Author Archives: Sharon A. Hill

About Sharon A. Hill

Strange Claims Adjuster and Spooky Geologist On Mastodon at @idoubtit@mstdn.social

Strange Pennsylvania Monsters: Book Review by a strange PA monsters aficionado

By | July 25, 2013
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Strange Pennsylvania Monsters by Michael Newton (Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2012) is the second book of this type that I’ve read and reviewed. It is considerably better than 2011’s Monsters of Pennsylvania by Patty Wilson which I reviewed here. These local guidebooks to monster lore are commonly categorized by type of animal. Pennsylvania’s most famous cryptids are… Read More: Strange Pennsylvania Monsters: Book Review by a strange PA monsters… »

Paranormal politicking

By | May 9, 2013
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My interests are in paranormal topics, coalition building, policy, and problem solving. Having visited the paranormal side on several occasions, I’m one of those skeptics that is not hated or despised by those that disagree with the “skeptical” scene. Distilled rom those interests, one of my goals is to find a way to interact effectively… Read More: Paranormal politicking »

Meaning of monsters (Review of a trio of books)

By | May 6, 2013
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I’m in a reading phase. I have 168 on the list of books I have and need to read. I recently got through three and here are my impressions. They sort of have a monster theme. From imaginary/real to some people think are real to YES ABSOLUTELY REAL AND IN MY BASEMENT! I heard the… Read More: Meaning of monsters (Review of a trio of books) »

Ketchum’s Galileo Gambit

By | February 24, 2013
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One of my essential reading blogs, Respectful Insolence, has resurrected an older post on The Galileo Gambit. It was timely. It was in reference mainly to the day to day parade of quackery that passes by in the media. Orac coined the term “Galileo gambit” to describe a very common ploy used by quacks – they… Read More: Ketchum’s Galileo Gambit »

There is something alive down there. Troglobite!

By | January 10, 2013
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Several years ago, I put a downhole camera into a borehole that I suspected was drilled into a network of rotten rock, riddled with widened fracture and small caves, possibly a cavern (karst). The system was fed by surface stream leakage but sustained by what was estimated to be a very extensive hydrogeological system across… Read More: There is something alive down there. Troglobite! »

In Search Of… my first exposure to the paranormal

By | November 29, 2012
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When I was little, my mom loved the show In Search Of… It was my first introduction to paranormal topics and also to Leonard Nimoy, believe it or not (which reminds me of another show that first introduced me to Jack Palance). In Search Of… was so influential to my interest in paranormal topics. It… Read More: In Search Of… my first exposure to the paranormal »

Science appreciation class

By | November 16, 2012
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Several years ago, while learning about the problem of science illiteracy, I discovered something of critical importance: You can’t get people engaged and enthusiastic or even respectful about a subject if they don’t see any value or connection to themselves. Kids aren’t going to do well in high school science classes (or even choose to take those… Read More: Science appreciation class »

Going off-track: A visit to the paranormal side of Dragon Con

By | September 11, 2012
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I have finally experienced Dragon Con, the world’s largest sci-fi/fantasy convention, which was held August 31 to Sept 3 in Atlanta, Georgia. Encompassing 5 hotels and including 40,000 or so attendees, many of whom were in costume, it was a bit overwhelming at times. But, I was determined to squeeze the most out of my… Read More: Going off-track: A visit to the paranormal side of Dragon… »

Astrology sounds sciencey

By | July 30, 2012
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This month on Sounds Sciencey, I discuss astrology. Astrology: More like Religion Than Science I looked into this topic back in graduate school after I saw it discussed in a book about the changing worldviews that occurred throughout our history. At one time, alchemy and astrology were the forebears of science. Astrology lives with us… Read More: Astrology sounds sciencey »

Paper on Amateur paranormal investigation groups: Being Scientifical

By | July 8, 2012
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I finished my thesis last year on amateur paranormal investigation groups. Many of you have requested copies. It can be purchased but not many would want to spend the money for that, so I’m giving it away via PDF. You can download here.  Hill_ARIGs_Being_scientifical_thesis Also, it was adapted for a piece in Skeptical Inquirer magazine,… Read More: Paper on Amateur paranormal investigation groups: Being Scientifical »

Facts? You keep using that word, Bigfoot hunters.

