RIP Roy P. Mackal

Both CryptoZooNews and Cryptomundo are now reporting that cryptozoologist Roy P. Mackal has passed away.

Dr. Mackal was well known in the field for his work researching the Loch Ness Monster and Mokele-Mbembe. He appeared on a number of TV shows and authored the classic book “A Living Dinosaur?: In Search of Mokele-Mbembe.

Loren Coleman has written an excellent tribute to the man that can be read here:
http://www.cryptozoonews.com/mackal-obit/

Cryptomundo has also posted a segment from one of Roy’s spots on Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World:
http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoologists/rip-dr-roy-p-mackal/

He will be greatly missed.

Unraveling the Secrets

Here's an archive of a recent interview I did on Unraveling the Secrets.  Listen in for a wide ranging discussion on all things paranormal.  W.M. Mott and Tim Swartz host a great show and ask questions well outside normal interviews.

Listen to the show here:

http://www.unravelingthesecrets.com/david-weatherly-dec-08-2013/

The Disappearance of Mary Boyle

On March 18, 1977, six year old Mary Boyle was strolling down a country path in County Donegal, Ireland.  She was wearing her favorite lilac colored, hand knitted cardigan and black wellington boots.  She was eating a packet of sweets, as her uncle walked ahead of her carrying a ladder.

Uncle Gerry's long strides carried him down the path quicker than Mary could keep up.  It was about 3:30 in the afternoon and on the quiet dirt path, Mary Boyle vanished never to be seen again.

Both family and investigators have long been haunted by the strange disappearance of Mary.  She is Ireland's youngest missing person and one of the country's oldest unsolved mysteries. 

What could have happened to Mary in this remote, rural area?  There are many strange factors to the case and Barry Fitzgerald and I are tacking a crack at finding some answers using unorthodox means. 

Please view our short trailer and consider helping us make this project a reality.

http://www.charmstealer.com/mary-boyle/

Tulpas & Thoughtforms

Copies of my lecture from this year's Paradigm Symposium are now available at Leprechaun Press.

This DVD covers material that will be presented in my forthcoming book. 

 

Available at:

 

http://www.leprechaunpress.com/

Haunted LeBeau Plantation Lost to Arson

The historic LeBeau plantation in Old Arabi, Louisiana has fallen victim to arson.  Headlines are claiming that the arsonist were inside the property searching for ghosts.  Further details indicate that the arson was due to a group of drunken party boys trying to be ghost hunters and not an established paranormal group.

Firefighters responded to the call outside of New Orleans just after 2 am on Friday, November 22.  On arrival, they discovered the 159 year old mansion completely engulfed by flames.

"When I received the call from fire communications, I live in Chalmette, I looked out my window and I could see the whole sky lit up." stated Thomas Stone, Fire Chief of St. Bernard Parish.

It quickly became clear to officials that arson was likely to blame for the fire.  Officers later arrested seven men between the ages of 17 and 31.  Several are from Texas and the others from Louisiana.

Col. John Doran of the Sheriff's department oversaw the arrest of the men: 

"They had been looking for ghosts, trying to summon spirits, beating on the floors."

Col. Doran said the men became frustrated when the spirits of the home failed to appear.  The suspects were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana while in the house.  In their aggravation, the men decided to burn the house down.  The apparent ringleader of the group is Dusten Davenport, 31, of Fort Worth, TX.  Police believe it was Davenport's idea to start the fire and that he stacked pieces of wood to ignite the blaze.

Designed by Francois Barthelemy LeBeau, the home was completed in 1854.  It was once the largest plantation south of New Orleans with sixteen rooms, an attic and an octagonal cupola from which both the Mississippi river and the city of New Orleans could be viewed.
The mansion changed ownership numerous times over the years but continued to be referred to as the LeBeau home.  It served as a hotel for a time, then in the 1940s, as an illegal casino.

The plantation had a long history of ghost stories.  Reports of strange lights, apparitions and bloodcurdling screams were common over the years.  The most reported ghost associated with the mansion was the spirit of a woman in a white dress reported walking on the upstairs porch. 

