More Misinformation

I think Loren Coleman did an excellent job running down this latest story, where misinformation seems to be the highlight of an interview on C2C with George Noorey. Loren said pretty much everything I was thinking in his blog on Cryptomundo

One day those who put their hard earned money on the line, will make these kinds of people a non-issue within this community.

The Yakima Event, Wednesday Night on "The Grey Area"

James "Bobo" Fay, Paul Graves & Tom Yamarone, 3 of the 4 organizers of the Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up, will join us to report on the conference held 2 weeks ago.

Also joining us for this program is Bill Munns. Bill has agreed to give his first interview to "The Grey Area" since he revealed the work he has been doing on the PGF, at the Yakima Event. Bill will be taking your calls and helping us to understand the work he has done.

Several groundbreaking presentations were delivered at the Bigfoot Round-Up by Bill Munns, Scott Nelson, Dr. John Bindernagel and Dr. Jeff Meldrum.

The Bigfoot Round-Up also included a tribute to the achievement of Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson, and the contribution of John Green.

Over 250 people attended the 2-day event on May 15 & 16, 2009 in Naches, Washington.

This promises to be an hour packed with information. Join us Wednesday June 3rd at 8 pm Central/9 pm Eastern.

A Leisurely Strole

The thought occurred to me, I almost never discuss the work I do in the field or provide photos to prove I leave the house.

Truth be told often times when I am out, with my camera in hand, I am taking photos of flowers, plants and animals (whenever they don't run away). I love being out away from the city and just enjoying the wildflowers, and the animals I see.

Just like with photos of people, photos taken out in the woods can tell a story as well.

Can you find the subject of this photo? Look closely.

And this one.

Both Wayne and I were amazed to discover this fawn, tucked away neatly by its mother. Did mom go away to feed? Where was she? We had no idea. The fawn hardly moved the whole time we were there. She/he sat there quietly, and the only part of this fawn that moved was her/his twitching nose.

Yes, we left her unharmed, untouched and exactly where mom left her.

As we wandered along...

Can you see the spider web in this next photo?

We continued..

Do you see the fish in this next photo?

I was actually shocked my camera was able to capture the bluegill just below the walkway we were on.

Getting out into the woods is about so much more than just Bigfoot (for me).

These are just a few of the photos I took. I hope you enjoyed them. No, there was no bigfoot.

I am just as happy with the images I left with.

UN-backed environmental initiative aims to save the gorilla

UN-backed environmental initiative aims to save the gorilla

22 May 2009 – A United Nations-backed initiative has been launched aimed at halting the destruction of the habitat of the East African mountain range gorilla threatening the extinction of humans’ close relative, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced today.

The 2009 Year of the Gorilla (YoG) partnership is supporting a project enabling local residents in areas endangered by increasing demands for fuel – not least the Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – to buy low-cost, fuel-efficient stoves.

Other measures needed to target the reduction of charcoal production include solar cookers, tree-planting on farms and the widespread use of fuel-efficient stoves, UNEP said in a news release.

Further cause for concern to the agency is the signing of land deals by many gorilla range States with foreign companies for agriculture, including bio-fuel production.

UNEP said that on top of destroying the habitat of numerous species through forest degradation, palm oil – an edible oil found 10 per cent of supermarket products and increasingly seen as a profitable bio-fuel – has a higher carbon footprint than the fossil fuels it replaces.

The agency noted that the erosion of forests not only threatens gorillas, it also intensifies climate change with tropical trees in undisturbed forests absorbing nearly 20 per cent of the carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels, or some 4.8 billion tons each year.

“Stopping the current overexploitation of natural resources is a key element of any strategy leading to a sustainable way of living,” said Robert Hepworth, UNEP Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP-CMS).

“The forests and woodlands of Africa must play a central role in efforts to avoid dangerous climate change,” added Mr. Hepworth. “There is a strong scientific case for carbon finance to make significant contributions to gorilla conservation, as gorilla range States would benefit financially from protecting their forests.”

In addition, an influx of relatively well-paid workers who can afford to frequently eat meat has prompted a boom in the bushmeat trade and the decline of gorilla populations.

UNEP said that together with other great apes, the survival of gorillas is also threatened by disease and epidemics, mining and the effects of armed conflicts.

The Year of the Gorilla is a joint initiative of UNEP-CMS, the UNEP/UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Just Because I Found This Interesting..

Of course I already knew this, being from Wisconsin originally ;) Where does your state rank? Should you "brush up" on your driving skills?