By | April 26, 2012
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“You are Not Entitled to Your Own Bigfoot Facts” is my latest piece up on Sounds Sciencey. It’s a continuation on this piece which still gets a lot of hits on the site. In this one, I take to task some self-styled Bigfooters who consider speculation as “fact”. It gets pretty silly… Self-styled Bigfoot researchers… Read More: Facts? You keep using that word, Bigfoot hunters. »

Why I give up on Bigfoot sites and forums

By | April 2, 2012
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I’m going to have a bit of a rant. This post is mostly opinion. However, it is based on actual situations that can be documented. It’s about cryptozoology forums and how they don’t work. I’ve posted before about how I stopped visiting Cryptomundo because my comments were not posted as they were critical of the… Read More: Why I give up on Bigfoot sites and forums »

Scientist states he has explanation(s) for sky noise but it only sounds sciencey

By | February 15, 2012
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I’ve been closely following the story of strange noises from the sky that flared up in January. I wrote about them on Doubtful News (now defunct). The noises are widespread, varied in type, sometimes able to be explained and sometimes known to be hoaxed. But, because this spate of anomalies (a Fortean Flap, if you will)… Read More: Scientist states he has explanation(s) for sky noise but it… »

Did zoo animals predict the Virginia earthquake? Look closer.

By | August 26, 2011
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A day after the east coast earthquake (now forever to be remembered by me as “the best birthday present ever!”), the Smithsonian issued a press release about the behavior of animals at the National Zoo, more than 80 miles from the epicenter of the quake. Some media outlets reported on the news as “animals go… Read More: Did zoo animals predict the Virginia earthquake? Look closer. »

Bigfoot “facts” for kids?

By | August 10, 2011
23 Comments

Bigfoot Evidence has posted a link to a website called “Is Bigfoot Real” [refrain from clicking unless absolutely necessary] which contains a page called “Bigfoot Facts for Kids”. The so called “facts” given are as follows: Well! It’s the Internet, we can pull facts out the air, I guess. I submitted this comment to the… Read More: Bigfoot “facts” for kids? »

Your friendly neighborhood mon$ter

By | August 8, 2011
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In a post on Skeptoid blog, I suggest that paranormal-based tourism, such as ghost tours and monster festivals, which are growing in popularity, border on fraud. “Even if there are long-standing legends of strange events occurring at some location, to suggest that a place is haunted just to freak people out is contemptible.” “Ghost tours… Read More: Your friendly neighborhood mon$ter »

Today’s edition of being scientifical: UFO research and homeopathy

By | August 8, 2011
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Ever on the lookout for scientifical examples, here are two that I thought were interesting. The first relates to my interest in amateurs being scientifical. UFO researcher Budd Hopkins presented the results of a study he conducted at a conference about UFO abductees. According to Robert Sheaffer (Skeptical Inquirer V. 35 No. 3 May/June 2001… Read More: Today’s edition of being scientifical: UFO research and homeopathy »

Research groups’ useful social function is not “being scientific”

By | August 1, 2011
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The LA Times reports on the MUFON conference with the headline “convention emphasizes scientific methods”. The reporter then skewers this idea by showing how at least some of the attendees have thoroughly embraced the idea of alien visitation and human-alien hybridization. Oh my. The reporter doesn’t have to go to the fringe to point out… Read More: Research groups’ useful social function is not “being scientific” »

Stunning findings about origin of mountain lion killed in Connecticut

By | July 27, 2011
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In a followup to the news that a mountain lion was found, Connecticut officials have reported some “amazing” news. They said that the Connecticut Cougar had made its way east from the Black Hills of South Dakota and that genetic testing matched samples of an animal confirmed as having been in Wisconsin and Minnesota. That means… Read More: Stunning findings about origin of mountain lion killed in Connecticut »

Scientific or Scientifical?

By | June 21, 2011
23 Comments

About half of all amateur research and investigation groups (ARIGs – those self-forming groups that do ghost hunting, Bigfoot searches, cataloging of UFO sightings, and other paranormalia) on the Internet say they use scientific methods and equipment and/or their field is based in science. [1] As one who actually did scientific work in a lab… Read More: Scientific or Scientifical? »