There were plans in recent years to restore the home but its age and disrepair made it a huge undertaking.  Jimmy Delery of St. Bernard reflected what many Parish residents felt:

"To me it wasn't a loss of a building; it was like a family member,"

Illinois Cougar

A cougar has been shot and killed in Illinois. The animal was killed by a wildlife official and is reported to be between five and a half feet to six feet in length with a weight of over a hundred pounds.
Officials with the Illinois Conservation Police responded to a call at a Whiteside County farm on November 20th. On arrival, officers were told that a cougar had been spotted in a corn field running towards the home and outbuildings of the farm’s owner. Searching for the animal, officers found it in a concrete tunnel under a corn crib and, at the request of the farm owner, shot and killed the animal. The body has been turned over to wildlife biologists to examine.

Wildlife officials in most eastern states claim that the cougar or, mountain lion, as it is also known is mostly extinct east of the Mississippi. Apparently, all of the cougars haven’t gotten the memo because there continue to be reports of the big cats in the east.

Recently three cougars were seen outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Just prior to those sightings, a cougar was reported in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There have also been other reported sightings in Virginia, Massachusetts and New York.

People living in Midwestern states have been reporting the cats for years. Despite the ‘official’ status of the animal, many people, from hunters to housewives, have reported seeing the big cats.
Illinois has had numerous reports over the last ten years. State officials tend to dismiss the accounts and affirm that there is no breeding population of cougars in the state. They cannot however, deny that a number of the animals have been killed. A large male was killed by a train in Randolph County in 2002. A hunter killed another male in 2004 in Mercer County and in 2008 a male was shot and killed when it was spotted wandering around the north side of Chicago. The animal killed this month in Whiteside County makes the fourth ‘official’ cougar found in the state in recent years.
According to the “Living with Wildlife in Illinois” website:

“Mountain lions were extirpated from Illinois before 1870 and are not protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code. There is no evidence that a resident breeding population of mountain lions exists in Illinois at this time. Dispersing mountain lions are possible in Illinois.”

Illinois state wildlife officials believe that the occasional cougar travels in from South Dakota. Apparently no one in Iowa noticed them wandering through.

There are an estimated 30,000 cougars in the United States. They are mostly found in the mountainous western states. They are solitary hunters and prefer dense woods and hills as opposed to open ranges. Cougars are very territorial and each cat requires its own range to hunt, this in part, keeps the animal’s numbers on the low end.

Back To Dreamland

This week I’m back on Dreamland with Whitley Strieber to discuss my latest book, Strange Intruders. 
 

From the Unknown Country newsletter:

Dreamland: The Growing Presence from Another Dimension

“Last year, David Weatherly caused a sensation on Dreamland with his tales of the Black-Eyed Children. The program remains one of the most popular we have ever produced, and now David's back with groundbreaking research into some of the most perplexing cases of interdimensional beings on record, including the return of the Mothman and much more.”

Listen to the show here:

http://www.unknowncountry.com/dreamland/latest

 

There’s also a bonus section for subscribers that includes a further discussion of portal areas as well as Whitley’s account of the glimpse of hell given to him by the grays.

The Influence Reviewed

Thousands of people are now involved with “ghost hunting” as a hobby.  They prowl purported haunted locations with recorders and cameras in hand, hoping to catch evidence of spirits.  But how many actually understand exactly what they may be dealing with and what they may take away from their encounters?

Consider this:

“In any given day our brains process over 70,000 thoughts, thoughts that lead to actions.  What if something could interfere with that delicate process?  Let’s consider there are things out there beyond our unaided abilities of sight and hearing that did and continue to have an influence on our thoughts.”

So reads the statement on the back of Barry Fitzgerald’s outstanding book, “The Influence.” 

 

Barry is no stranger to the paranormal and is most widely recognized for his work on the popular show “Ghost Hunters International.”

While GHI was basically a work of entertainment, Fitzgerald’s work off screen has been quite serious.  He has put in a lot of time both in the field and delving into serious research.

In The Influence, Barry explores various aspects of this negative, invisible energy and how it many play a role in various types of hauntings, cases of reported demonic activity and possession and even how this may all relate to mental illness and violent behavior.  Including cases to illustrate his points, the author makes a clear case that everyone should consider and, hopefully, bear in mind when dealing with paranormal incidents.

