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Archive for the ‘CryptoZoology’ Category

The Anomaly Archives Presents: Fortean Cryptozoologist Jonathan Downes

Saturday, March 20th 1:30-3:30pm CST

12593 Research Blvd., Suite 302, Austin, Texas 78759

“Cryptozoology’s answer to Hunter Thompson” – Nick Redfern

[Jon Downes at Loch Ness in 2005]

The Anomaly Archives welcomes British Fortean researcher Jon Downes to Austin, Texas for a lecture on all things anomalous, Fortean, cryptozoological and UFOlogical. Please join us at the Anomaly Archives lending library (located at 12593 Research Blvd., Suite 302) from 1 to 5pm, Saturday, March 20th for an enlightening lecture from one of the world’s leading cryptozoological field investigators.

This lecture event is FREE, however, a $5 donation is respectfully requested for those wishing to help support the Anomaly Archives in its non-profit community education, outreach and research efforts.

Jonathan Downes is the Director of the British-based Center for Fortean Zoology, the world’s only full-time group dedicated to the investigation of unknown animals, including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Ogopogo, and the Abominable Snowman.

In both 1998 and 2004, Jon traveled to the island of Puerto Rico in search of the deadly, blood-sucking creature known as the Chupacabras – a beast that has been linked with a large amount of UFO activity, including UFO crashes, on the island.

Jon will be speaking about his two expeditions, findings, theories and conclusions as to what the creature may be. Jon will also reveal the very latest news on his quest to find out the truth concerning the so-called Texas Chupacabras.

Are the beasts of Puerto Rico and Texas one and the same? Or, is something even stranger going on? Don’t miss this rare chance to see Jon Downes expose the truth of this strange and sensational mystery.

Jonathan Downes is the author and co-author of numerous books on the subjects of Fortean phenomena, especially cryptozoological critters such as Owlman, the Monster of the Mere and others. Besides his research, writing and activism, Jon Downes is also an accomplished film maker having worked on over 7 films. He also produces a regular online video series for the Centre for Fortean Zoology called On The Track (Of Unknown Animals).

Anomaly Archives Presents Fortean Cryptozoologist Jonathan Downes.

Join us at the First Anomaly Archives Meetup of 2010 this Saturday at the Austin History Center from 3-4pm.(See end of email for venue details)

Sponsoring this meetup and venue is the local Austin Mufon chapter headed by Anomaly Archives board member Mike DeGroff.

The monthly Austin Mufon meeting is 1-4pm the first Saturday of most months.

As this is our first official “MeetUp” we’ll be answering questions about the organization, its mission, projects and goals, etc.

We may watch a video or two, talk about books we’re reading, and generally talking about a wide variety of anomalous subjects.

We’ll also be giving away a couple of books to some lucky attendees. Kind of like a door prize. Details at the meeting.

Also, after the meeting, if there’s enough interest, perhaps we can retire to some comfortable outdoor eatery for “conversations over saucers” with coffee, tea, beer, etc.

Finally, we’re pleased to announce that the Anomaly Archives will be hosting British Fortean Cryptozoologist Jonathan Downes the afternoon of Saturday, March 20th. Details to follow shortly.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you all at the Austin History Center this Saturday.

- SMiles Lewis

Founder & President
www.AnomalyArchives.org
AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER
810 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701

Anomaly Archives Meetup this Saturday – Austin Anomaly Archives (Austin, TX) – Meetup.com.

Jon Downes and his wife Corinna of the Centre for Fortean Zoology will be visiting Texas next month.

They will be joining Richie and Naomi West in an investigation of what CFZ terms “Texas Blue Dogs” – what the mainstream media and local folks often call Chupacabras.

RICHIE AND NAOMI WEST: CFZ EXPEDITION TO TEXAS

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A woman in southeast Texas has discovered a small family of hairless canines (referred by the CFZ as the Texas Blue dog) living behind her back yard. She has been feeding them and wants the CFZ to film them.

Naomi and I will be going down to that location next week to install day/night video cameras to film these creatures in action.

