• Flannel Man artwork by Timothy Renner.
    Commentary

    Men in Plaid

    Step aside Men in Black. There appears to be a new fashion statement at the moment—the men in plaid!

    Last month, I had the pleasure of speaking at the International Fortean Organization’s annual Fortfest in Linthicum Heights, MD. I connected with some really great people there including Timothy Renner and Joshua Cutchin. The two of them are currently working on a fascinating book together called “Where the Footprints End” about other aspects and relationships between Bigfoot and all these other strange phenomena. Once it’s out it’s going to upend that classic perspective of what he is. And, it’s not what you think.

    After their presentation on this, Tim briefly shared with me some of the more intriguing findings he had come across recently involving two men spotted all over the country and on the scene of Bigfoot encounters. Turns out these same two guys just suddenly show up to intimidate or question people about their experiences.

    Might this suggest a Men in Black component to the Bigfoot mystery that has been previously overlooked? There have been several cases which highlight a connection between Bigfoot and UFOs, so a MIB aspect wouldn’t surprise me at all, really.

  • Clouds and rolling wheat fields.
    Interviews,  Commentary,  The Spectrum

    Conversations with the MRP

    One of the shows I really enjoy being on lately is the Minority Report Podcast (MRP). If you’re unfamiliar with who these guys are, see my first post detailing this new show or just go listen to them for yourself.

    Earlier in the month, I had the privilege to be interviewed by them again, but this time in person. They flew up all the way from Atlanta just to visit Philly! So, we sat down to continue with part two of our conversation into the concepts I explore in my book “The Spectrum.”

  • Figure holding a lantern with Milky Way galaxy in background.
    Ufology,  Commentary

    The “Stranges” of Valiant Thor

    “Are you Strange?”

    Frank rolls his eyes and replies, “Here we go again. No, it’s Strang-es.

    Prior to seeing Dr. Frank E. Stranges deliver a presentation (courtesy of this Roku channel, from what I believe was 1991) I really didn’t know much about him. The only thing I knew of Dr. Stranges (not to be confused with Dr. Strange) was his 1967 book, “Stranger at the Pentagon.”

    In that book, Stranges outlined his very own personal encounters with a human-looking, extraterrestrial (a Venusian to be exact) named Valiant Thor. He was, and possibly still is, walking among us and supposedly within the halls of government, too.

  • Interviews,  Commentary,  The Spectrum

    Thinking Differently in the Paranormal

    When I began my quest into the paranormal, I bought into the widely accepted notion that ghosts are simply spirits of dead people. Yet, when we carefully examine some of these cases, we find there also appear to be other things going on with the phenomenon—albeit things that are not so cut and dry.

    As human beings, we like to have our world clearly defined in black and white. We especially like to break things down into easily digested pieces cooked to the familiar palate of human understanding. But when we are dealing with the bizarre nature of the unexplained, this approach couldn’t be any more detrimental towards our attempts to ever understand it.

    Over time, I learned to approach the phenomena from a different angle altogether (especially if I am to ever satisfy my curiosity with it). If we can shift our expectations away from the very limited human logic applied to it and begin to look at the phenomena from the limitless lens of the phenomena itself, it might help us to better grasp how it operates in the way that it does.

  • Unsolved Mysteries logo
    Entertainment,  Commentary

    Unsolved Mysteries is Back from the Dead

    The popular show, “Unsolved Mysteries” is coming back to life after Netflix announced they are picking it up.

    The original run from the late 80s through 90s is one that I have the utmost respect for, but never really got into. In fact, when it was on NBC at the time I actually avoided it. Probably because I was too young and probably because I was too freaked out as well.

    My parents on the other hand used to love watching the show. And, on a handful of occasions they even let me sit in on the paranormal episodes. That is, until one specific episode ruined it for me…

  • Commentary,  Ufology

    Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers

    In case you hadn’t heard, Jeremy Corbell is the new investigative filmmaker on the block with his latest film, Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers.

    Regardless of what you think of the Bob Lazar story in general, this new documentary on him is certainly worth the watch. There’s no denying that Corbell is revisiting some of the most bizarre stories on the UFO landscape and presenting them to a new audience that may not be as familiar. If you haven’t seen Corbell’s film, Hunt for the Skinwalker you also need to add that to your playlist too.

    But just like Hunt for the Skinwalker, it seems that people either love his latest film or hate it.

  • MIB looking down
    Interviews,  Commentary,  Non-Human Entities,  Research,  The Spectrum,  Ufology

    Going to the Source of the Strangeness

    Recently, I did an interview for the API Case Files Podcast with its host, Marsha Barnhart. In the interview, we talk about my research into the Men in Black and other areas of high strangeness, which I chronicle in my book “The Spectrum.”

    Click here for the full podcast interview.

    Marsha was someone I initially contacted about a 2008-09 case that she investigated for the Aerial Phenomena Investigations (API) team. Even though it’s a multifaceted case, it’s probably best known for containing surveillance footage of two purported Men in Black (MIB) entering a hotel lobby in search of the manager at the heart of the case.

    The clip showing these MIB caught on camera went viral soon after both Coast to Coast AM and BuzzFeed picked up on API’s case report.

  • View of the galaxy from ground
    Ufology,  Commentary

    Are UFOs Truly Extraterrestrial?

    Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is back in the spotlight after undergoing cancer treatment. He recently appeared on KNPR to talk politics, but more importantly, his involvement with the secret UFO program that made national headlines back in 2017.

    According to the article…

    While most of what Reid weighed in on was politics, he also addressed the funding of research into military sightings of unidentified flying objects. Reid had helped to direct money to that research.

    “I think it is something we can’t ignore,” he said, “I personally don’t know if there exist little green men places. I kind of doubt that, but I do believe the information we have indicates we should do a lot more study.”

    He said there are eyewitness accounts from hundreds of people, including military pilots, of unexplained objects moving through the air all in the same way.

    Reid said he is working with a member of Congress to create a place for military pilots to report what they see without fear of reprisals. 

    Source: “Harry Reid: Renewed But Ready to Rumble?” KNPR’s State of Nevada on Nevada Public Radio.
  • Commentary,  Cryptozoology,  Investigating,  Research

    Early Testimony is Key in Paranormal Reporting

    The ability of the human mind to recollect events can be a powerful tool. It is also an inevitably faulty tool. This is why it’s critical for the investigator of high strangeness to acquire and document eyewitness testimony early on. The witness (and even the investigator) can become easily influenced by internal and external forces that alter the initial observation over time.

    An example of this can be found in the varied descriptions of the infamous Mothman of Point Pleasant, WV from 1966-67.