Fitzgerald also addresses the effect of poor diet and how it relates to the unseen energies that surround, and possibly, influence us on a daily basis.

Since we have become bombarded with food filled with chemicals, additives and genetically modified components, the health of the average person has plummeted.  But beyond the physical damage, what have these unnatural foods done to the function of the brain?  Additionally, what’s now absent from our diets that may have further weakened us to the effects of the influence?

This information in this book is of great importance to the paranormal field.  If you are actively involved in investigating or even mildly interested in the subject, I suggest you read the influence and consider the perspective offered.  At the least, the book should prod you to think in a more positive manner and that is the greatest influence of all.

The Influence, 2^nd edition, is available at:

http://www.charmstealer.com/the-influence/

 

Margaret Keane's Kids

My recent post on the apparent Black Eyed Kid found in a scene of Close Encounters of the Third Kind brought forth a flurry of responses.  In short order, several readers contacted me to identify the artist, a woman whose work I was unfamiliar with.

My friend Red Pill Junkie first sent me an 'unskewed' version of the BEK painting from Close Encounters.  Once I searched a database of the artist's work, the image was easy to locate.  Here's the image from the film and a shot of the original painting:

 

 

 

It turns out that the painting is from an American artist named Margaret Keane.  Keane was born in Tennessee in 1927.  She is a Jehovah’s Witness who credits her grandmother with inspiring her artwork and instilling her with a deep respect for the Bible. 

Keane’s paintings were very popular in the 1960s when her work was sold under the name of her husband, Walter Keane.  The couple divorced in the 1980s and the ownership of the paintings was contested.  Margaret challenged her estranged husband to a ‘paint-off’ in court to prove she was the actual artist.  Walter bowed out citing a bad shoulder and the courts sided with Margaret.

Keane’s work was a part of popular culture in the 60s and many of Hollywood’s elite owned her paintings.  Director Tim Burton has recently announced plans for a movie title “Big Eyes” based on Keane’s work.

Her paintings typically depict children with large, oversized eyes that are often black.  Her early works are sad and haunting and the children appear lost and lonely.  It's a rather unsettling style.  Close examination reveals a sliver of white in the eyes of Keane’s children.  Still, it is in a sense, a depiction of a different type of black eyed child and on an emotional level, people responded.

Perhaps her popularity during the period is what led Spielberg to use one of her paintings on the set of Close Encounters.  Still, one must wonder if he had another, more subtle reason.  Directors of Spielberg's magnitude rarely doing anything haphazard and usually chose carefully what's included on a set.  Perhaps he used the image, combined with the actions of Roy's son during the scene to harken to the presence of aliens just outside the door.  Unless someone has a direct line to Spielberg and can ask him, we're not likely to know.

Keane often chose to paint her children standing in doorways or peering through windows.  In fact, in my quick scan of dozens of her paintings, all the children seem to be outside, looking over fences standing in alleyways or outside of homes.  Perhaps they just want to come inside.  

Keane claims that since her divorce and her move to Hawaii that her work has become more lighthearted and she now paints children who are 'crying tears of joy.'  

Personally, I wonder exactly how the Bible and her grandmother inspired such odd pieces of work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spielberg's Black Eyed Child

When I was doing research for my book, The Black Eyed Children, I made a point of seeking out cases that predated modern accounts.   Brian Bethel's encounter certainly set a precedent and from it came the current terms we now use for these entities.  Accounts prior to the early 90s don't use the term "BEK" or black eyed kids/children. 

Naturally, I considered the modern media influence on the appearance of the BEKs.  By the early 2000s, the effect had been used in film and television.  Most notable to those with an interest in the paranormal was the effect’s use in the X-Files.  A ‘black oily alien substance’ was seen invading human bodies and taking them over.  As part of the process, the victim’s eyes would turn solid black. 

Bear in mind, this effect was not in common use at the time.  Since then, it’s seen constantly in movies and television to represent aliens, demons, vampires and a host of other supernatural beings.  I find it interesting that solid black eyes are used to such extent in portraying a range of strange beings but it automatically communicates an evil or negative presence so filmmakers make full use of it.

