more critical evaluation of video and other evidence by everyone in the field.

That said, the journalistic standards on this episode of Bullshit! were not up to par either. The chosen interviewees were clearly picked for their absurdity, and while it’s completely true that no physical evidence exists, Penn & Teller failed to provide any actual argument. We all know that there are good reasons, both for and against the existence of sasquatch and that only further research will ultimately find the answer. Penn & Teller simply dismissed the possibility of sasquatch altogether.

The also looked into the Loch Ness monster, and while they still chose their cryptozoologists to make them look as bad as possible, in this case, they still spent time and effort to bring scientific evidence to light into he argument against Nessie. One wonders why they felt one needed more debunking than the other.

If nothing else comes from this episode, remember not to believe everything you see on the Internet. Meanwhile, we here at Spottings, will still strive to bring you the latest news on cryptids, the paranormal, UFOs and conspiracies, without the spin so that you can decide for yourself.

“Penn & Teller – Bullsh*t! – The First Season” (Showtime Entertainment)

Technorati Tags: Bigfoot, Commentary, Cryptid, Lake Monster, Sasquatch

MosNews: Chupacabra the Goatsucker Vampire Sightings Reported in Central Russia

The Chupacabra has now been spotted in Russia. This certainly is some of the best proof that we have that not only does the Chupacabra exist, but that it is thriving and moving into new habitats. it seems likely that this may be a new subspecies of Chupacabra, one adapted for the colder weather in Russia.

Technorati Tags: Cryptid, Science

Yahoo News (Canada) : Police baffled by paranormal activity in British pub

OK, this one’s just creepy. Are british police records available for public review?

Tue Apr 25, 02:10 PM EST
LONDON (AP) – British police responding to a call about a possible break-in at a pub in northern England Monday found themselves in the middle of a ghoulish riddle.

Officers arrived at the Low Valley Arms pub near Barnsley in South Yorkshire, 400 kilometres north of London, after being told the alarm had been set off, but instead of finding any signs of a robbery, they were faced with a shaken landlord convinced he had encountered a ghost with half a face missing in the ladies washroom.

Although they saw no ghoul-described as a woman in flowing white gown-officers were shocked to find toilets flushing themselves, said Insp. John Bowler of South Yorkshire Police.

Pub landlord Roger Froggat, 55, and his wife Kathryn, 49, moved in a year ago and said they had seen nothing before, despite rumours of a resident spectre.

“I heard the alarm go off for a second time, went into the pub and all the television screens had turned on,” the pub owner said.

“I went to check the rest of the pub and standing in the women’s lavatories was a woman with half her face missing. I was petrified.”

Officers found no signs of forced entry and were left quite scared, Bowler added.

Since the ghost story became public, the pub has become the talk of the town, attracting everyone from mediums to a national television film crew determined to catch a glimpse of the mystery woman should she appear again.

Despite their shock, the Froggats said they have no plans to leave their village pub.

Technorati Tags: Paranormal, Ghosts

EurekaAlert.org: Evidence mounts for sun’s companion star

The recent discoveries of Sedna, Xeena, Quaoar, Santa and Easter Bunny may throw our understanding of planetary physics out the door. Even the scientist who discovered them, Mike Brown, realizes that there’s something unknown and unexplained about their position and orbit. Something that could change our understanding of our solar system.

Walter Cruttenden, author of “Lost Star of Myth and Time” thinks this might prove that our solar system has a hidden companion star. To quote:

It is hard to imagine that Sedna would retain its highly elliptical orbit pattern since the beginning of the solar system billions of years ago. Because eccentricity would likely fade with time, it is logical to assume Sedna is telling us something about current, albeit unexpected solar system forces, most probably a companion star.

“Lost Star of Myth And Time” (Walter Cruttenden)

Technorati Tags: Science

Mainichi Daily News: Japanese researchers find new giant picture on Peru’s Nazca Plateau

The Nazca Lines are amazing figures, some geometric, others representing people and animals etched into the living rock of the Nazca Plateau in Peru. Done by ancient Peruvians, these patterns cannot be seen except by air.

This has caused many people to speculate that they were made for ancient astronauts (AKA extraterrestrials).

A Japanese research team recently found a new Nazca animal, although it is not clear exactly what animal it represents. Perhaps only the aliens know?

Technorati Tags: Science, UFO