A Request....

It occurs to me that amongst the many people who visit this blog (I am quite surprised at how many but THANK YOU!) there must be people with a reason to do so.

People who believe they may have had a ghostly encounter, suffered poltergeist activity or even believe that they have seen a UFO or some type of unknown creature.

I am sure that, at times, I may appear to be someone who wishes to debunk as much of the unknown as possible. That opinion might be from not having read one of my books -but let's leave the book-plugging out of this.  I have allways looked at things this way: if it is explainable then offer that explanation.  Because only by ending up with cases that cannot be explained will you have the true data to study. 

For forty years I have applied this to accounts of creatures, ghosts and much more. I never ever jump about saying "Proof positive! This is it -this is evidence!"  I do not work that way and I certainly do not want to become one of those sad people who insist that even a bump in a wood constructed house after a hot day is proof of ghosts.

I make my data available.  I explain things to those observers whose accounts I have looked into. In 40 I have never ever broken a confidence or identified a witness unless they have asked me to do so in writing. This sort of thing was obligatory when working with UK and German police forces and most definitely HAD to be followed as a "never ever break" rule with the AOP Bureau because of those we worked with.

So, bearing that in mind, I wanted to ask those coming to this blog if they have ever had a genuine sighting or experience -managed to take photos or tape (and I've had 40 years examining these so fake/hoax spotting is very easy) to please get in touch. No one will have any of your personal information other than me -that includes other investigators- confidentiality is guaranteed.  I will NOT accept anything sent anonymously. That will be immediately deleted.

You can get in touch with me at: blacktowercg@hotmail.com 

So, please, get in touch.

Pursuing The Strange & Weird: A Naturalist's Viewpoint

Pursuing The Strange & Weird:A Naturalists Viewpoint

Paperback, 

249 Pages

Black & White

29.5 x 21 cms

Profusely illustrated, maps, photographs

Price: £15.00

Ships in 3–5 business days

http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/pursuing-the-strange-weirda-naturalists-viewpoint/paperback/product-21307125.html 

 

 

From Dead Aquatic (Humanoid) Creatures, the giant squid and yet undiscovered sea creatures; submarine and ships crews encountering true leviathans. This is a fully expanded section which also refers to the so-called ‘Ningen’ sightings and video footage.

Extinct animals at sea that have been re-discovered.

The subject of Sasquatch and other mystery Hominids around the world is dealt with including a look at the “Sasquatch-killer”, Justin Smeja. Dr. Bryan Sykes and his DNA test results for TVs The Bigfoot Files as well as the controversial Erickson Project and Dr. Melba Ketchum’s even more controversial Sasquatch DNA test results.

Also included are two early French UFO entity cases that still baffle.

Ghosts, strange creatures and the Star-Child hoax. All dealt with by the naturalist and pursuer of the strange and weird.

After Hours with Rictor Episode 7 - MATT MONEYMAKER - February 21, 2013

Moneymaker slams Ketchum.  This has all become a huge farce.

Is the Erickson Bigfoot Project a Fraud? - The Truth Unlocked - SLP#29 w...

I have to say that I've read the Melba Ketchum paper and I do have certain reservations. I am NOT a geneticist but claims of a human-unknown hominid are basically a theory and used to explain the DNA testing results.  So, really, there needs to be much more work done. 

A whisper has it Dr Bryan Sykes labe may be getting involved.

When it comes to the Erickson Project, the head shot image released had me thinking "Is that Chewbacca from Star Wars?"  The other clips set my neck hair on end.

In 40 years I've seen all types of UFO and creature photos and footage and this just got me thinking hoax. I mentioned this to someone who sent me the below video link. 

I think Dr Ketchum is being sincere if misguided. But the Erickson Project....

Watch the video.

Sasquatch Genome Project's Dr. Melba Ketchum on ABC 8

Sasquatch Genome Project on ABC 8

Dr. Melba Ketchum on Fox News Channel discussing Sasquatch Genome Project

To me these look totally unreal and I do not accept them as real evidence of a Sasquatch -with the Erickson Project documentary delayed AGAIN I'm smelling bad fish.

Dr. Melba Ketchum on ABC 9 discussing Sasquatch Genome Project

Bigfoot DNA

Published on 2 May 2013

Dr. Melba S. Ketchum grew up in Texas City, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she received her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine after five years at the university. She had a mixed veterinary practice until she founded DNA Diagnostics. Dr. Ketchum is the president and founder of DNA Diagnostics, Inc. d/b/a Shelterwood Laboratories. Established in 1985, DNA Diagnostics has become a leader in all types of DNA testing including: human and animal forensics, human and animal paternity and parentage testing, disease diagnostics, trait tests, animal and human identity testing, species identification and sex determination. Most common species of animals are tested at DNA Diagnostics.

STRANGE & WEIRD DELAY

The up-dated edition of Pursuing The Strange & Weird to include material on the Melba Ketchum DNA tests and the TV series The Bigfoot Files is currently being delayed.

Apologies.

On This Day: First photograph of Loch Ness monster sparks global sensation

Since then there have been repeated missions to find the alleged beast, whose presence has been disputed since the sixth century

By Julian Gavaghan | Yahoo News – 23 hours ago

• Two submarines are launched as the hunt goes on for the Loch Ness monster. The first …

November 12: The first purported photograph of Loch Ness Monster was taken on this day in 1933 – bringing the ancient legend to the world’s attention.

The publication of picture by Hugh Gray – who took the snap while walking home from church – sparked a global sensation.