Still, people with sharp eyes often send me images that I was unaware of that relate to the BEKs.  Recently, I received one that I found particularly fascinating.  It came from Jason Scott who emailed me with a question;

“Were you aware that there is a picture reference of the Black Eyed Children in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind’?”

 

My first thought was, no way.  Like many people with an interest in UFOs, I had watched Spielberg’s classic film countless times.  Who could forget Richard Dreyfuss building a mash potato version of Devil’s Tower or the classic theme music?  I knew the story inside and out and there certainly wasn’t a black eyed kid to be found in the film…was there? 

Turned out there was.  Jason sent a screen shot of the relevant scene.  Admittedly, I still wasn’t sure so I got the film out and went to the scene myself; I had to see it in the actual movie.  I could hardly believe it but, sure enough, there it was.  The image is a painting hanging on the wall in Roy’s (Richard Dreyfuss) home.  Oddly, the image is at an angle and the BEK in the painting appears to be leaning into the scene.  As you can see from the photo and the enlargement, the painting is clearly a child with oversized black eyes. 

Close Encounters came out in 1977.  BEKs were hardly a topic on anyone’s mind at that point so what exactly is the point of this picture?  Was there a popular mass produced painting during the time that depicted such a child?  If so, I have yet to locate it.  Perhaps Spielberg put it there as a subtle connection to the grays that would appear by the end of the film but, if so, even that is a weird coincidence when we consider the popular alien hybrid theory connected to the children.  Watching the scene, I also find it odd that one of the boys stands behind Roy and leans sideways like a mirror image of the child in the painting. 

 

Is this all a strange synchronicity or was Spielberg aware of something in 1977 that only came to light years later.  Even if there is a ‘normal’ explanation, it’s another fascinating connection to the mystery of the black eyed children.

If you'd like to see the relevant section yourself, the scene begins just after the first half hour or so of the movie (depending on the cut you have). 

Where Did The Road Go? Again!

My recent appearance on Where Did The Road Go? is now available in archives.  Listen in as I join host Seriah Azkath for a discussion on my new book, Strange Intruders.  We discuss Djinn, Shadow People, Pukwudgies and more.

http://wdtrg.blogspot.com/2013/10/david-weatherly-interview-strange.html

Review: UFOs, Werewolves & The Pig-Man

Cannock Chase is a beautiful piece of country in Staffordshire, England.  It has been designated an “Area of Outstanding Beauty” by the British government.  The Chase is home to a number of rare bird species as well as a herd of about 800 fallow deer.  It’s also been designated an area of “special scientific interest.”

Natural beauty aside, there’s another intriguing aspect to Cannock Chase—it’s an area of high strangeness and paranormal activity.  From cryptids to ghosts, UFOs and weird crimes, the Chase seems to have it all.  Such areas of concentrated weirdness are often called “portal areas” or “window areas” and they have always been a special interest of mine.  That being the case, it’s always nice to add a new book about these portals areas to the library.  The most recent addition is “UFOs Werewolves & The Pig-Man” by author Lee Brickley.

 

Brickley grew up in the area so he offers insights and accounts directly from his own experiences as well as from locals that he has interacted with over his time investigating the region.

Lee starts the book off with a brief rundown of some of the strange history of Cannock Chase showing that bizarre murders and weird encounters have been a part of the area’s history for a very long time.  From there, the book moves on to Alien Encounters with some modern cases, abduction accounts and a look at the Penkridge UFO crash of 1964.

One of my favorite sections of the book covers the weird case of the Werewolf of Hazelslade Wood.  The werewolf struck in 2004.  There wasn’t even a full moon out; in fact, the attack took place in broad daylight, certainly not typical of classical werewolf mythology.  While some aspects of the incident sound as though the creature was a dogman, the young lady who was attacked experienced strange hair growth such as that found in traditional werewolf lore. 

Brickley goes on to cover giant snake sightings in the Chase as well as the Cannock Chase Panther a famous “Alien Big Cat” that has been sighted on many occasions. 

