Dreaming of DNA: Review of Sykes’ Bigfoot, Yeti and the last Neanderthal

By | March 31, 2016
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Originally published in the UK as The Nature of the Beast, Oxford geneticist Bryan Sykes’ Bigfoot, Yeti and the Last Neanderthal: A geneticist’s search for modern apemen is highly enjoyable and reveals a bunch of interesting tidbits as well as showing us some rather personal insights and new facts from the professor who attempted to bring credibility to the study of hairy… Read More: Dreaming of DNA: Review of Sykes’ Bigfoot, Yeti and the… »

They must have changed the definition of “true”: The Conjuring 2

By | March 28, 2016
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So, I just watched the trailer for The Conjuring 2 in which crack self-righteous demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate the Enfield poltergeist case in the U.K. It begins by stating the story is based on the “true case files” of the Warrens. Yeah, no. Nothing about this is “true” in the conventional sense of the… Read More: They must have changed the definition of “true”: The Conjuring… »

The State of the Science: Parapsychology (Book Review)

By | March 11, 2016
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In October of last year I wrote a blog post about a review of a new parapsychology compendium. Finally, I’ve gotten to read the entire book referenced for myself, cover to cover, 400+ pages. Parapsychology: A Handbook for the 21st Century (2015) edited by Etzel Cardeña, John Palmer, David Marcusson-Clavertz It took about 7 weeks… Read More: The State of the Science: Parapsychology (Book Review) »

A Guide to Ghost Hunting Guidebooks: NO MORE! Please!

By | January 16, 2016
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This might come as a shock to the millions of ghost enthusiasts out there: The scientific consensus is that ghosts are NOT spirits, remnants of the dead, recordings of energy, or supernatural entities. Our existing knowledge about nature does not point to a conclusion that ghosts are a single definable thing, paranormal or normal, that you… Read More: A Guide to Ghost Hunting Guidebooks: NO MORE! Please! »

The stupidiocy of Ancient Aliens for kids (Book Review)

By | December 4, 2015
9 Comments

There are few good skeptical books for kids. But there are a shit-ton of terrible books promoting mystery and pseudoscientific nonsense aimed at kids or those getting started exploring a paranormal topic. I often peruse the 001 section of Juvenile Literature in the library. Mostly, I’m sickened. Occasionally, I’m surprised. There is a need for better… Read More: The stupidiocy of Ancient Aliens for kids (Book Review) »

Media as ‘medium’: Review of Paranormal Media and the good and bad of ghost hunting

By | November 6, 2015
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It’s not news that the paranormal is mainstream, which is ironic since we commonly understand the paranormal to be events that are NOT normal yet the discussion about it is an everyday occurrence. If you follow TV ghost hunters or paranormal researchers, “evidence” is all around us. So much for it being all that “extraordinary”.… Read More: Media as ‘medium’: Review of Paranormal Media and the good… »

Parapsychology continues to fail to impress reviewers

By | October 18, 2015
10 Comments

A correspondent clued me in to what he called a “devastating commentary on parapsychology.” I agree. The review on the Magonia Review of Books meshes with what I had written in June 2014 when I looked into parapsychology, comparing then and now. It’s helpful to see an independent critique that notes the same flaws as you did. I’m not the… Read More: Parapsychology continues to fail to impress reviewers »

“True Jersey” NJ.com published a stinker of a story on the Jersey Devil

By | October 13, 2015
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A paranormal investigator who writes a column called Paranormal Corner for NJ.com broke a story this weekend that was both a coup for web hits and an utter disaster for her credibility. Kelly Roncace received an email with a photo of what the sender said was the Jersey Devil. The JD is one of the… Read More: “True Jersey” NJ.com published a stinker of a story on… »

If you think Bigfoot is an interdimensional being, you’ve lost your footing

By | October 6, 2015
13 Comments

A person making an extraordinary claim may feel very special. A couple that I met recently who do paranormal research described some acquaintances’ behavior during an investigation of a supposedly haunted place : a woman “swooned” as the spirit overcame her. It was all very dramatic, they said. I’ve seen similar when one ghost hunter of a… Read More: If you think Bigfoot is an interdimensional being, you’ve lost… »

Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 5: Which came first – the monster or the myth?

By | September 29, 2015
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This is the fifth and final post in a series examining cryptids (“hidden” animals said to exist based on local testimony), namely lake monsters, in terms of the folklore, tradition, and native tales of these creatures. Previous parts: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 1: The Illusion of Facticity in Unknown Animal Reports Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 2:… Read More: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 5: Which came first – the… »

Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 4: Crypto-zoologizing the natives’ magic monster

By | September 16, 2015
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This is the fourth post in a series examining cryptids (“hidden” animals said to exist based on local testimony), namely lake monsters, in terms of the folklore, tradition, and native tales of these creatures. Previous parts: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 1: The Illusion of Facticity in Unknown Animal Reports Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 2: Lake Monster Tropes… Read More: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 4: Crypto-zoologizing the natives’ magic monster »

Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 3: Hiding in the cold, dark water until Judgment Day

By | September 8, 2015
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This is the third in a series of posts examining cryptids (“hidden” animals said to exist based on local testimony), namely lake monsters, in terms of the folklore, tradition, and native tales of these creatures. The first part is here: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 1: The Illusion of Facticity in Unknown Animal Reports The second part… Read More: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 3: Hiding in the cold, dark… »

100 Things Popular Science Thinks Science Got Wrong, but Didn’t Quite

By | September 5, 2015
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I was in the grocery checkout line a few weeks ago. I sometimes scan the magazine rack impulse grabs but never buy them. This week, the crop circle cover photo of a special edition of Popular Science caught my attention: Mistakes and Hoaxes – 100 Things Science Got Wrong What did science get wrong about… Read More: 100 Things Popular Science Thinks Science Got Wrong, but Didn’t… »

Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 2: Lake Monster Tropes

By | August 31, 2015
1 Comment

This is the second in a series of posts examining cryptids (“hidden” animals said to exist based on local testimony), namely lake monsters, in terms of the folklore, tradition, and native tales of these creatures. The first part is here: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 1: The Illusion of Facticity in Unknown Animal Reports What can… Read More: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 2: Lake Monster Tropes »

Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 1: The Illusion of Facticity in Unknown Animal Reports

By | August 19, 2015
9 Comments

What can we make of folklore tales that cryptozoologists use to support claims that an unknown animal has been historically reported and remains to be identified? Cryptid researchers say that modern reports of Bigfoot-Sasquatch, lake monster, sea serpents, giant flying animals, and elusive land creatures are supported by the stories of native people, legends or… Read More: Cryptozoology and Myth, Part 1: The Illusion of Facticity in… »