Where the worst drivers live

by Sean Tucker

The worst drivers in America live in New York. Of course, you knew that. You've been in the Holland Tunnel. But now, we have proof.

GMAC Insurance has released the results of its National Drivers Test for 2009. The test, which measures basic knowledge of driving laws, was given to more than 5,000 drivers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- and New Yorkers finished last. Last year's loser, New Jersey, improved its score just enough to leap over New York. Hawaii, California and Georgia rounded out the bottom five.

Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for the highest average score, with an 80.6.

Read the full story HERE

State Rankings

Note: Many states tied for the same position in the rankings.

1	IDAHO
1	WISCONSIN
3	MONTANA
4	KANSAS
5	SOUTH DAKOTA
5	NEBRASKA
7	UTAH
8	WYOMING
8	IOWA
8	OREGON
8	MINNESOTA
12	ALASKA
12	NORTH DAKOTA
14	VERMONT
15	COLORADO
15	MISSOURI
17	OKLAHOMA
17	WASHINGTON
19	NEW MEXICO
20	NORTH CAROLINA
21	VIRGINIA
22	INDIANA
22	MICHIGAN
24	ARKANSAS
24	TEXAS
26	ALABAMA
26	NEVADA
28	WEST VIRGINIA
29	ILLINOIS
30	ARIZONA
31	MAINE
32	DELAWARE
33	NEW HAMPSHIRE
34	OHIO
35	KENTUCKY
36	PENNSYLVANIA
37	LOUISIANA
38	TENNESSEE
38	MISSISSIPPI
40	SOUTH CAROLINA
40	MARYLAND
42	CONNECTICUT
43	FLORIDA
44	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
45	MASSACHUSETTS
46	RHODE ISLAND
47	GEORGIA
48	CALIFORNIA
49	HAWAII
50	NEW JERSEY
51	NEW YORK

Update to "When it Rains it Pours"

There is an update to the story I posted "When it Rains it Pours".

Cryptomundo's Loren Coleman has posted statements sent to him by Tom Yamarone and Scott Herriott.

It would appear Scott Herriott, is keeping his sense of humor and Tom Yamarone (and the rest of the Yakima Organizers) are welcoming guests.

Hopefully soon we will see an update stating everyone has worked past this. Crisis over.

All I see are good people, getting angry and upset..I hope feelings get soothed and tempers are calmed. Life is just too short to see such good people so upset.

Lets hope this is over, but I have the feeling someone will re-lite the fire and fan the flames.

When It Rains, It Pours

Since moving to Ohio to start my life, I have for the most part stayed clear of the message boards (except my own of course). The drama and fighting can be overwhelming and frankly I had simply had enough.

On a bad day (which we all have) we all look for something that makes us think for a few seconds "hey, my life is not so bad after all."

Eventually though, it gets tiring, and most of us need a break.

Therefore I have not been keeping up with all the latest and greatest information.

Then a little over a week ago, I started getting emails and personal messages asking me if I heard about the Scott Herriott/Tom Yamarone/Paul Vella verbal fist fight.

"What?" Seriously?

I have always thought both Scott and Tom were very nice people. I had no idea what was happening, so I went looking for all the information. When I found the pages of conversation my worst fears were confirmed, this was seriously happening.

Let me try to "nutshell" this for you all.

Scott Herriott= PGF skeptic. Vocal skeptic. Extremely nice guy, very funny but he has his doubts about the legitimacy of the PGF. Heck, Scott questions his own possible encounter. While I think the film is legit, I have never had the kinds of exchanges with Scott I have had with other PGF skeptics. In other words, I have never found him to be rude or insulting.

Tom Yamarone= Talented singer and song writer. Tom is a very funny guy, and great all around person. Tom is a member of the BFRO and a Board Member of the AIBR (which boggles my mind but that's another story). Tom is of the opinion the PGF is legit. That's fine, he is entitled to his opinion, as is Scott (or anyone else). Tom and a group of people to include BoBo Fay organized the "Yakima Roundup" that is taking place this very weekend in Washington. Guest of Honor is Bob Gimlin.

There is talk of a physical threat that was made, but I have found nothing on that.

If you don't know who Bob Gimlin is, please hang your head in shame and stop reading. Not knowing the name Bob Gimlin is like not knowing who John Green is. Your not a researcher, or you should really pay more attention ;)

Ok, so...