Next we get a chapter devoted to the Pig-Man.  Undoubtedly, the most bizarre being purported to roam about in Cannock Chase.  As the name implies, the Pig-Man is a humanoid hybrid of man and pig whose story starts many years ago.  The tale involves taboo science experiments, Nazis and a birth that reminds one of the infamous Jersey Devil.  Adding to the strangeness, encounters with the Pig-Man continue to be reported in modern times and Brickley includes some interesting accounts that he’s collected from locals to add to the lore.

The book moves on to cover some ghostly events in Cannock Chase.  A number of tales are presented including some recent (2012) encounters with ghosts of Roman soldiers in Birches Valley and details of the Black Phantom of Slitting Mill Road.  This creepy figure has glowing eyes and has been witnessed levitating over the area.  Lee ends the chapter with a report on demonic children, always a creepy topic.

Brickley rounds the book out with a chapter on secret military activity in Cannock Chase.  Some interesting information is presented that indicates a series of tunnels may run under the area.  Not a big surprise as military and government presence often occurs in portal areas. 

I recommend this book.  All in all, it is well worth a read if you’re interested in locations of concentrated strangeness or if you just like to read weird accounts of the paranormal.  I’m looking forward to more from Lee Brickley and hope he serves up more tales from the mysterious Cannock Chase.

Lee Brickley also has a blog on Paranormal Cannock Chase.  It can be found here:

http://paranormalcannock.blogspot.co.uk/

The Paracast

Recently, I returned to the Paracast for a full show on some of my recent work.  Listen in for a wide ranging discussion on paranormal topics from the Djinn to Tulpas and portal areas.  Hosts Chris O'Brien and Gene Steinberg don't ask typical questions and it made the interview a real pleasure.  Stepping outside the box and having a two hour show to explore these concepts made this anything but a typical interview.  Check it out and find out why the Paracast is called the "Gold Standard" of paranormal radio. 

 

 

Link for the show is below, simply scroll down the page and download:

http://www.theparacast.com/

Fantomfest 2013

Fantomfest 2013 is coming up quickly! 

October 4th & 5th

This is going to be an amazing event in San Antonio, Texas, hosted by my friends Brad and Barry Klinge.  Many of you may remember the Klinge brothers from the Discovery show "Ghost Lab."  Brad and Barry pushed into new territory with their innovations on the show, now they're presenting their newest concept, Fantomfest.

Bringing together the paranormal, Hollywood personalities and even freak show entertainers, 2013 marks the first year of this spectacular event.

I have the pleasure of appearing this year, along with cryptozoologists Lyle Blackburn and Ken Gerhard.  We'll be discussing all manner of weird creatures.

Chip Coffey will be on hand for gallery readings and to co-headline with the Klinge brothers.  But there's lots more, stars from the Walking Dead, Adams Family, Storm Chasers and even the Lizard Man himself! 

As if it couldn't get any better, the event is being held in the Menger Hotel, one of the most haunted locations in Texas.  There's a huge vendor area, investigations of haunted locations, lots of VIP events and more.  Don't miss this event!

For further info, check out all the links below and if you make it to the event, be sure to stop by and say hello.

http://www.fantomfest.com/Home_Page.html

https://www.facebook.com/Fantomfest.co

Skinwalker: Shards Linger Reviewed

Because of my extensive work in the southwest region of the United States, one of the things that I’m asked about on a regular basis is the skinwalker.

The term comes from Native tribes of the region and is generally thought to be a human involved with dark magic. Skinwalkers gain the ability to shapeshift into other forms, most commonly a wolf or coyote. They have long terrorized residents of the area and skinwalker lore reaches far back to before the white man came to the Americas.

A few weeks ago, I filmed a segment with my friends at Crypto Four Corners detailing my personal encounter with what appeared to be one of these strange creatures. (included in my post from 9/7/13).
There’s very little written about skinwalkers and information is difficult to come by. The subject itself is taboo among the Navajo and many non natives in the region are even hesitant to talk about the topic. That’s one of the reasons that Hoss Lors’ book on the subject is important.

“Skinwalkers Shards Linger” is newly published. While it’s a slim volume of around 50 pages, the quick read is well worth it as Lors details his own disturbing encounters with skinwalkers. Here’s a tidbit from the prologue:

“…a “gifted” skinwalker can assume the shape of any animal provided the man/woman has the skin of the animal. The most common is a wolf and the formation of the skinwalker is half man half wolf or even all wolf-I have seen both.
I am no expert and I have been almost killed by skinwalkers on two different occasions.”