Since then there have been repeated missions to find the alleged beast, whose presence in the deep Scottish water has been disputed since the sixth century.

[On This Day: Water speed legend John Cobb ‘killed by Loch Ness Monster’]

Among them was a submarine investigation by British explorer Dan Taylor in June 1966.

A British Pathé shows the amateur submariner boarding his boat Pisces – erroneously pronounced “piskies” by the reporter, who was no doubt not au fait with astrology.

A shadowy outline of the 'Loch Ness Monster' in a picture taken in 1934, the second photographic 'evidence' of …

This second exploration by Taylor picked up a large moving object on sonar 200 feet ahead and 50 above the bottom of the loch.

Vickers, the builders of the sub, also made a giant model of the beast which later provoked amusement when it sank.

But the mythical monster hasn’t always been a cause of mirth – it has also been blamed for accidents.

Among them was the death of racing legend John Cobb in 1952 after his 200mph boat hit a ripple that Nessie hunters say was caused by the reputed creature.

Mythical yeti 'could be descended from ancient polar bear'

The 52-year-old Englishman’s Crusader vessel disintegrated and sank to the bottom after striking an unexplained wake during his bid to set a new water speed record.

Believers in the Loch Ness Monster claim the alleged creature caused the rogue ripple by moving just beneath the surface of the Scottish lake.

They note that Cobb, who was on course to set a new record of 206mph was just finishing his first of two laps, so the wake could not have been caused by him.

1st August 1968: Members of the Loch Ness Monster Investigation Team scan the loch for a sighting of the monster. …

Among the Nessie hunters who blamed the unconfirmed animal was Tim Dinsdale.

The former RAF engineer slowed down the 24-frames-per-second footage and claims that the killer ripple was moving faster than any boat could have caused.

Eight years later, he filmed what remains one of the few alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster – with a humped creature appearing to leave a massive wake.

There have also been several other sightings, photographs and, in 2011, a sonar image of a 5ft-wide unidentified object moving at a depth of 75ft.

There have also been numerous other expeditions – and yet there have been no scientifically confirmed sightings of Nessie.

Some observers have claimed the sightings are really those of large eels, seals, birds, dogs and even an elephant.

Yet – along with other alleged cryptids such as the Himalayan Yeti and North American Sasquatch – Nessie claims will undoubtedly continue to fascinate people.

Nadia Moore of The Bigfoot Files

Nadia Moore has written an interesting article in response to the recent Channel 4 Bigfoot Files. As she was present during some of the filming it makes an interesting read.

http://bigfootzoologist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-few-facts-concerning-icon-films-and.html

Pursuing the Strange & Weird: A Naturalist's Viewpoint

The above book should be ready to order online this coming Friday.  I'll post when it is!

Bigfoot Files: Almasty

The final programme and in the series and I have to say that the results of the DNA tests/theory were interesting as I've written about this sort of thing in the past -I am NOT giving the conclusions as I think people should wait to watch it themselves.

It was interesting that when Bourtsev questioned "the results" -in fact it was clear that his concern was that there might have been a mix-up in the samples he had sent- he didn't get much time. In fact, to have such a distinguished group of hominologists gathered together and suggest they were almost silent in shame at the results was very wrong.

Again, this was a travelogue but if anyone ever saw the amount of field work/papers and the material they contain on almasty habits/habitats and so on they might ask WHY everything seemed dismissed because the DNA tests were negative?

It is because this series was intended to refute the possibility of there being any mystery primate anywhere and because of the rather dubious provenance of the samples the results fitted perfectly.

Overall, this series has been a disappointment (the yeti/bear results were interesting) as we saw very little of Sykes and the series was built on his work and reputation.

People -including journalists I've spoken to on other matters- are already declaring that it has been proven the yeti and Bigfoot are myths coming from the minds of nutcases and fools. Tonight add the Almasty to the list of creatures 'proven' not to exist.

Attenborough: "I believe the Abominable Snowman may be real"

David Attenborough has in the past, Life On Earth, stated that there might well be gigantic squid and other undiscovered creatures in our Oceans and seas.  This statement of his belief that the Yeti might be a real primate-type should be considered very relavent:

Attenborough: "I believe the Abominable Snowman may be real"

By Ben Dowell | RadioTimes

The respected naturalist and broadcaster thinks the legendary Yeti could really exist and be living in the Himalayan Mountains

David Attenborough believes that the Yeti – or Abominable Snowman – may be real.

The world-renowned naturalist and broadcaster says he thinks the creature of Himalayan legend – which has a North American cousin known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch – could be much more than a myth.

“I believe the Abominable Snowman may be real. I think there may be something in that," said Attenborough, speaking today at a showcase of upcoming programmes on UKTV.

“There are footprints that stretch for hundreds of miles and we know that in the 1930’s a German fossil was found with these huge molars that were four or five times the size of human molars.

“They had to be the molars of a large ape, one that was huge, about 10 or 12 feet tall. It was immense. And it is not impossible that it might exist. If you have walked the Himalayas there are these immense rhododrendron forests that go on for hundreds of square miles which could hold the Yeti."

Attenborough, who was addressing an audience at the Saatchi Gallery to promote a second series of Natural Curiosities on the Eden channel, explained why the existence of the beast had not been proven up until now: “If there are some still alive and you walked near their habitat you can bet that these creatures may be aware of you, but you wouldn’t be aware of them.”

[...]

Read the full article at: radiotimes.com

Bigfootology

To get extra info and find out what has been going on re. the Sykes DNA tests check out Bigfootology:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bigfootology/169864543051503