When Jon and Corinna arrive, we will be going there to further investigate them. The word from the family who discovered these creatures is that they have very unusual habits not normally associated with canines. Jon and Corinna will be accompanied for part of their trip by a team from a London TV Company who are following the CFZ for 8 months for a feature documentary for BBC2 and will be including the blue dog research in their documentary. We are excited as this will be a big story in the Fortean world. This picture was taken of the creature by the woman in southeast Texas.

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Jon is planning to make a few appearances at local MUFON groups.

- Richie and Naomi West: CFZ Expedition to Texas

CFZ (Centre for Fortean Zoology) – cryptozoology, mystery animals

LOWFI Texas will keep you posted as we learn of when and where Jon may be speaking locally.

- SMiles

Chicken deaths near Horizon City spark talk of Chupacabras

HORIZON CITY — The legend may be back, just as mysterious and dark, to stalk the unsuspecting.

Until last weekend, Cesar Garcia and brother-in-law Juan Miranda saw their life near Horizon City as secluded and peaceful.

They moved to the area from Chicago three years ago, but have suddenly been beset by strange and unexplained occurrences.

Their rabbits went into hiding, their cat spent the weekend on the roof of their house, their roosters didn’t crow, and their dogs didn’t bark.

And at least 30 of their chickens were killed by an unknown interloper.

The brothers are hesitant to say what they think spooked their animals or killed their chickens.

But when pressed, they said it: El Chupacabras.

Chicken deaths near Horizon City spark talk of Chupacabras – El Paso Times.

Hat tip Caitlin MacKenna of Paranormal Dimension…

El Chupacabras Fear In El Paso County, Texas

There were a plethora of topics I’d intended to blog about this past year. Strange things happening in Texas I had wanted to comment upon included:

Aliens & UFO Sightings

• Texas couple near Stephensville [sic] watches triangle UFO under 300 feet – Starting the New Year off right with yet another Stephenville sighting!
• UFO over Cleburne on Christmas night – Kithra alerted me to this sighting report (and she and her friend’s past experience with UFOs in Cleburne)
• UFO lands in Texas, two ‘creatures’ on the ground – Mufon CMS link
• Disc-shaped UFOs reported in three states – Justin, Texas – 11/07/09
• Witnesses in three states spot triangle-shaped UFOs in night sky.
• What’s the UFO? – KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville
• East Texas UFO? -  KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville
• Texas disc UFO turns out to be converted T6 trainer
• Stealth-like UFO over Texas described as ‘upside-down Frisbee’
• UFOs- Lights In The Texas Sky: Was a UFO Trucked Through Dallas?
• Black triangle UFOs low over Texas and New Jersey
• Rumors persist after 112 years in Aurora, Texas
• Witness Tells of Recurring Encounters With Alien Beings The UFO Chronicles / TDTNews.com – Temple Daily Telegram.

Texas’ Own Mystery Missile Flap

Second UFO in 12 Months Buzzes Continental Airlines out of Bush International Airport:

• Mystery at 13,000 feet: What jet pilot saw over Liberty – Houston Chronicle
• Continental Pilot Reports Missile Flying Near His Plane Over Texas FOXNews
• Liberty County deputies searching for mysterious ‘rocket-like’ object KHOU
• Missile Possibly Launched in Liberty MyFox Houston
• The Associated Press – KARK

Chupacabras a Cryptid?

• “Texas Chupacabras” Goes on Exhibit – Loren Coleman reports at Cryptomundo

Flying Cryptids

• Large Flying Creature – Medina River, Texas
• Strange Bird Witnessed Near La Pryor, Texas

Lake Monsters

• Couples say they saw a Lake Worth monster 40 years ago – Star-Telegram.com

Bipedal Bigfoot or Escaped Chimp?

• San Antonio Sasquatch Flap Footage – Multiple Multi Witness Sightings Plus Palm Prints

Haunted Roads / “Streets of Fear”

• Stagecoach Road: Marshall, Texas – The Most Haunted Stretch In Texas ~ Real Texas Ghost Stories.
• Streets of Fear – Convict Hill Road – FEARNet

Forteana and More

• Mystery Fireball Over Austin
• Texas UFO ring similar to Kings Dominion sighting

A few days ago I got an email from Ken Gerrard about recent bigfoot sightings just down the road from Austin in my birthtown of San Antonio:

Last night – November 30th, police on the west side of San Antonio received a 911 call from multiple eyewitnesses who claimed that they saw a hairy, hominid standing over six feet tall, run out of the woods and kill a deer. The incident was reported to the local media and broadcast earlier today. The witnesses were apparently homeless and responding officers who interviewed them found them to be completely sober and rational, though understandably scared. The police chose not to search for the creature. I have just returned from a stake out of the area, which is located at the intersection of Loop 1604 and highway 151, about ten miles from where I live. The area is somewhat developed, although fairly wooded and located near several creeks. Most of the area is private property and is fenced with barbed wire. Obviously I was not about to trespass and I’m still not 100% sure of the exact location of the incident. Reporter Joe Conger from Eyewitness News did visit the exact spot earlier today and told me there were some animal bones present. I plan on returning there with him tomorrow to look for tracks and other evidence. Best Wishes All!

Well, here is one of the local news clips and links to some of the recent news articles about the sightings and palm prints…

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Bigfoot in Texas

• Identify San Antonio’s Mystery Tracks! Cryptomundo
• San Antonio Bigfoot Report: Updated
  http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/sanantbf/
• Flashback: Bigfoot in Texas
  http://www.cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/txbf/
• Flashback: ‘Big Foot’ Terrorizes Kelly Area
  http://www.cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/kelly-af-base-bigfoot/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I’ve been wanting to test out the Blubrry Powerpress podcaster here on the Texas LOWFI pages so here is an embedded interview with Texas Cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard.

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Hosts Craig York and SMiles Lewis explore the cryptozoological exploits of researcher / adventurer Ken Gerhard. From bigfoot to el chupacabra to mysterious giant bird sightings, Ken Gerhard has been hot on the trail of the strange world of hidden animals. Ken’s latest book, BIG BIRD! highlights his investigations into sightings of huge flying weird critters.

www.AnomalyRadio.com / www.PreCognitiveDissonance.com

For more information on Ken Gerhard try these links:

• www.ToneZone.com/ken/
• www.MySpace.com/KenGerhard
• Buy the Big Bird Book !!!

- SMiles

Lon over at the Phantoms and Monsters blog recently posted some letters from readers including one about a “Strange Bird Witnessed Near La Pryor, Texas” …

On Monday 09 Feb 09 at approximately 2120HRS my parents and I were traveling eastbound on US HWY 57. We were approximately 4 miles west of La Pryor, TX when my father slowed down and crossed over into the oncoming lane to avoid hitting a deer that was feeding right on the edge of the eastbound lane on which we traveled. As my father re-entered our lane we came upon a very large bird, gray in color, with a wingspan we estimate to be about 8-10 feet wide and had no visible feathers. We estimate the wingspan based on the width of the car in which we traveled.

Read the rest of the Mystery Bird encounter at Phantoms and Monsters: Paranormal, Cryptid and Extraterrestrial Events: Readers’ Letters: Strange Bird Witnessed Near La Pryor, Texas.

If tales of mysterious big birds are your thing, you should investigate further by checking out these interviews with Ken Gerhard discussing Big Mystery Birds:

• BoA - February 9th, 2009 (MP3 A) (MP3 B)
• PreCogDiss – June 26th, 2008 (MP3)

For more information on Ken Gerhard try these links:

• www.ToneZone.com/ken/
• www.MySpace.com/KenGerhard
• Buy the Big Bird Book !!!

[Hat tip to Iggy for the lead on this story.]

- SMiles

Upcoming Event in the Piney Woods of Texas …

Find out more at… 2009 Texas Bigfoot Conference

www.TexasBigfoot.com / www.TexasBigfoot.org

For more Texas Events check out our new EVENTS page.

“Tales of High Texan Strangeness”

“Out here we is stoned – immaculate” – The WASP: Texas Radio and the Big Beat, The Doors.

Welcome aboard the LOWFI network. I’m SMiles Lewis, your humble guide and Bureau Chief for the easternmost state in our League of Western Fortean Intermediatists.

I was born and raised here in Central Texas, having migrated north from San Antonio to Austin as a toddler – at the direction and with assistance of a parental unit, not hitch-hiking on my own mind you.