While Lors’ may not consider himself an expert, his personal experiences while living in the heart of skinwalker territory certainly give him a unique perspective, one that gives you a sense of this creature, and the fact that communities in the region live with the reality of these things on a daily basis.

University of Nevada-Las Vegas anthropologist Dan Benyshek is quoted in the book regarding skinwalkers;

“…skinwalkers do all sorts of terrible things—they make people sick, they commit murders. They are grave-robbers and necrophiliacs. They are greedy and evil people who must kill a sibling or other relative to be initiated as a skinwalker.”

A chilling perspective on what exactly these beings may be.

One thing that I found especially fascinating was the revelation from Hoss that Satan Butte and Utah’s Skinwalker Ranch lie on the same longitude. I’ve done a lot of research in the Uinta Basin, the location of the infamous skinwalker ranch. Both the ranch and Satan Butte are focal points for a lot of strange activity including UFOs, time distortions and of course, skinwalkers.

Skinwalker Shards Linger is available from Amazon in both hard copy and e-book.

Further Studies into the Black Eyed Beings

I'm often asked if there are other sources that I recommend for information about the Black Eyed Children.  While a lot of people are only now hearing about the phenomena, it's actually been around for a long time. Two paranormal authors of note wrote about the BEKs before my book came out.

First there's Brad Steiger.  His book "Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside" (Visible Ink Press 2010), has a full chapter on Black Eyed Beings.  Brad's books are a wealth of information and essential for paranormal research libraries.

Author Jason Offutt was blogging about the BEKs before that.  His Black-Eyed Children blog was launched in 2008 and can be found at the link below.  Be sure to click into the comments section for personal accounts posted by readers.
Jason is the author of "What Lurks Beyond" a fine book that includes BEK accounts.  He's also written an excellent book on Shadow People.

Many of you are probably familiar with the excellent work of L.A. Marzulli.  L.A. is one of the masterminds behind the Watchers DVD series.  I had the pleasure of being interviewed for volume five of the series and you'll also find an interview with a woman who contacted L.A. about her personal experience with a black eyed child.  Watching this woman recount her experience is something not to be missed.

Finally, Evan Jensen has started a discussion group on Facebook to collect accounts of both black eyed children and another phenomenon, the appearance of people with solid WHITE eyes.  Feel free to join in the discussion by following the link below.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  A number of researchers and investigators of the weird are intrigued by accounts of black eyed people and are actively tracking accounts both modern and historic.  I expect we'll continue to see more research and writing about the topic.

Brad Steiger's site:
http://www.bradandsherry.com/

Jason Offutt's blog:
http://blackeyedchildren.blogspot.com/

L.A. Marzulli's work:
http://lamarzulli.wordpress.com/

Evan Jensen's discussion group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/400723923361313/

Phantoms & Monsters

Check out the latest Phantoms & Monsters featuring Crypto Four Corners:

 

http://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/2013/09/crypto-four-corners-searching-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhantomsAndMonstersAPersonalJourney+%28Phantoms+and+Monsters%29

Four Corners Cryptids

Here’s some video from a recent expedition I did with friends from Crypto Four Corners. Cave Bears, Skinwalkers and more.

Paranormal Review Radio

My recent appearance on Paranormal Review Radio is available in archives.  Listen in as I talk with hosts Luci & Anthony as we discuss a wide range of paranormal topics:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paranormalreview/2013/08/31/strange-intruders-david-weatherly

Beast in the Utah Desert

There's a massive complex rising in a remote part of the Utah desert. It's extremely secretive and highly secured, and of course, it's all for our own safety and security.

At least that's what we're told.

Learn more about this sprawling spy complex in my article for the latest issue of Politics, Prophecy & the Supernatural available at:

http://www.lamarzulli.net/news_magazine.htm

Paranormal Connections

Technology can be pretty amazing.  Sure, it's a hassle sometimes, especially when we realize that the government feels a need to track all of our calls and activity.  But, on the positive side, it's remarkable to be almost anywhere in the world and connect with people via the phone or Internet. 