Scott Herriott requested a ticket for the Yakima event. Apparently Scott was sent a letter from the organizers of the event stating Scott would not be admitted due to his skeptical view on the PGF. The organizers of the event planned this weekend not for anything other than a weekend of a few speakers, and general fun and bigfoot conversation.

This letter of course was published on at least one website I know of. Which in turn, created a firestorm the likes of which I have not seen in a while.

Were the organizers of this event wrong to deny admittance to Scott? Well, no. They have the right to refuse anyone admittance. This is a private event. No where in the letter did I read "Scott your a miserable person, and we do not want you there due to your nasty attitude and overall ill will toward bigfooters in general." No.

Anyway... Paul Vella (owner of the BFF) became outraged by the letter sent to Scott Herriott. Paul posted and a war was started between Paul and Tom Yamarone. Much to the dismay of many who were hoping for a run down of events and possibly photos.

I say dismay, because in the end Tom stated "The organizers of the event planned to enforce the copyright restrictions". So, there would be no posting of photos or a run down of events.

This further enraged Paul Vella. Paul then shut down every thread on the event.

Here recently Tom Yamarone released a statement to say he had lost his temper, and he apologized. He went on to say Photos and a recap would be permitted by attendees.

Do organizers of Bigfoot related events have the right to refuse entrance? Absolutely. There is no law in this country which states "Anyone and everyone who wants to attend a gathering, must be permitted to attend." These are by and large privately funded and put together functions. Just because you state you are a "bigfoot enthusiast" that does not guarantee you admittance to anything. This event had a limited number for attendance (250 I believe).

The mistake was they were honest about why. While people say they want the truth, honestly they don't. If the letter had read "Were sorry Scott, but there are no more tickets available." When the event is over, and people discovered there were no skeptics in attendance there would still be an overwhelming amount of drama, just not because of the letter to Scott.

Sometimes (in my opinion) it is not appropriate to quiz and interrogate people.

Sometimes they want to just be one of the masses. Yes, Bob Gimlin will be there, but that does not mean he was invited to be grilled on the film. Maybe he will speak, but even if he does, that does not mean he is open to grilling. Frankly, I don't think he always needs to be. Can anyone truly blame him for not wanting that every time he gets near someone who identifies themselves as a bigfoot researcher?? The poor man probably cringes every time someone brings up the word "Bigfoot".

Honestly, ask yourself this,

If Bob Gimlin answered every question imaginable, would that be enough? No, I truly do not think it would be. Only because I see the very same questions asked over and over. Often times because the answer does not fit what the intended questioner wanted to hear. Issues some find important about the PGF honestly have no bearing on the issue of whether the film is legit. Yet, the questions still get asked.

In the last year and a half or so,

Mr. Gimlin has been accused of some horrific things. Scott Marlowe went so far as to send a letter to a District Attorney to request a full investigation into the events surrounding the filming of Patty at Bluff Creek. I am frankly shocked Mr. Gimlin is going to be anywhere near a bigfoot event, let alone attend willingly.

What I find ironic is the people who are upset at the alleged shielding of Mr. Gimlin, are the ones who were upset with me and Loren Coleman over the articles written on M.K. Davis. So, I guess it's ok to question and demand answers from Bob Gimlin, but not his chief proponent M.K. Davis (at this time) about allegations that are simply hideous?

Do I think Paul Vella was out of line?

No, I am not his mother. Paul is entitled to handle things the way he deems necessary. Tom Yamarone has the right to respond, which he did. Paul chose to take a particular stance, and as with anyone, he has the right to ask whatever he wants, hell he can even demand answers.

Is anyone bound by law to respond? Nope.

Once again we are reading about drama. Drama that in no way helps solve a mystery. Anger took over and the researchers are sitting back and wondering "what the hell just happened?"

According to Cryptomundo and Paul Vella, Mr. Vella has resigned from the AIBR over this event. Loren Coleman reports Brian Brown has not only left the BFF over this, but he has resigned from the AIBR as well. That I can not confirm. Near as I can tell Mr. Brown left the BFF due to personal reasons, but still is involved with the AIBR. I could be wrong.

Personally, I felt an overwhelming need to take some Excedrin and turn off my computer. Being in the woods is so much more entertaining these days. :)

All my best to the organizers of the Yakima event, I hope it is a huge success.

The Blogsquatcher weighs in

An International Incident

What can I possibly say about this blog in general, that hasn't been said a thousand times. The Blogsquatcher does it again, with another article that hits the proverbial nail on the head.