I’ve had a life-long interest (obsession) with all things anomalous, first devouring my elementary school’s library of books on UFOs, bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Eventually I learned of Charles Fort’s legacy which has enabled weird-seeking as both a hobby and life-path.

An early age ability to remember my nightly dreams is generally what I credit for sparking that obsession but it was equally spurred on by an assortment of personal paranormal experiences ranging from dream-switching, various synchronicities and apparent telepathic / empathic episodes.

Having been raised on lots of science fiction (I was 8 or 9 years old when Star Wars first hit) I was drawn to the UFO phenomenon above all other Fortean pursuits. This lead me to local UFO groups like Austin MUFON and the Austin Abductee Support Group. I’d eventually be requested to head both of these organizations and did so for many years. These organizations sponsored several local conferences at which I would audio and / or videotape the proceedings. Some of these videos have been posted online including the Austin Mufon 9/26/92 mini-conference with Ed Conroy – author of Report on Communion – Parts 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 .

It was my own EHEs (after Rhea White’s Exceptional Human Experience Network) with strange phenomena, particularly anomalous information transfer (ESP, Psi, Remote Viewing, etc.) and lucid dreaming, that would drive me to investigate the field of consciousness research and parapsychology. I found a local non-profit group (The Institute for Neuroscience And Consciousness Studies) that had all the same interests as me in scientifically investigating. I currently serve as its VP, webmaster and librarian.

Years of voraciously reading and collecting books, paper files and magazines on the paranormal, consciousness, UFOs, Forteana, strange and mysterious phenomena, parapsychology and more led me to networking with various other publishers, researchers, seekers and writers like Greg Bishop, Robert Larson, and Peter Stenshoel of The Excluded Middle magazine (out in California), Wes Nations of Crash Collusion magazine (here in Austin), Adam Gorightly, Joan D’Arc and the Paranoia magazine crowd and many others.

Networking with so many publications and people inspired me to try my own hand at desktop publishing and I began doing limited print-runs of a zine focusing on electromagnetic aspects of the paranormal, UFOs, parapsychology and mind control lore. It was called E.L.F. INFESTED SPACES – Journal of Possible Paradigms. Less than half-way through its life-cycle I adapted it for internet distribution and thus was born the ELFIS Network which has served as a Portal to Possible Paradigms for over ten years now.

Eventually, I’d also become editor and content wrangler for a brand-new Austin tabloid news-magazine called Austin Para Times. (I’ll be posting shortly some rare archival articles from the print editions that have never appeared online before, including this Flashback: Guide to Para Texas.)

The ceaseless collecting of Fortean books on topics as diverse as UFOs, consciousness, the paranormal, parapsychology and more ultimately led me to found my own non-profit community organization, The Scientific Anomaly Institute and its Anomaly Archives lending library. The Anomaly Archives has hosted and helped sponsor a number of local events including The Prankster and the Conspiracy (a free public lecture by Adam Gorightly about the strange world of Kerry Thornley), Reading The Enemy’s Mind (free public lecture by Former Military Remote Viewer Paul Smith), Texas Ghost Lights Conference with Paul Devereux, Nick Redfern, James Bunnell, and Rob Riggs, and most recently a lecture by C.B. Scott Jones on UFO Disclosure.

Along the way I’ve spoken at a handful of public events and conferences on UFOs and related phenomena as well as organized one of “the Greatest UFO Conference that never occurred” wherein we were going to honor guerrilla ontologist Robert Anton Wilson with a lifetime achievement award. The 38th National UFO Conference would have been the 3rd time for the event to occur inside Texas. However, the tragic events of September 11th would cause the cancellation of that event. You can view television and movie trailers for this event that never happened here, here, here and here.

Nowadays I’m maintaining The Elfis Network of sites, writing articles for ANOMALY Magazine and doing regular installments of my 3 radioshows (Blue Rose Report, PreCognitive Dissonance and PsiOp Radio) on my Anomaly Radio Network. I am honored and excited to be hosting the LOWFI network and serving as the Texas Bureau Chief.

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Well, that’s gotta be it for now. Please do CONTACT US here at LOWFI and send us your strange experiences and encounters. We hope to chronicle and report on YOUR experiences while undertaking our own investigations of the strange and mysterious worlds of Fortean phenomena.

- SMiles Lewis