Case in point, last week I was on Paranormal Connections with host Christina George.  At the time, I was out on a Cryptozoology expedition with some friends from Crypto Four Corners.  We were in fact at an elevation of 9200 feet and surrounded by storms.  But guess what?  Out of the group, one of us actually had a cell signal so I was able to call into the show. Talk about a Paranormal Connection!

And it was a great show.  Christina, a fellow paranormal investigator, shared her own bizarre experience with some black eyed people and her show has developed a big following.  Thanks to all those who called in to share their accounts and opinions.  It certainly keeps things moving and interesting.

If you missed the show, check out the archive here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tiffani3/2013/08/27/paranormal-connections

And be sure to tune in to future shows, Christina has some great guests lined up.

In fact, if you're interested in cryptids, keep watch, I'll be returning to Christina's show for a future episode along with my friend JC Johnson.  Well be discussing cryptids of the four corners.

In Memory of Jesse Marcel JR.

Jesse Marcel Jr. has passed away.  The best possible tribute is to remember his willingness to speak out on Roswell, the UFO question and his father's involvement with the most well know UFO incident in history.

RIP

 

 

 

Ravenstar's Witching Hour

Here's an archive for a recent show I did with host Solaris BlueRaven.  We discuss a wide range of topics from paranormal subjects to psychic and consciousness related themes.

Show link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJyZM5PK-X8

Paranormal Geeks Radio

Here's the archive for my recent appearance on Paranormal Geeks Radio with host Jim Heater.  Listen to hear about the Mad Gasser of Mattoon, Bigfoot, Black Eyed Children and more.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paranormalgeeksradio/2013/08/14/david-weatherly-on-paranormal-geeks-radio

Costa Rica Ends Animal Captivity

In a bold move, the government of Costa Rica has announced its intention to close its zoos.  Environmental Minister, Rene Castro released an official statement:

“We are getting rid of the cages and reinforcing the idea of interacting with biodiversity in botanical parks in a natural way.  We don’t want animals in captivity or enclosed in any way unless it is to rescue or save them”

While Costa Rica is a fairly small country, it has amazing biodiversity.  Over four percent of all known species on Earth are represented in the small Central American country.

In 2009, Costa Rica was ranked as the greenest country in the world.  It has made great strides in the area of environmental sustainability and is consistently in the top tier of Latin American countries in the area of human development.  Costa Rica has also developed a reputation for progressive behavior towards wild animals.  In 2002, the country banned circus animals and in 2012, it became the first country on the American continent to ban recreational hunting.

The country’s plan to close its zoos will take effect March 2014 when the government contract with zoo operators expires.  The area where the current zoos are located will be transformed into urban parks where wildlife can freely roam.

Animals that are currently in captivity will be evaluated before being released.  Those deemed fit for life in the wild will be released while those that are unsuited for a return to the jungle will be relocated to wildlife sanctuaries or rescue centers.

This is an amazing movement towards a more balanced approach of living in a more natural manner.  Tribal cultures lived in balance with the world around them and as a result, had extensive knowledge of the natural world.  By moving back towards such balance, perhaps we can retain more "shamanic wisdom" to help us deal with the ever changing modern world.

Strange Intruders

My new book, Strange Intruders, is off the press and now available. 

Topics include the Djinn, Slenderman, Black Eyed Beings and much more!

 

http://www.leprechaunpress.com/

Intrepid Radio

Join me on Intrepid Radio tonight with Scott Alan Roberts and Dr. John Ward:

LISTEN LIVE:
... http://www.kgraradio.com/live365/
Or: http://www.live365.com/stations/jasonbench

Join the LIVE Chatroom during the program at:
http://www.kgraradio.com/chatroom/

Spooky Southcoast

I just appeared on Spooky Southcoast with host Tim Weisberg.  Catch the archives to hear our discussion on the Black Eyed Children.  A few listeners called in to report their own strange encounters with weird black eyed beings.

Listen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpZO6oK5JZs

Simmons' Travels

I’d like to take a moment to tell you about a project I’ve been involved with recently.

It involves a backpack named "Simmons."  Yes, it’s a bag with a name, but don’t pin that on me, that was done by a friend of mine, an Englishman named Richard Terry.

Actually, it’s all part of a great concept.  Some of you may know Richard, he was the host of “Man V Monster,” a show that explored animal related mysteries around the globe.  During his travels, from the depths of the Amazon to remote Indonesia, Richard had his backpack, Simmons’ close at hand.


Like all good journeys, Man V Monster came to an end. However, Richard decided that Simmons’ journey should continue so he hatched this scheme.  Over the course of a year, Simmons’ would be handed off to various world explorers, each one carrying the bag to destinations around the globe.

I was proud to participate as the third person to carry Simmons’ going to locations such as Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile and Tombstone, Arizona.  Simmons’ has now been passed of to the next explorer and the journey continues.

At the end of the year, Simmons’ will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.  All proceeds go to benefit ARKive, a world conversation and preservation organization dedicated to helping wildlife around the globe.

You can help us with these efforts.  Simply go to the Simmons’ Travels Facebook page located here:
https://www.facebook.com/SimmonsTravels?fref=ts

Click like and, if you can, share the link with your friends and ask them to like the page.  The more attention we can get for the project, the more money Simmons’ is likely to fetch at auction and that’s more money to benefit wildlife.
http://www.arkive.org/

Not only that, but on the Simmons’ Travels page, you can see photos and updates from the various explorers as they travel with Simmons.
Thanks for your support, and please, spread the word.

Strange Intruders

Coming Soon:

 

Mayan Pyramid Destroyed

An ancient Mayan pyramid has been destroyed--to be used as filler for road construction.

One of the largest pyramids in Belize, near the Mexican border, has been bulldozed by a road construction crew.  The workers used backhoes and bulldozers to crush the stone from the pyramid so that they could use it to fill in a road.

Known as the Nohmul complex, the ceremonial pyramid was dated to about 2,300 years old.  It was considered the most important ancient site in Northern Belize.  The structure sat in the middle of a sugar can field.  While the pyramid lacked the typical stone sides that mark many pyramids, it was about one hundred feet tall and was well known in the region as a sacred site and ceremonial centre.

Jaime Awe, head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology said that they damage was discovered last week;

"It's a feeling of incredible disbelief because of the ignorance and the insensitivity...they were using this for road fill.  It's like being punched in the stomach, it's just so horrendous."

Pre-Hispanic ruins are under government protection in Belize wether they sit on private or public land.  Police are conducting an investigation of the incident and criminal charges may be filed. 

Awe believes the incident was a result of lazy workers who didn't want to quarry for the needed rock.

"To think that today we have modern equipment, that you can go and excavate in a quarry anywhere, but that this company would completely disregard that and completely destroyed this building.  Why can't these people just go and quarry somewhere that has no cultural significance?  It's mind boggling."

Belize has hundreds of Mayan ruins, many of them covered by jungle.  Sadly, this is not the first time such destruction of an ancient site has taken place in Belize and other countries in the region.

According to Professor Francisco Estrada-Beli of Tulane University;

"I don't think I'm exaggerating if I say that every day a Maya mound is being destroyed for construction in one of the countries were the Maya lived.  Unfortunately, this destruction of our heritage is irreversible but many don't take it seriously.  The only way to stop it is by showing that it is a major crime and people can and will go to jail for it."

Eye in the Sky

UAVs (Unmanned Ariel Vehicles), more commonly known as "drones," are quickly filling the skies.

Learn more about what this technology may mean for all of us as the development of these vehicles marches rapidly forward.

Check out my latest article in this month's Politics, Prophecy & the Supernatural at:

http://www.lamarzulli.net/news_magazine.htm

The Writer's Corner

I was recently interviewed by Playwright and Screenwriter Ryan Sprague for his site, The Writer's Corner.

Ryan's based in New York City and has some pretty exciting projects in the works.  I'm especially looking forward to his film "Reach" currently in pre-production.

Drop by his site and check out my interview, and while you're at it, take a glance at some of the other interviews he's done with writers from several different corners of the creative world.

http://www.ryandsprague.com/2/post/2013/04/david-weatherly-author-of-the-black-eyed-children.html